In the gas pressure reduction process by the “Joule-Thomson”
effect, temperature drops considerably (about 0.5°C per reduction
bar are estimated).
This fall in gas temperature can damage equipment due to
formation of dangerous ice crystals produced by water vapor in the
gas.
In first stage stations in particular, gas must be heated before
pressure is reduced, since high-pressure changes are usually
involved.
We recommend that, after reduction, gas temperature should not
be below 5°C or at specific temperature according to custody
transfer contracts.
One of the best-established methods of heating gas in reduction
stations is to use heat exchangers employing hot water or steam
as their thermal carrier fluid.
Gascat´s Heat Exchanger GHE-BEU are sized and designed to
meet a very wide range of system requirements and process
variations as pressure, temperature and Flow on a first reduction
stage at Distribution pipelines.