流控制如何为破坏排放提供解决方案？
不可否认的是，气候危机是全球政府，企业和个人关注的关键领域。在考虑升高温度，极端天气事件以及食物和水不安全感时，迫切需要采取行动。2015年的巴黎一致性将变暖限制设置为低于2°C，理想的是1.5°C，以避免气候变化的灾难性影响。自该协议以来，政府已经重新确认了这一点的重要性，例如2021年11月在格拉斯哥举行的COP26峰会上。ii）逐步淘汰煤炭的使用；iii）鼓励对可再生能源的投资和IV）大大减少甲烷排放。石油和天然气行业具有重要的作用。
Reducing unnecessary gas emissions, and focusing on using electric actuators within oil & gas operations, is an important step in the Paris Agreement and COP26 targets, and the race to Net Zero by 2050.¹ Traditionally, spring-return and diaphragm actuators powered by the produced gas have been a favored form of control in oil & gas applications (especially in isolated locations and inaccessible environments, such as remote wellheads). Flow control that is instead electrically powered will reduce or negate associated emissions. In doing so, it promises more environmentally friendly operations and compliance with increasing global emission control mandates.
Methane Emissions in Oil & Gas
在探索如何有效的流量控制能够否定或减少能源生产中的气体排放之前，重要的是要了解它们的发生方式和破坏性潜力。近年来受到最大关注的气体是甲烷。按体积，甲烷坐在二氧化碳后面。但是，由于其全球变暖的高潜力，它对环境的影响不成比例（比二氧化碳高28倍）。当前甲烷水平的减少对于实现基本排放量和气候危机目标至关重要。大约20％至25％的人类甲烷排放来自石油和天然气行业。其中大多数来自上游操作。泄漏和排放来自生产地点以及传输和分配系统。甲烷也通常被排气和爆发。因此，在决定要升级的设备时，气动流控制是一个明显的选择。 In all cases, electric alternatives will reduce or negate gas emissions.
Electrification
Electrification is a cornerstone of attempts to clamp down on emissions within oil & gas operations; it has a significant role in essential decarbonisation efforts. Even with an increased focus on renewable forms of energy, it is likely that individuals will rely on oil & gas for some years to come. It is therefore essential that oil & gas is produced as efficiently as possible, with a reduction in emissions created and a reduced impact on the environment. As set out by the International Energy Agency: “Producers that can demonstrate strong and effective action to reduce emissions can credibly argue that their oil & gas resources should be preferred over higher emission options.” The same logic applies to flow control operators; actuators in oil & gas applications that can provide flow control with reduced/no emissions are ideally placed to play a leading role in energy provision both now and in the future.
The oil & gas industry is a valve-intensive area, with associated actuators found on all sites managing the flow of crude oil, gas, condensate, and water. Traditionally in upstream applications, actuators are powered by the motive gas. The use of pneumatic flow control runs the risk (or, in some cases, certainty) of gas emissions that are harmful to the environment. Using electric flow control products in their place means more efficient operation, reduced emissions, and improved environmental and safety performance. Electric actuators require only an electric power supply, with no venting or leaking of gas. Therefore, electrification is an important tool in reducing emissions in such a valve-intensive industry.
减轻上游泄漏
上游应用程序是电气化特别关注的领域，因为它们提供了从现有的高流血气动设备升级的最大机会，这些设备引起了排放。
A recent example of flow control electrification is the installation of intelligent electric actuators at an oil field in the North Sea, aiding in creating an allelectric platform. The Johan Sverdrup oil field is one of the largest offshore development projects on the Norwegian continental shelf; the use of electric actuators is part of an electrification programme to produce oil in a way that creates reduced or negated levels of emissions. The actuators were installed to provide flow control services across the site’s drilling, riser, process, and living quarters.
将现有的气动执行器升级为新电动执行器是一种日益普遍的做法。在比利时的几个天然气加压站看到了安装电动执行器的另一个例子。电动执行器取代了能源基础设施集团Fluxys操作的现有的气动执行器。先前的执行器使用气体作为对照介质，导致进入大气。从气动控制解决方案升级或改造是油气操作中电气化实践的核心宗旨，它破坏了破坏性的泄漏和逃避排放。
中游泄漏检测
关于中游活动，逃避排放量不太可能发生。但是，当管道跨越成千上万英里时，必须迅速发现并处理任何泄漏。可靠的技术快速隔离远程管道中的断裂对于维持这种中游应用的效率和安全至关重要。与流体动力执行器结合使用，电子线路断裂（ELB）设备可以应对这一挑战。ELB将通过监测管道压力来迅速识别和促进管道破裂或破裂的截面。By comparing rate of pressure drop (RoD) or rate of pressure rise (RoR) readings against pre-determined limits set by the operator, a microcontroller can energise a solenoid valve which allows pipeline gas in the actuator’s circuit manifold to move the valve to the closed position and cut off the affected part of the pipeline. This kind of technology can act quickly in the event of a pipeline break to isolate the appropriate pipeline section and reduce potentially damaging safety, financial, and environmental impacts.
下游Leak Reduction
在下游应用程序中，逃犯的排放有很多机会逃脱。打击这种泄漏的努力可以累积地增加，以减少这些排放量产生重大积极作用。例如，气体分布通道通常会看到甲烷排放。天然气压力减少站是整个美国的常见景象。他们规范下游气压以向国内客户交付。进行调整后，将用作动力的甲烷排放到大气中。带有高流量I/P定位器的气动控制器通常用于促进这一点。另一种是电动执行器；它们可以直接安装在调节器上，以自动调整压力设置点。它们可以远程操作，并且在操作过程中不会产生排放或废气； there is no constant bleed. This solution also does not require a continuous supply of power.
结论
减少石油和天然气运营中排放的动力是应对气候危机的全球广泛运动的一部分。石油和天然气的运营，尤其是上游，被广泛认为是靶向脱碳能源部门转化的一部分的重要方法。通过用电气代替现有的气动执行器来对流动控制系统进行电气化，对于减少甲烷和二氧化碳等损坏排放至关重要。