Reduce the Frequency of Engine Starts with Gas

The document outlines a method for reducing methane emissions by optimizing the operation and maintenance of turbine compressors to avoid frequent engine starts, which typically vent unignited gas to the atmosphere. A reported case by PECO Energy Company demonstrated a reduction in compressor restarts from 9.4 to 1 per year, saving 132 Mcf of methane annually.

• Internal combustion engine-driven turbine compressors often vent unignited natural gas to the atmosphere during the startup process, where gas is directed through the turbine to spin the engine before ignition.
• PECO Energy Company reported that modifying maintenance practices and operation scheduling for an LNG refrigeration compressor reduced restarts from 9.4 per year to 1 per year, resulting in an annual methane saving of 132 Mcf (or 1.1 MMcf per year).
• The practice is applicable to operations with multiple parallel compressors and can offer rapid investment recovery, although it may introduce hidden costs related to extended compressor run-times between scheduled preventive maintenance.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2004). Reduce the Frequency of Engine Starts with Gas. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03084450/ES_reduce-freq-of-engine-starts-with-gas.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Reduce the Frequency of Engine Starts with Gas. 2004. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03084450/ES_reduce-freq-of-engine-starts-with-gas.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Reduce the Frequency of Engine Starts with Gas |date=September 2004 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03084450/ES_reduce-freq-of-engine-starts-with-gas.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2004reduce, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Reduce the Frequency of Engine Starts with Gas}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2004}, month = sep, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03084450/ES_reduce-freq-of-engine-starts-with-gas.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }