Wobbe Index Meter

Real-time Wobbe Index Determination
of Natural Gas
J.C. Ltters Bronkhorst
Real-time Wobbe index determination

of gas mixtures
Joost Ltters
Professor
Microfluidic handling systems
Chief Technology Officer
Introduction
Problem
huge variation in the composition and quality of the
natural gas in national gas grids (Wobbe Index [MJ/m3])
Causes
blending of natural gas from different countries
the addition of biogas
periodical variations in both gas types
INTRODUCTION WOBBE INDEX
INTRODUCTION WOBBE INDEX
INTRODUCTION
Current gas quality variations in the German gas grid
Monitoring the gas quality
Requirements:
- Small size
< 20 x 10 x 10 cm
- Low cost
< 5.000
- Fast response
< 1 .. 5 s
- Low gas consumption < 1 liter
- Provide real-time information about the composition
- Accuracy
<5%
Application: any Point-of-use and Point-of-Produce!

Solutions:
We can determine the calorific value of the gas by:
- Combustion (Wobbe index meter)
- Correlation (Multiparameter system)
For both solutions we need a Coriolis flow meter

suited for accurate measurement of gas
- Flow
- Density

3 types of Coriolis flow meters:
We can determine the calorific value of the gas by:
(1) Industrial
(2) OEM
(3) Consumer
The smart gas grid
The smart gas grid
Micro Coriolis Flow Sensor

Sensor structure and basic operating principle
Micro Coriolis Flow Sensor

Sensor structure and basic operating principle
Lorentz force actuation
Movement due to Coriolis force
Resulting movement of flow tube
Theory and modelling

Density
measurement
possible!
Fabrication
University of Twente
Transducers Science and Technology
Prof. Elwenspoek
Assembly, interconnection & packaging

- glass cover over chip -
27 March 2015
Coriolis Chip Packaging
18
Product roadmap
Cori-Flow
mini Cori-Flow
~ 1000 kg/h
~ 1 kg/h
2002
2008
micro Cori-Flow
~ 1 g/h
2016
Currently,
demonstrators
are available
Demonstrator of the microCoriolis flow meter
Measurement results
M10 performance water vs. weighing scale (Mettler Toledo AX205)
15
10
Error [%RD]
5
0.5%RD and 0.002g/hZS
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
Water mass flow by M10
-5
-10
-15
Mass flow [g/h]
Measured accuracy: 0.5 % of reading 0.002 g/h zero-stability
Measurement results
Performance M10 Air vs. calibration tube
1515
Error [%RD]
Error [%RD]
1010
0
-5
Air M10
+0.5%RD en +0.002g/hZS
0.002
0.1
0.004
0.2 0.006
0.30.008
-5
0.01
0.4
0.012
0.5
-0.5%RD en -0.002g/hZS
Pressure ca. 7 bar

at max. flow
-10
-10
-15
-15
volumetric
flow [ln/min]
Mass flow (g/h)
Measurement results
M10 performance with Helium
CH4 vs. calibration tube
15
15
Error [%RD]
[%RD]
Error
10
10
55
CH4 M10
Helium
00
0
+0.5%RD en +0.002g/hZS
0.02
0.04
0.005
0.06
0.010.08
0.1
0.015 0.12
0.14
0.02
-0.5%RD en -0.002g/hZS
-5
-5
Pressure ca. 7 bar

at max. flow
-10
-10
-15
-15
volumetric flow [ln/min]

Mass flow [g/h]
Measurement results
H2 vs. calibration tube
M10 performance Argon
15
15
10
[%RD]
Error
RD]
Error [%
10
55
H2
Argon M10
00
+0.5%RD en +0.002g/hZS
00
0.2
0.005
0.010.4 0.015 0.60.02
0.8
0.025
1
0.03
-0.5%RD en -0.002g/hZS
-5
-5
Pressure ca. 7 bar

at max. flow
-10
-10
-15
-15
volumetric flow [ln/min]

Mass flow [g/h]
Reduced pressure drop by

on-chip by-pass channel
Ratios ranging from 20 to 100 have been designed, realised
and characterised
CleWin mask design
Measurement results
Density of (fuel) gases
2349.5
Frequency (Hz)
2349
Density (kg/m3)
Frequency (Hz)
Min/Max (Hz)
Argon
1.78
2346.95
0.4
Air
1.29
2347.45
0.45
Helium
0.178
2348.55
0.5
Hydrogen
0.09
2348.65
0.45
2348.5
2348
2347.5
2347
y = -1.0008x + 2348.7
R2 = 0.9999
2346.5
2346
0
0.5
1.5
[kg/m3]
density (kg/h)
Frequency [Hz]
2950
y = -1.5681x + 2950
R2 = 0.9947
Density
(kg/m3)
Frequency (Hz)
Min/Ma
x (Hz)
CO2
1.977
2946.94
Argon
1.784
2947.2
N2
1.25
2947.97
CH4
0.7174
2949.02
He
0.1785
2949.68
2949
2948
2947
2946
0
0.5
1.5
density [kg/m^3]
2.5
Micro Wobbe Index Meter

Basic Structure Chip Size ca. 15 x 15 mm
reaction chamber
with heaters
pre-heaters
exhaust tube
Coriolis mass
flow sensors
exhaust
thermally isolated
island
air
gas
Mixing of fuel gas and air

Air
Methane
Air
Scientific questions:
- Mixing
- Clogging
- Flame arrester
- Heat supply
Measurement results
Flow pulses 10 s on, 90 s off
Multiparameter Flow Measurement System
Multiparameter Flow Measurement System
(1)
(2)
Two ways of modelling:

(1) Composition determination via n equations with n unknowns (n 4)
(2) Wobbe index determination via correlation with the measured parameters
Envisioned MEMS Multiparameter Systems

M10
Multi parameter
Coriolis and thermal
Coriolis and pressure
Coriolis, thermal and pressure
Multiparameter Flow Measurement Set-up
Differential pressure
sensor
Density sensor
Coriolis flow
sensor
Thermal flow
sensor
Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results
Composition determination based on heat capacity;

modelling and measurement results of a binary gas
mixture (CH4 / CO2) are within 1%

3 equations with 3 unknowns
Composition determination of a ternary gas
mixture (CH4 / C3H8 / N2) based on the
heat capacity and density; modelling and
measurement results are within 5%
Correlation between WI and 2 parameters

Wobbe Index determination of a ternary gas
mixture (CH4 / C3H8 / N2); modelling and

3 equations with 3 unknowns
Composition determination of a ternary gas
mixture (CH4 / CO2 / N2) based on the heat
capacity and density; modelling and
Correlation between WI and 2 parameters

Wobbe Index determination of a ternary gas
mixture (CH4 / CO2 / N2); modelling and
THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

Field test at a supplier to the German gas grid
IS IN THE EATING
Field test at a supplier to the German gas grid
Summary
We realised an:
- Integrated micro Wobbe index meter, and a
- Multiparameter flow measurement system
for the energy content measurement of fuel gases
such as natural gas, biogas and hydrogen
Based on a microCoriolis mass flow meter, suitable of
measuring flow rate and density of gases
First measurement results have indicated the feasibility of
the concepts
Further research will focus on the integration of the micro
Coriolis mass flow meters, and performing more on-site
field tests.
Differential
pressure sensor
Density sensor
Coriolis flow
sensor
Thank you for your attention!
Thermal flow
sensor

Wobbe Index Meter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wobbe Index Meter

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wobbe Index Meter

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Real-time Wobbe Index Determination

Real-time Wobbe index determination

Chief Technology Officer

INTRODUCTION WOBBE INDEX

INTRODUCTION WOBBE INDEX

Monitoring the gas quality

Monitoring the gas quality

Application: any Point-of-use and Point-of-Produce!

Monitoring the gas quality

For both solutions we need a Coriolis flow meter

Monitoring the gas quality

The smart gas grid

The smart gas grid

Micro Coriolis Flow Sensor

Micro Coriolis Flow Sensor

Movement due to Coriolis force

Resulting movement of flow tube

Theory and modelling

Assembly, interconnection & packaging

Coriolis Chip Packaging

Demonstrator of the microCoriolis flow meter

Water mass flow by M10

Measured accuracy: 0.5 % of reading 0.002 g/h zero-stability

Pressure ca. 7 bar

Measured accuracy: 0.5 % of reading 0.002 g/h zero-stability

Pressure ca. 7 bar

volumetric flow [ln/min]

Measured accuracy: 0.5 % of reading 0.002 g/h zero-stability

0.010.4 0.015 0.60.02

Pressure ca. 7 bar

volumetric flow [ln/min]

Measured accuracy: 0.5 % of reading 0.002 g/h zero-stability

Reduced pressure drop by

CleWin mask design

Micro Wobbe Index Meter

Mixing of fuel gas and air

Multiparameter Flow Measurement System

Multiparameter Flow Measurement System

Two ways of modelling:

Envisioned MEMS Multiparameter Systems

Coriolis and thermal

Coriolis and pressure

Coriolis, thermal and pressure

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Set-up

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results

Composition determination based on heat capacity;

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results

Correlation between WI and 2 parameters

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results

Correlation between WI and 2 parameters

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

Thank you for your attention!

You might also like