Gas Analysis Equipment

Measuring the calorific value of natural gas is certainly one of the most important gas analysis applications in the natural gas industry. Since gas billing is based on the total energy flow rather than volume flow, we have incorporated metrological features into our equipment in order to carry out fiscal measurements. With our state-of-the-art gas chromatograph, the EnCal 3000, we offer a highly accurate and sophisticated solution. For those applications where speed rather than accuracy is required, the gas-lab Q1 is the best choice.

Biogas provides a valuable contribution to energy production from renewable sources. Upgrading and injection into the public gas grid allows highly efficient combined heat and power generation anywhere in the supply grid. Such biogas plants require gas quality analysis at different positions and with different measuring tasks. For gas injection into the grid, the requirements of product quality and fiscal metering must be fulfilled. Using our experience in the field of fiscal metering and gas analysis we have developed a solution for the biogas analysis as well as a complete solution for biogas upgrading to bio methane quality and injection in the gas grid.
Contact: biogas@elster.com 

Odorization of natural gas is an important operational aspect in the natural gas industry. Since natural gas is odourless, a gas leakage cannot be detected unless sufficient odorant is added to it. On the other hand, if too much odorant is used, even harmless small leakages will be noticed, leading to unnecessary reports from worried customers or end users in private households and industry.
A widely-used odorant for natural gas is THT (tetrahydrothiophene). THT is a sulphur-containing liquid with a strong, unpleasant smell. If added in small quantities to natural gas, THT gives the gas the odour required for safe use in both households and industry.
Since there are specified limit values for the minimum and maximum concentrations of THT in natural gas, these must be measured. These measurements often only mean laboratory checks at certain intervals. Using our equipment, it is also possible to measure THT concentrations online, ensuring continuous verification and thus additional safety. As the reference value is continuously updated, adding too much THT is avoided, which results in cost reductions.

In addition to measuring the energy values, other gas quality parameters are also increasing in importance. For example, the hydrocarbon dew point is a very important value. Condensate in the gas can adversely affect the integrity of gas equipment during the transport process. At the point of use, the condensate in the gas can present a major danger, for example for combustion gas turbines. The hydrocarbon dew point is generally measured using complicated, specialised measuring instruments or by sampling and laboratory analysis. A newly developed version of the gas chromatograph EnCal 3000 from Elster now allows the hydrocarbon dew point to be measured conveniently in the process and at low cost, while at the same time measuring the energy values.

Desulphurization of natural gas is an important treatment to make the gas suitable for transportation through pipeline networks. Depending on the source of the gas, the sulphur content can vary from hardly any to very sour, with concentrations of up to 5% or more. High amounts of sulphur can be problematic because of the corrosive properties of, for example, H2S in the presence of water.
In addition, there is the human safety perspective. Gas containing high levels of H2S is unacceptable because it would be lethal if breathed in. To guarantee pipeline integrity and protection of gas turbines, there is a specified limit value for the maximum allowable concentration of sulphur in natural gas. Sulphur can be present in several molecular forms, of which H2S is the most damaging form. Elster offers a cost effective solution to measure H2S and/or other components containing sulphur with the EnCal 3000 gas chromatograph.

Elster Instromet does not only produce analysers for specific measurement tasks, but we are also able to supply complete analyser systems. From small skid or cabinet mounted solutions to the bigger analyser container systems, we can engineer or build complete systems according to your specifications. With system construction facilities in Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Malaysia, we have lots of experience in assembling turnkey analyser systems for the purpose of fiscal measurement but also for other types of applications like power plant control.

Elster has acquired the gas chromatography assets, including sophisticated proprietary intellectual property, from SLS Micro Technology (SLS).

Elster plans to integrate the technology from SLS into its existing gas measurement and quality solutions at its gas quality competence center in Dortmund, Germany. The new technology will extend Elster´s existing gas quality portfolio of fast sensor systems (gaslab Q1) and high-end process gas chromatographs (EnCal 3000) with an additional series of smart micro-gas chromatographs for energy measurement applications.

For more information, please contact:

infohh@elster.com

Hans-Peter Smid
Product Manager Gas Quality
+32 36700637
hans-peter.smid@honeywell.com

Addy Baksteen
Business Development Manager
+31 6-51814641
addy.baksteen@elster.com