Guide to Fuel Gas Conditioning in the Power Generation Industry

A fuel gas is a natural gas that is gaseous under normal conditions. In the power generation industry, fuel gases are most frequently used in boilers, reciprocating engines, fired heaters, and power plant turbine systems. This form of fuel also includes pipeline, refinery, lean, and wellhead gases, which contain hydrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other substances. Before fuel gases are ready for use, they must undergo a fuel gas conditioning process. Learn more about the importance of this crucial process and how it contributes to enhanced workplace safety, fuel gas quality, and productivity.

What Is Fuel Gas Conditioning?

Fuel Gas conditioning is a purification process that filters out unwanted solids and liquids from the fuel gas. Fuel gas doesn’t leave the pipelines of power generation centers ready to be burned. Instead, the processing center needs to remove entrained liquids and solids left over from the fuel gas generation process.

During gas conditioning, unwanted solid particulates and condensate are separated from the fuel gas. Unlike gas processing, gas conditioning doesn’t chemically transform the gas. Common fuel gas conditioning processes include:

• Acid gas and mercury removal
• Compression and filtration to remove solids
• Dehydration to remove excess water

These gas conditioning techniques aim to improve the quality of the fuel and make it safer to work with.

Why Should Fuel Gas Be Conditioned?

Gas conditioning is a vital process in preparing fuel gas for use. Some of the key benefits of fuel gas conditioning for workers, end-users, facilities, and equipment include:

• Lower Maintenance Costs: Properly conditioned gas works more smoothly. It won’t damage machine parts or lodge impurities into nozzles, which can clog or erode equipment. This, in turn, reduces unscheduled downtime and associated repair costs.
• Energy Efficiency: Conditioned gas burns efficiently, generating more energy than fuel gases containing impurities.
• Reduced Pollution: Conditioned gas burns more cleanly, releasing fewer toxic pollutants into the air. Companies that use conditioned gas reduce their environmental footprint.
• Worker and Equipment Safety: Gas conditioning removes impurities that can make gas behave unpredictably or combust. As a result, gas-powered operations become safer for personnel and surrounding equipment.

Downstream processes and facilities that use conditioned gas benefit from a more consistent, cleanly burning product. By taking the time to condition gas during the processing stages, power generation companies can offer a safer, more efficient fuel.

Request a Quote on Process Heating Equipment for Fuel Gas Conditioning

For effective fuel gas conditioning equipment, turn to the experts at Sigma Thermal. We specialize in providing industrial process heating systems, including thermal fluid systems, direct-fired heaters, waste heat recovery systems, biomass energy systems, and more. For successful gas processing, choose the process heating equipment that is most beneficial to your specific process. Sigma Thermal designs and manufactures heating systems that can be used for:

• Joule-Thompson or dew point heating
• Regeneration gas heating
• Performance heating

To discuss which type of process heating system is best for your fuel gas conditioning application, contact us or request a quote today.