Evaluation of the Turboexpander Control System for Optimizing LPG Production Using Unisim Design
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32832/astonjadro.v15i4.23188Keywords:
Energy Efficiency, Turboexpander, Thermal Efficiency, Control Constant, Unisim DesignAbstract
The study analyses operational guidelines for optimising energy efficiency in the production of LPG and condensate at gas extraction facilities within cryogenic systems, utilising turboexpander equipment to reduce gas pressure during the cooling process in cryogenic applications involving natural gas. This study employs a quantitative method involving the collection of parameter data through turboexpander analysis calculations and Unisim Design simulations as a guide for performance analysis. Subsequently, tests were conducted on selected modelling variations regarding changes in Differential Pressure (psid), Pressure (psig), and Control Constant (K-Factor) to assess the influence of process parameters on the thermal efficiency of the Turboexpander. The parameters analysed include gas flow rate and composition, covering specific heat (Cp) and enthalpy (H) data both design and actual to obtain the total ΔH and resulting efficiency. The results of the selected variations show that a reduction in gas flow rate causes a decrease in the efficiency of the processed gas at the turboexpander outlet flow rate (K=0.730), averaging 1.03 MMSCFD with a maximum difference of 1.58 MMSCFD. Conversely, efforts were made to mitigate the reduction in flow rate and gas composition by optimising via Unisim Design simulation and performing calculation analyses for the ideal control constant (K=0.736), resulting in an increase in efficiency with a reduction in processed gas to 0.055 MMSCFD, with the largest difference of 0.194 MMSCFD. Changing the control constant from K=0.730 to K=0.736 increases the flow rate and efficiency of the turboexpander, particularly under low-flow conditions, with an average increase of 83.10%.
References
[1]. Zen, M. R., & Naimah, K. (2022). Optimalisasi jaringan penukar panas untuk sistem energi yang efisien pada pabrik pengolahan LPG. Jurnal Teknik Kimia, 28(2), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.36706/jtk.v28i2.1011
[2]. Ishaq, M., & Dincer, I. (2024). Development of a new renewable energy system for clean hydrogen and ethanol production. Energy Conversion and Management, 306, 118304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118304
[3]. Bonneuil, C., Choquet, P.-L., & Franta, B. (2021). Early warnings and emerging accountability: Total’s responses to global warming, 1971–2021. Global Environmental Change, 71, 102386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102386
[4]. Sebestyén, V. (2021). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews: Environmental impact networks of renewable energy power plants. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 151, 111626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111626
[5]. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 33. (2023). Menteri Sekretaris Negara Republik Indonesia.
[6]. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 14. (2021). Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Republik Indonesia.
[7]. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 79. (2014). Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Republik Indonesia.
[8]. Pencapaian Pelaksanaan TPB/SDGs Indonesia. (2020). Kementerian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional (PPN).
[9]. Strengthening Commitment Securing Energy (Laporan Tahunan). (2018). Pertamina.
[10]. Laporan Tahunan Capaian Program dan Kegiatan. (2019). Direktorat Jenderal Minyak dan Gas.
[11]. Bisnis Overview PT Pertamina Gas. (2024). Pertamina Gas.
[12]. Kumar, M., Behera, S. K., Kumar, A., & Sahoo, R. K. (2019). Numerical and experimental investigation to visualize the fluid flow and thermal characteristics of a cryogenic turboexpander. Energy, 189, 116267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116267
[13]. Yaws, C. L. (1995b). Heat Capacity of Gas, Physical Properties Of Liquid And Gases.
[14]. Çengel, Y. A., Boles, M. A., & Kanoglu, M. (2019). Thermodynamics: An engineering approach (Ninth edition). McGraw-Hill Education.
[15]. Turbo Expander 735, Installation, Operation and Maintenance (Vol. 1). (2011). Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench.
[16]. Stebbins, J. F., Carmichael, I. S. E., & Moret, L. K. (1984). Heat capacities and entropies of silicate liquids and glasses. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 86(2), 131–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381840
[17]. Cui, X., Zhu, B., & Ni, H. (2024). A New Model for Specific Heat Capacity of Real Gas. ChemistrySelect, 9(12), e202304699. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202304699
[18]. Hempijid, T., & Kittichaikarn, C. (2020). Effect of heat sink inlet and outlet flow direction on heat transfer performance. Applied Thermal Engineering, 164, 114375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.114375
[19]. Fukui, T., Yasuda, M., & Horie, T. (2025). Model analysis of mass transfer in liquid films in a Taylor flow reactor for gas-liquid-solid three-phase reactions. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, 209, 110151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2025.110151
[20]. Sadeghi, G., Najafzadeh, M., & Ameri, M. (2020). Thermal characteristics of evacuated tube solar collectors with coil inside: An experimental study and evolutionary algorithms. Renewable Energy, 151, 575–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.11.050
[21]. Sefiddashti, A. R., Shirmohammadi, R., & Petrakopoulou, F. (2021). Efficiency Enhancement of Gas Turbine Systems with Air Injection Driven by Natural Gas Turboexpanders. Sustainability, 13(19), 10994. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910994
[22]. Chung, J., Lee, S., Kim, N., Lee, B., Kim, D., Choi, S., & Kim, G. (2019). Study on the Effect of Turbine Inlet Temperature and Backpressure Conditions on Reduced Turbine Flow Rate Performance Characteristics and Correction Method for Automotive Turbocharger. Energies, 12(20), 3934. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12203934
[23]. Ferdyson, F., Kiono, B. F. T., & Sutaryo, S. (2025). Analisis Energi dan Eksergi Sistem Rankine Organik Dan Sistem Refrigerasi Kompresi Uap Yang Terintegrasi. Briliant: Jurnal Riset Dan Konseptual, 10(2), 466–480. https://doi.org/10.28926/briliant.v10i2.2236
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 ASTONJADRO
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Paper submitted to ASTONJADRO is the sole property of the Astonjadro Journal. Unless the author withdraws the paper because he does not want to be published in this journal. The publication rights are in the journal Astonjadro.ASTONJADRO
LICENSE
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://ejournal.uika-bogor.ac.id/index.php/ASTONJADRO
