POWER RECOVERY POSSIBLE FROM MANY PRESSURE-CONTROLLED PROCESS STREAMS.

Any process stream where pressure is reduced provides the possibility of power recovery. Fuel gas and rich-oil streams are the most likely candidates in a gas-processing plant. The economics for installing power-recovery turbines tend to be minimal. The two Goldsmith plant projects (a hydraulic turbine and a gas turbine) discussed in this paper required extensive piping and were able to use a surplus turbine and pump. Situations with large volumes and high-pressure differentials should provide adequate economic incentive, even with the purchase of new equipment.