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IGEM NEWS | Young Persons Paper Competition 2018

REAL-TIME NETWORKS

Delivering a future energy network

By Alexander Webb,
Innovation Project FIGURE 1 Vision for an integrated energy future
Manager at SGN and
YPPC 2018 finalist

he British gas industry is
rapidly changing due to a
reduction in its natural
gas supplies, an increase
in unconventional
T sources of gas, such as
biomethane and coalbed methane,
and changes in customer demand.
Downstream renewable technologies,
such as micro-CHP and heat pumps,
are also becoming a more viable and
economically accessible option.
However, the success of their
integration depends on the network’s variation
ability to accommodate them. and the OBJECTIVES
Introducing a mixed-source network associated Real-Time Networks
could benefit the environment, help risks on security (RTN) aims to use
maintain security of supply and reduce of supply. sensing technologies and
the cost for gas customers. The modern gas network real-time data flows to
In the GB gas industry, network is subject to rapid and significant demonstrate the world’s first gas
analysis models underpin the design changes in gas quality due to increased energy model. This is demonstrated
of all capital and replacement projects variation in the sources of gas; these through a live field trial in a
and are a significant driver of industry include traditional North Sea gas, statistically representative section of
and network operating costs. All nitrogen-ballasted liquefied natural gas Great Britain. The calculation of
network simulation models rely on a (LNG), embedded unconventional gases volume and energy flow in real-time,
complex set of mathematics that, by and some more unusual sources, such plus the impact of renewable and
their nature, are recursive and as LNG boil-off gas. Each of these types unconventional gas sources, will
iterative. The base assumptions for of gas have different compositions, enable the gas networks to address
these models were taken from studies physical properties and energy the following challenges and
in the 1980s and applied to the contents. The potential now exists to opportunities:
network as a whole. Whilst this develop real-time network modelling to The calculation of diversity – this is
method has served the industry well, account for the energy content entering the calculation of demand considering
it is outdated and previous restrictions the network and to understand the the number of customers using gas
on ‘real’ data management have now impact on demand at the outlets. downstream of any point in the
been lifted with the advent of ‘big In order to plan for the 1:20 condition, network. Gas demand has changed
data’ and cloud storage. gas network operators need to significantly and the demand models
Developments in sensing technologies understand fully both current and are likely to be inaccurate due to:
have also progressed and the future energy requirements. Existing • Improvements in the efficiency
harvesting of data is becoming more network models use network pressures and responsiveness of heating
accurate and cost effective. and an understanding of the pipeline technologies at both domestic and
The UK is unique in having the assets (diameter, materials, pipe length, industrial level
majority of its local distribution etc.). For accurate real-time modelling, • The use of integrated renewables
network operating at pressures not flows, gas qualities, pressures and such as gas-powered fuel cells,
exceeding 75mbar. In order to reduce temperatures are also required at micro-CHP and gas hybrids at
the risk of any demand spikes, causing strategic points of the network, domestic and commercial level
unacceptable pressure loss, it is together with a better understanding of • The installation of smart meters
necessary to use a six-minute time- consumer demand. Due to recent Entries of embedded gas –
base to design and operate systems. technological advances in ‘big data’ and traditionally, gas entered the
The majority of other gas distribution cloud storage, restrictions on ‘real’ data distribution system only at the offtakes
systems around the world typically management have now been lifted, from the national transmission system
run at ranges of 2bar-4bar, leaving offering the opportunity to bring the (NTS) and flowed, usually in one
less exposure to transient demand gas network into the 21st century. direction, to consumers. Embedded

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