Anax Power and Magellan Scientific Use Turboexpander for Emissions-Free Computing

The Patented System Pairs a Natural Gas Turboexpander with an Off-Grid Data Center in Pennsylvania

Anax Power announces the successful commissioning of the 500kW Anax Turboexpander (“ATE-500”), which uses the pressure and flow of natural gas moving through pipelines to generate emissions-free electricity at natural gas regulating stations. The project operates at Pin Oak Energy’s Johnsonburg Regulating Station in Pennsylvania, and generates up to 500kW of clean power for consumption in Magellan Scientific’s off-grid, co-located data center.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115989811/en/

Anax Power and Magellan Scientific's Patented Turboexpander-Data Center System on a Pin Oak Energy Pipeline. (Photo: Business Wire)

This milestone gives pipeline companies a way to use their existing assets to achieve their decarbonization goals and demonstrate sustainable energy practices. With over a decade of development, the ATE-500 is the first turboexpander in the world to be specifically designed to generate power and maximize reliability on natural gas pipelines.

The patented turboexpander-data center system uses the data center’s excess heat and the turboexpander’s excess cooling to achieve emissions-free, distributed computing. Specifically, cooling from the turboexpander (via the Joule-Thomson Effect) is used to optimize the data center while excess computing heat is added into the pipeline to protect downstream equipment by maintaining the gas above freezing. The system sets a new benchmark in environmental standards for natural gas pipelines and highlights the transformative potential of combining data center operations with advanced energy recovery systems.

The ATE-500, which is specifically designed for natural gas pipelines, uses active magnetic bearings and a proprietary two-stage expansion process to generate power and handle fluctuating pipeline conditions. While turboexpanders are widely used in cryogenic plants, gas processing facilities, and other industrial applications, they have not gained traction on natural gas pipelines.

Technical Highlights of the Turboexpander-Data Center System

The newly commissioned system boasts several state-of-the-art features, including:

• Active Magnetic Bearings eliminate mechanical friction and allow the turboexpander to respond to dynamic conditions on a natural gas pipeline. They also improve efficiency, reduce maintenance requirements, and ensure long-term operational reliability.
• Two-Stage Turboexpander Design improves efficiency by optimizing energy recovery at each stage, maximizing power generation from natural gas pressure regulation.
• A Fully Integrated Skid incorporates the same functionality and equipment as a traditional pressure regulating valve. The skid’s balance of plant and integrated programmable logic control (“PLC”) system provide operational redundance and seamless integration with the existing regulating infrastructure.
• Integrated Immersion Data Center provides an off-grid consumer for the turboexpander’s electricity. The system recovers waste heat from the computers, which is added back to the natural gas in the turboexpansion process. Pairing the turboexpander with an immersion data center provides excellent project economics by providing a behind-the-meter use for the power and waste heat to maintain acceptable gas temperature in the pipeline.

A Collaborative Success

“Partnering with Pin Oak Energy Partners and Magellan Scientific has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition,” said Michael Longo of Anax Power. “Their commitment to innovation and sustainability aligns with our mission to sustainably transform America’s greatest energy resource – its natural gas pipeline system.”

Pin Oak Energy Partners used their pipeline expertise to ensure a smooth installation and integration with the existing pipeline infrastructure. “Pin Oak is excited to modernize our natural gas regulating station with the installation of the ATE-500,” said Christopher Halvorson, CEO of Pin Oak Energy Partners. He continued, “Typical gas regulating valves are inefficient, but the ATE-500 harnesses this wasted energy to produce emissions-free electricity.”

Meanwhile, Magellan Scientific’s data center was the ideal partner for demonstrating the waste heat recovery capabilities of the system. “Data center demands for electricity are exponentially increasing” said Brent Breon, VP of Power of Magellan Scientific. “Pairing an off-grid immersion data center with the ATE-500 provides a source of 24/7, emission-free electricity. The turboexpander also helps to manage excessive heat from the data center by providing cooling at zero incremental cost.”

About Anax Power

Anax Power is a leader in clean energy solutions, specializing in turboexpander technology that converts natural gas pressure into electricity without combustion. Their innovative systems deliver economic and environmental benefits by repurposing wasted energy into reliable, carbon-free power.

About Pin Oak Energy Partners

Pin Oak Energy Partners is a premier midstream and upstream energy company focused on the responsible development and operation of natural gas assets throughout North America.

About Magellan Scientific

Magellan Scientific is at the forefront of integrating advanced data center technologies with sustainable energy solutions, offering innovative approaches to harnessing and repurposing energy.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115989811/en/