Overview

In an effort to reduce the operating costs and the air emissions of three kerosene fired backup turbine generators, the US Social Security Administration (SSA) has pursued implementing a primary fuel conversion to utilize compressed natural gas. Focusing on reliability and efficiency, we were brought onto the design team to provide engineering services in developing a natural gas boosting system totaling approximately 1200-HP of compression, to be provided by a pair of 600-HP oil flooded rotary screw compressors.

The fuel gas booster system was specifically designed with two natural gas compressors in parallel, utilizing common suction and discharge headers to provide several operating and sequencing options for the SSA, maximizing system flexibility. This engineered system design also includes an oversized discharge header to provide additional capacity for uninterrupted fuel source changeover, during unplanned loss of natural gas compression.