Systems and Methods for Generating and Consuming Power from Natural Gas

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to mitigate flaring of natural gas. A natural gas processing system may process raw natural gas into a fuel gas stream that may be used to power any number of on-site power generation modules. In turn, the power generation modules may convert the fuel gas stream into an electrical output, which may be employed to power any number of distributed computing units housed within one or more mobile data centers. In certain embodiments, the distributed computing units may be adapted to mine cryptocurrency or perform other distributed computing tasks to generate revenue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a fuel gas source adapted to provide a fuel gas associated with a heat value of at least about 1,000 Btu/scf;   an electrical power generation system comprising:
 a power generation module in communication with the fuel gas source, the power generation module adapted to:
 receive a primary fuel gas stream comprising a portion of the fuel gas from the fuel gas source; and 
 consume the received gas stream to generate a high-voltage electrical output associated with a first voltage; 
 
 an electrical transformation module in electrical communication with the power generation module, the electrical transformation module adapted to:
 receive the high-voltage electrical output generated by the power generation module; and 
 transform the high-voltage electrical output into a low-voltage electrical output associated with a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage; 
 
   a distributed computing system powered by the electrical power generation system, the distributed computing system comprising:
 a communications system adapted to provide a network; and 
 a plurality of distributed computing units in communication with the network; and 
 a power system in electrical communication with the electrical transformation module and the plurality of distributed computing units such that the power system receives the low-voltage electrical output and powers each of the plurality of distributed computing units; and 
   a desulfurization module adapted to remove sulfur from a gas stream to provide the fuel gas.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the desulfurization module includes a dry sorbent to capture sulfur gases in solid form. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dry sorbent is from a group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and sodium carbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the desulfurization module is adapted to inject a fine sorbent into the gas stream. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the desulfurization module is adapted to collect resulting sulfur-containing solids. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the desulfurization module includes a wet scrubber subsystem. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the wet scrubber subsystem is a venturi, packed-column, or tray system. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the wet scrubber subsystem includes a scrubbing solution or slurry to absorb H 2 S and convert H 2 S to mercaptans. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8  wherein the wet scrubber subsystem is adapted to use a scrubbing solution or slurry to absorb H 2 S and convert H 2 S to mercaptans. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9  wherein the wet scrubber subsystem is adapted to drain the mercaptans from a spent bed in liquid form. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the desulfurization module is adapted to output a resulting gas stream including a sulfur content of less than about 0.01 lbs/Mscf. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the desulfurization module is adapted to employ an amine solution to remove H 2 S. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the desulfurization module includes a tower containing the amine solution, the amine solution adapted to absorb sulfur. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the amine solution includes monoethanolamine (“MEA”) or diethanolamine (“DEA”). 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a compressor module upstream from the desulfurization module to increase the pressure of the gas stream. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the compressor module is driven by a generator fueled by a portion of the gas stream. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the generator driven by a piston engine or a natural gas turbine. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a CO 2  removal module upstream from the desulfurization module to remove CO 2  from the gas stream. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18  wherein the CO 2  removal module is adapted to reduce CO 2  content in the fuel gas stream to less than about 1% CO 2 . 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 removing sulfur from a gas stream;   receiving a fuel gas stream from the gas stream comprising a fuel gas associated with a gas profile, the fuel gas having a heat value of at least about 1,000 Btu/scf;   generating, from the fuel gas stream, a high-voltage electrical output associated with a first voltage;   transforming the high-voltage electrical output into a low-voltage electrical output associated with a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage;   powering, via the low-voltage electrical output, a plurality of distributed computing units;   monitoring the gas profile of the received fuel gas; and   upon determining a change in the gas profile, modulating an electrical load of the plurality of distributed computing units.