Document x53v5vbVmZJ0vo0KZknvjok5G

In the history ofpipe lines certainly Texas Eastern Transmission Corpo ration of Shreveport, Louisiana, has a place second to none. For it is re membered that it was this company which purchased the "Big Inch" (1254 miles of 24-in. line) and the "Little Big Inch" pipe lines (1479 miles of 20-in. line) from the'L'nited States in 1947, converting them from the handling of crude oil and petroleum products to natural gas. This in itself was no small task. It was also necessary to replace the pumping equipment with compressor equip ment, and the first wide usage of centrifugal compressors for natural gas transmission was pioneered by this company. Where all the gas comes from is a mystery to many people, but the figures are impressive. In 1947 Texas Eastern began de liveries of about 140,000,000 cu ft per day, whereas in 1953, with an expanded system, this volume of gas totalled more than 1,200,000,000. To handle this gas through the pipe lines, Texas Eastern has in stalled some 39 compressor stations, extending all the way from Texas to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. More than half of these stations use cen trifugal compressors driven by large two-pole induction motors. The other stations use reciprocating gas engine compressors which are fueled from the pipe lines. Elliott equipment is being used in pipe-line compressor stations all over the country. In the Spring issue of Powerjax the article on the Oakford station described a storage operation which has been developed jointly by New York State Natural Gas Corpora tion and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation. In this station Elliott turbochargers serve the gas engines which generate power, and many Elliott motors are driving pumps and cooling-tower fans. In the Summer 1953 Powerjax, there was an article featuring three Elliott 2500-hp, twopole induction motors directly con nected to centrifugal compressors at one of Texas Eastern's stations. Here we show an interior view in Station 22A near Bedford, Pennsyl vania, at present the only station where Texas Eastern generates all of its electric power requirements. Elliott generators, driven by gas engines, furnish the necessary power for the operation of the compressor station. The station has nine gas-enginedriven compressors developing a total of 11,880 hp. The question was asked at the compressor station as to whether the designs and plans for compressor sta tions were pretty much standardized and the reply indicates the progres sive attitude of the company. The operator said, "Each new station is a little different from the others in an attempt to improve over the last one." I LINE OF BAROMETRIC CONDENSERS HIS line of seven Elliott Tbarometric condensers makes an interesting picture. Each barometric condenser is rated 1600 gpm, is served by a twin two-stage ejector, and handles the exhaust from a turbine driving a centrifugal compressor in a gas plant. Some of the turbine-driven compressors date back to the 1930's but more units have been added, and the building has been extended over the years. The barometric con densers make a simple condensing installation, low in first cost and in maintenance. POWERS'AX, WINTER 19S4 PAGE 29