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Reference.org
Turboexpander
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<p>A turboexpander, also referred to as a turbo-expander or an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or axial-flow <a href="/facts/Turbine/gqosKCkI">turbine</a>, through which a high-<a href="/facts/Pressure/eyc37GRG">pressure</a> <a href="/facts/Gas/hVVAoodV">gas</a> is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a <a href="/facts/Gas_compressor/I0vV0Tx2">compressor</a> or <a href="/facts/Electric_generator/5sATsUGX">generator</a>. </p><p>Because work is extracted from the expanding high-pressure gas, the expansion is approximated by an <a href="/facts/Isentropic/BYMe7V5P">isentropic</a> process (i.e., a constant-<a href="/facts/Entropy/s52IXeFz">entropy</a> process), and the low-pressure <a href="/facts/Exhaust_gas/kLpq1eUX">exhaust gas</a> from the turbine is at a very low <a href="/facts/Temperature/QyGe4gmj">temperature</a>, −150 °C or less, depending upon the operating pressure and gas properties. Partial liquefaction of the expanded gas is not uncommon. </p><p>Turboexpanders are widely used as sources of <a href="/facts/Refrigeration/Bs8HHbYd">refrigeration</a> in industrial processes such as the extraction of <a href="/facts/Ethane/BGCzc6yh">ethane</a> and <a href="/facts/Natural-gas_condensate/yFKqn8SS">natural-gas liquids</a> (NGLs) from <a href="/facts/Natural_gas/9MYQ7NAP">natural gas</a>, the <a href="/facts/Liquefaction_of_gases/sHp15Rbe">liquefaction of gases</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a>, <a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a>, <a href="/facts/Helium/yRul93TG">helium</a>, <a href="/facts/Argon/QX6NRH6d">argon</a> and <a href="/facts/Krypton/llkNlCke">krypton</a>) and other low-temperature processes. </p><p>Turboexpanders currently in operation range in size from about 750 <a href="/facts/Watt/VK8oqRrm">W</a> to about 7.5 MW (1 <a href="/facts/Horsepower/jRMwmIxA">hp</a> to about 10,000 hp). </p>