Introduction
As natural gas use continues to increase in the U.S. and throughout the world, new markets, technologies and infrastructure have enabled companies to capitalize on the advantages delivered by this non-toxic, non-corrosive and relatively clean-burning fossil fuel.
With the increased focus on the benefits of LNG, however, global regulatory bodies and environmentalist groups are also increasingly focused on the impact of natural gas extraction and utilization. The hazardous effects of fugitive methane emissions are an ongoing source of scrutiny, with LNG producers and standards committees both acutely aware of the importance of mitigating the associated risks.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has likewise
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Unlike on/off valves, check valves are flow sensitive and rely on the line fluid to open and close. Rather than offering emergency shutoff or complete flow control, check valves are intended only to prevent reverse flow and the resultant damage to piping systems. Because of this, seat leakage rates for check valves differ from those imposed on other valve types, and should be evaluated within the appropriate constraints.
The industry has a large number of leak rate standards available (API-598, API-6D, MSS, BS6364, Shell MESC SPE 77/300, ISO 5208, ANSI to name a few), and there is confusion in the industry today about which requirements are the most appropriate to impose on check valves. This article will review the valve industry seat leak rate standards, the purpose of each standard, and ultimately how they relate to check valve selection and specifications. Furthermore, we will examine the purpose and operation of check valves within LNG systems and discuss why ultra-low leak rates are generally not appropriate for check valves.
Leak Rate Specifications: Purpose and Practicality
The daily demands placed on check valves, including their constant exposure to fluid mediums, make them highly-susceptible to wear and other operational challenges like sticking, jamming and
As such, the check valve or backflow assemblies will require the internal inspection. The CPVC pipe will not require an internal inspection per 14.2.1.5. This says that nonmetallic pipe shall not be required to comply with Section 14.2 that addresses the assessment of internal condition of piping. This addresses the question regarding apartments and hotels. Residential dwellings with NFPA 13D systems are not within the scope of NFPA 25 per 1.1.5. There is an exception in 16.2 for small residential board and care occupancies with NFPA 13D systems. Paragraph 16.2.1 says that the requirements in this section shall only apply to residential board and care facilities with sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13D as described in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. Paragraph 16.2.1.1 says that systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13D, shall be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with 33.2.3.5.8.1 through 33.2.3.5.8.15 of NFPA 101, which reference specific sections of NFPA 25. The frequency of the inspection, test, or maintenance shall be in accordance with [NFPA 101], whereas the purpose and procedure shall be from NFPA 25 [101:33.2.3.5.8]. The referenced sections do not mention check valves or backflow prevention assemblies for
Oil and natural gas companies have developed a way to drill for natural gas, a process called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Natural gas is a flammable gas mixture consisting of methane and several other hydrocarbons that occur naturally underground. Natural gas is used as fuel for heating, cooking, and even in some automobiles like the “RideOn” buses. This technique has only recently become economically feasible with the rising prices of fossil fuels, and there is much potential for recovering natural gas through fracking. However, fracking has many waste products and unusual side effects caused by the unnatural forces and materials used. Fracking has a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment through
The CQC guidance about compliance Essential standards of quality and safety covers pressure care in-
Safe natural gas fracturing or “fracking” is on the rise and our country is benefiting from in on several levels. From meeting energy needs to creating jobs and helping the economy, natural gas is an invisible miracle. Many precautions are taken during the fracking process in order to ensure it is safe as possible. Natural gas is something I work around every day due to the fact I work in the oilfield and the work I do is carried out during a “frac.” Many environmentalist and various people from different scientific fields argue that the benefits are not worth the risk.
The natural gas industry, according to Greco, is living in a persistent lie as being clean and climate friendly. Although burning natural gas produces less carbon dioxide, the natural gas can also pollute waterways, release methane which is 86 to 105 times as powerful as carbon dioxide, cause health problems, and also contributes to the amount of site accidents occurring in our nation. For example, the natural gas storage leak that occurred outside of Los Angeles in Porter Ranch after a lack of a subsurface shutoff valve caused clouds of gas to be produced outside of the plant for three and a half months caused the locals to experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, and nosebleeds. Erin Brockovich, an environmental activist and research, claimed that the leak was a “BP oil spill, just on land” because of its massive impact and the magnitude, duration, and climate effects. In regards to
W hy does everyone care so much about natural gas? Why is it such an essential part of modern culture? Sure, it's an exciting and up and coming technology, which is fuel for the technological generation that we've grown up in, but we need to take a closer look to see the methods and impacts that could affect generations after us.
Supporters of hydraulic fracturing correctly point out that energy derived natural gas is less damaging to the environment than coal. However, this does not take natural gas leaks into account. Leaks in the piping that transports the extracted natural gas from the well to a storage container emit methane into the atmosphere. Methane has a greenhouse effect 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. (Environmental Protection Agency) In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that these leaks totaled 570 billion cubic feet (Alvarez, Pacala and Winebrake 6435), making natural gas operations the largest source of methane emissions in the United States (Environmental Protection Agency). When this amount of leakage and the damaging nature of methane is taken into account, natural gas is actually worse for the environment overall than coal (Alvarez, Pacala and Winebrake
The full information about the safety and risks should be released to the public which is a basic tenet of ethical behavior. This is so because from the "Rights Theory", those that are exposed to the threats of this process should be informed of the potential harm and any other environmental effects. The bottom line in the environmental issue is accepting and realizing that even though the technology has transformed the US energy industry, the independence comes at an expense. Therefore, energy decisions have to decide whether health and safety environment concerns shall be sacrificed in the name of economic growth band safety, increasing jobs and exports. The natural gas and oil extraction should be researched to come up with safer procedures because the gas is a bridge towards powering our economy with less pollution from the carbon emitting substances that lead to global warming.
Natural gas is being relied upon more as an energy source instead of the polluting energy source of burning coal. This is a good thing because it is cutting out the CO2 emissions given off by using coal. However, the method of using hydraulic fracturing to get the natural gas is worse for the environment than the coal. But in the long run, the benefits of hydraulic fracturing do not outweigh the costs. Fracking releases methane gas, a greenhouse gas, into the environment. The chemicals that are being used are winding up in our drinking water, and there has been evidence that fracking has increased seismic activity in the regions in which it is being used to extract the natural gas. Using natural gas cuts down the greenhouse gas emissions of coal, but the very method to gather natural gas also increases greenhouse gas emissions. Negating any clean energy benefits that the
The Mechanical Seals Division (MSD) had sales in 1986 of $50.1 million and operating income of $7.8 million. A mechanical seal prevents leakage between a rotating shaft and a stationary casing in a wide variety of fluid transfer and control systems. MSD specialized in highly-engineered seals to meet demanding minimum-leakage specifications for hazardous applications (e.g., high-temperature, high-pressure, flammable, caustic, carcinogenic, and/or poisonous fluids) in industries such as petroleum, chemical, pulp and paper, power generating, and mineral and ore processing. MSD performed most of its manufacturing in California and Holland and, like Byron Jackson, maintained sales and service offices in many locations around the world. The Fluid Controls Division (FCD) was the group 's smallest, with net sales of $38.6 million and operating profit of $6.8 million in 1986. It designed and produced proprietary closed loop servo control systems and components, primarily for the U.S. aerospace and defense industries. In particular, FCD was a leading producer of pneumatic actuation systems (PAS) used for controlling the motion and position of fins on tactical missiles. In 1986 FCD was a key PAS supplier for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles and it was developing similar systems for other types of tactical missiles. FCD also produced aircraft flight control systems
Most of the natural gas transportation in the USA is done through 305,000 miles of transmission pipelines. Existing LNG degasification facilities allow for limited international trade of LNG (Table 2). Due to free market pricing when natural gas cost less in summer period, gas-storing facilities are widespread over the country including more than 400 underground storages and 113 LNG peaking facilities (EIA, 2008).
The new technological advancement which is also known as “Fracking” process has tremendously increased the supply of natural gas in America. And on the other hand, as natural gas does not emit the greenhouse gases like that of coal fuel energy, the consumer preference of coal based products switched to natural gas. As supply and demand of natural gas kept increasing, fracking process has also increased in larger extent in different regions of the country. As a result, negative impacts are also generated like water contamination, air pollution, health problems, natural resources impact and broader economic impacts (Environment America
Some disadvantages of gas killing need to be taken into account which include more moving parts in the system compared to electrical waterbath stunners, therefore there is an
The production of natural gas has increased over the past decade along with its consumption. However, some of the top consumers consist of countries such as Japan and South Korea, where natural gas is not produced at a sufficient amount domestically. As a result, the need for liquefied natural gas, also known as LNG, has increased. This need for LNG comes from the concept of condensing natural gas to its liquid state so that its volume is reduced to 1/600th of its original volume, making it easier to transport (Source, 2---). Plus, the demand for natural gas in countries such as Japan and South Korea is starting to increase the need for LNG since most natural gas producing nations are too far for pipelines. Therefore, LNG is becoming a viable option for the transportation of natural gas. In this paper, the creation of LNG will be discussed to show how LNG is becoming a major factor in the energy industry and the global economy.
The lifetime of a nuclear power plant is planned to be 40 years. Recently there are trails to raise this life in new constructions as well as the old ones to 60 years (1-4). During this prolonged lifetime components are exposed to degradation that may affect safe operation of the plant. Such influences affect pressure retaining items of the plant including reactor pressure vessel, reactor piping, bolting and threaded fasteners, steam generator materials and several other items (5).