Citation: Saied, O.; Abdellatif, A.;
Shaaban, S.; Elsafty, A.F. Efficient
Energy Recovery Scenarios from
Pressure-Reducing Stations Intended
for New Al-Alamein City in Egypt.
Energies 2022, 15, 9077. https://
doi.org/10.3390/en15239077
Academic Editor: Phillip Ligrani
Received: 22 October 2022
Accepted: 25 November 2022
Published: 30 November 2022
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energies
Article
Efficient Energy Recovery Scenarios from Pressure-Reducing
Stations Intended for New Al-Alamein City in Egypt
O. Saied
1
, A. Abdellatif
1,
* , S. Shaaban
1
and A. F. Elsafty
2
1
Mechanical Engineering Department, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport,
Sheraton Branch, Cairo 11736, Egypt
2
Mechanical Engineering Department, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport,
Al-Alamein Branch, El-Alamein 51718, Egypt
* Correspondence: a_abdellatif@aast.edu
Abstract: Worldwide concerns over energy optimization and harnessing have sparked a variety
of research on utilizing wasted energy. Natural gas, in particular, has been an essential energy
commodity for domestic and industrial applications. This paper approaches the same principle
throughout the Egyptian natural gas conventional national grid. The real case of Egypt’s Al-Alamein
city gas line extension is analytically studied for energy harness. Thus, this paper aims to study
the replacement of conventional energy-wasting pressure-reducing stations with power-producing
expander generator systems to utilize pressure reduction in electricity generation. The mathematical
equations that describe the energy recovery processes are presented. Reliable commercial software
is used to verify the possible implementation of turbo expander stations in three scenarios. Each
scenario is defined, and its main components and numerical parameters are introduced. Hence, the
resulting energy outputs and applicability of all scenarios are compared to provide adequate energy
recovery solutions.
Keywords: natural gas; turbo expander; energy recovery; New Al-Alamein city; energy optimization
1. Introduction
Worldwide concerns over energy optimization and waste energy recovery have
sparked initiatives for various research. The main aim has been to harness wasted en-
ergy in common industrial applications. One of those approaches is to utilize natural gas
transmission lines with their rich gas flows and high pressure for electricity generation [1].
This can be achieved at the consumer destination, where expander generators can replace
conventional pressure-reducing valves.
Expander generators are turbomachinery expansion turbines that allow the passage of
gaseous fluids at high pressure through guided vanes and impellers that utilize pressure
drops to reach isentropic gaseous expansion. Then, the shafts are rotated at fixed speeds for
stable electricity generation. This effectively enhances traditional systems in hopes of rais-
ing efficiency, fuel saving and generating electricity from energy-dissipating conventional
systems [2]. A figure that describes the main components of the turbo expander is shown
in Figure 1. The utilized expander generator works with the same principle as the turbo
expander. The main difference lies in replacing the compressor with a generator attached
to the expander shaft.
On the contrary, conventional pressure-reducing valves rely on isenthalpic expansion
through which pressure is converted to velocity through a Joule–Thomson effect, causing
friction, heat dissipation and wasted flow velocity [3]. Global research has shown an
interest in energy recovery applications in general and in expander generator replacements
of conventional systems in particular.
Energies 2022, 15, 9077. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239077 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies