Natural gas letdown generator system and method

A method of controlling a natural gas letdown station, the natural gas letdown station comprising:

• a supply of high pressure natural gas;
• a letdown generator comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to accept a portion of natural gas from the supply of high pressure natural gas and an output configured to output the natural gas at a lower temperature and lower pressure, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity;
• a first heat exchanger located upstream the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to the natural gas;
• and
• a second heat exchanger located downstream of the letdown generator, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to the natural gas after the natural gas exits the output of the letdown generator;
• and
• an electric heater powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator and configured to provide heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,
• wherein the method comprises:
• monitoring a temperature of the natural gas that is exiting the outlet of the letdown generator;
• determining that the temperature of the natural gas is below a pre-determined temperature setpoint;
• and
• upon making the determination that the natural gas is below the pre-determined temperature setpoint, directing an increased amount of electricity from the letdown generator to the electric heater to provide additional heat to the natural gas.

A method of controlling a natural gas letdown station, the natural gas letdown station comprising:

• a supply of high pressure natural gas;
• an immersion data center, comprising a body filled with a dielectric fluid, wherein one or more electrical components are immersed at least partially in the dielectric fluid;
• a letdown generator comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to accept a portion of natural gas from the supply of high pressure natural gas and an output configured to output the natural gas at a lower temperature and lower pressure, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity to power at least a portion of the immersion data center;
• a first heat exchanger in fluid connection with the inlet of the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the dielectric fluid of the data center to the natural gas;
• and
• an in-line heater located between the first heat exchanger and the data center, the in-line heater powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator and configured to provide heat to the natural gas prior to the inlet of the letdown generator,
• wherein the method comprises:
• monitoring a power generated from the letdown generator and a power consumption of the data center;
• determining whether the power generated from the letdown generator is greater than the power consumption of the data center;
• and
• upon determining that the power generated from the letdown generator is greater than the power consumption of the center, increasing the power consumption of the data center by placing at least one of the one or more electrical components into an increased power consumption state or by powering on at least one of the one or more electrical components.

A natural gas system, comprising:

• a supply of high pressure natural gas;
• a letdown generator comprising an inlet configured to accept a portion of natural gas from the supply of high pressure natural gas, the natural gas entering the inlet at a first temperature and a first pressure, and an outlet configured to output the natural gas from the letdown generator at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity;
• a first heat exchanger located upstream of the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from an immersion data center to the natural gas before the natural gas enters the inlet of the letdown generator;
• a second heat exchanger located downstream of the letdown generator, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the immersion data center to the natural gas after the natural gas exits the output of the letdown generator;
• and
• the immersion data center, comprising a body filled with a dielectric fluid, wherein at least one electrical component is immersed at least partially in the dielectric fluid, and the immersion data center is powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator.