【Ten Years of Great Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Development of large-scale gas injection compressors for underground gas storage facilities completed between 1967 and 2017

Through field tests and applications, compared with similar imported air injection compressors, domestic air injection compressors have a slightly longer stroke and a slightly larger piston rod diameter; their power output and piston rod load are also slightly higher, and the cylinder configuration is more optimized. However, they are slightly larger in size and heavier in weight, while their basic structural and performance parameters are comparable to those of imported air injection compressors. The human-machine interface of domestic units is highly user-friendly and more aesthetically pleasing, and it is equipped with an intelligent remote monitoring system, offering a higher level of intelligence. In terms of operational parameter metrics, domestic units have a wider range of operating conditions, lower exhaust temperatures, and a slightly higher exhaust volume under the same conditions. Among the vibration tests at 59 key locations, 41 points showed better performance than those of the imported units, while 18 points exhibited higher vibration levels compared to the imported units. The unit outperforms similar imported units in terms of vibration levels and energy consumption metrics. Currently, China is entering a second peak period for the construction of gas storage facilities, with a demand expected for 100 injection compressors of 6000kW capacity, offering broad application prospects. Currently, 2 inflation compressors have been deployed at the Suqiao gas storage facility in North China and the Yahai inflation station in Tarim, while 15 compressors of the same series have been put into use. The price of domestically produced units is about 80% of that of imported units. Based on an assumption of 100 units being sold over the next decade, it is estimated that this will result in savings of around 4 billion yuan in foreign exchange expenses, as well as around 800 million yuan in procurement costs. Coupled with the lower costs associated with spare parts during equipment operation and the advantages in ensuring a stable supply, the economic and social benefits are significant. This project has obtained 5 invention patents, 1 software copyright, 5 utility model patents, 2 design patents, and 2 provincial-level trade secrets. In December 2018, this compressor unit was awarded a certificate of \"Outstanding Product in the Machinery Industry for the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up\" by the Machinery Industry Federation.

On September 23, 2022, the **Dagang Lujuhe Gas Storage Facility, a key energy project, officially began gas injection. The two DTY2800 compressors, developed, designed, and manufactured by the Chengdu Compressor Branch of CNPC Jichai Power Co., Ltd., were brought online successfully; they operated smoothly, with a daily gas injection capacity of 1.08 million cubic meters.

On October 13, 2017, the Technology Management Department of the group company organized a review meeting in Langfang for the major on-site test project of the group company, namely the \"6CFB-type gas storage facility compressor unit\", a project jointly undertaken by North China Oilfield Company and Jichai Power Plant; the project passed the acceptance assessment successfully. This type of compressor unit is the first high-power, large-displacement, high-pressure compressor unit for gas storage facilities in China; it fills a gap in the domestic market, eliminates the reliance on imported products for such applications, significantly reduces the costs associated with purchasing and operating these units, and maximally safeguards the overall interests of the group company. It also provides a solid foundation for the construction of gas storage facilities in China in the future. The acceptance committee unanimously agreed that the project carried out research on the optimized design and manufacturing techniques for gas storage facility compressors, key technologies related to the components of these compressors, as well as research on installation, commissioning, and field testing techniques for such units ； One skid-mounted unit was used, and more than 700 hours of on-site load testing were carried out at the Suqiao gas storage facility to complete the installation of the compression unit as well as related technical setup. All tasks specified in the plan were fulfilled, and the established performance criteria were met.

The acceptance committee recognized the following innovations and key achievements: 1. The development of China’s first reciprocating gas injection compressor unit for high-pressure, large-displacement, high-power gas storage facilities. 2. Advanced international simulation software was used to address the challenges related to the dynamic analysis of the compressor foundation, noise reduction in the plant, and stress analysis of the entire process piping system. 3. The advanced high-efficiency high-pressure venting technology used in domestic gas storage facilities, along with the simulation technology for blasting high-pressure transmission pipelines, was applied to this project, thereby solving the vibration problems that occur during emergency venting at large flow rates and high pressure differences in the venting pipelines. It is reported that this project was carried out based on the ongoing construction of the Suqiao gas storage facility, over a period of 3 years, during which various tasks were completed, including in-house development, on-site construction, and operational testing. The test unit employs 7 key technologies to achieve the localization of 6 major components, including the main motor, air cooler, air valves, piston rings, and support rings; the localization rate for all components of this unit exceeds 90%.

“The “Large-scale Underground Gas Storage Facility Gas Injection Compression Unit” was designed by the Chengdu Compressor Branch of Jichai Power Co., Ltd., which is part of China National Petroleum Corporation. An underground gas storage facility is a natural gas reservoir created by reinjecting natural gas into underground spaces to store it; it is a vital energy infrastructure that combines functions such as seasonal peak shaving, emergency gas supply in case of accidents, and **energy strategic reserve. “The \"Large-scale Underground Gas Storage Compression Unit\" (hereinafter referred to as the compression unit) is the core equipment of an underground gas storage facility; its main function is to pressurize the natural gas delivered through the pipeline and inject it into the underground gas reservoir. Inflation compressors are characterized by high power (near 6000 kW), high speed (up to 1200 rpm), and high pressure (≥30 Mpa); they are difficult to develop, and their manufacturers are mainly located in the United States. At present, all the injection compressors for existing and under-construction gas storage facilities in the country rely on imports. In 2012, China National Petroleum Corporation launched a major field test project titled \"Cementing Technology for Gas Storage in Depleted Oil and Gas Reservoirs and On-site Testing of Compression Units,\" and organized a research team of over 200 people to work on the development of domestically produced gas injection compressors. In September 2017, China’s first 6000kW gas injection compressor underwent on-site industrial testing at the Suqiao gas storage facility. The successful development of air-injection compressors has changed the situation in which China relied on imports for compressors used in gas storage facilities, enabling the country to become the second nation after the United States to be able to design and manufacture such compressors independently. This has promoted the rapid development of China’s industry in manufacturing high-end oil and gas equipment, and it holds strategic significance for **natural gas peak shaving and energy reserve security.

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