China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has achieved a significant milestone by delivering the world's first 5MW offshore high-temperature flue gas waste heat power generation unit in Tianjin Municipality. This groundbreaking development marks a major advancement in the utilization of gas waste heat for clean energy production.
The innovative unit is set to be demonstrated in the Wenchang 9-7 oilfield development project. Prior to this, there had been no established methods for harnessing high-temperature waste heat in offshore settings, neither globally nor domestically. According to China Media Group (CMG), this device represents a pivotal technological breakthrough in offshore oil and gas operations.
Traditionally, offshore power stations generate electricity by burning the oil and gas produced on the platform, a process that releases a substantial amount of high-temperature flue gas, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. CNOOC's flue gas waste heat power generation unit addresses this issue by using the high-temperature flue gas as a heat source, converting waste heat into clean power.
Compared to conventional flue gas combustion and emissions, the installation of this high-temperature waste heat power generation unit can increase the waste heat utilization potential of the power station to between 60 and 70 percent. This enhancement significantly improves energy efficiency, with the overall efficiency of main power stations expected to increase by 7 percent once operational. Chief engineer An Weizheng of CNOOC Research Institute's Engineering Research and Design Department noted that this improvement will reduce the consumption of crude oil and natural gas in offshore oil and gas fields.
Upon becoming operational, the unit is projected to generate up to 40 million kWh of waste heat power annually, sufficient to meet the electricity needs of approximately 30,000 households each year. Additionally, it is expected to save around 300 million cubic meters of natural gas consumption over a 20-year period and offset carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 800,000 tonnes—equivalent to planting 7.5 million trees.
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China unveils world-leading flue gas waste heat power generation unit
cgtn.com
