Keller California Case Study

The Problem

States set strict requirements regarding the quality and components of certified gas. For most states, the percentage of inert chemicals (inerts) in certified gas mustn’t exceed 4% when it’s introduced to the utility pipeline. Companies need time-tested systems to minimize the presence of these inerts, which are typically a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Our Keller, California, client faced even more stringent standards. The Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) specification required that the certified gas have a content of 1% or less of carbon dioxide gas, which is far more difficult than the usual 2-4% standard. While the facility’s system removed enough carbon dioxide gas during the CO2 removal stage to meet this standard, the oxygen removal stage introduced additional carbon dioxide, causing the gas to exceed the 1% limit. Failing to meet the 1% threshold resulted in fines, causing our client to seek a more comprehensive total system that could reduce the final carbon dioxide content of the gas.

The Solution

Stark Compression, formerly Glauber Equipment Corporation,  started to design improvements to the stages of the customer’s gas processes. We began with the dehydration stage, which absorbs water from the gas and into a vessel. 

We created an additional carbon dioxide absorption media setup within this stage to further decrease the total amount of carbon dioxide present before the oxygen removal stage. Using a special molecular sieve enabled the system to pull additional carbon dioxide and oxygen molecules from the gas earlier in the process. 

 

This new treatment helped decrease the presence of inerts sufficiently enough that the oxygen removal stage did not reintroduce enough carbon dioxide to surpass the 1% threshold. Additionally, this modification is much more cost-effective than rebuilding or replacing the entire gas treatment setup. 

The Results

As a result of the new carbon dioxide and oxygen removing sieve, we were able to help our client meet the strict PG&E pipeline requirements. This removed the financial burden of the fines and successfully improved the processing capabilities of the facility. The client can also easily maintain the new process because the solution is simple and required far fewer process changes than implementing entirely new equipment.

Working with Stark Compression, LLC

At Stark Compression, formerly Glauber Equipment, we specialize in comprehensive, end-to-end services for creating, sourcing, and building better renewable natural gas (RNG) systems. Contact us today to learn more about our capabilities and how we can solve your facility’s unique challenges.