This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D5454 − 11´1

Standard Test Method for

Water Vapor Content of Gaseous Fuels Using Electronic
Moisture Analyzers1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5454; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

ε1 NOTE—Fig. 1 was editorially updated in July 2011.

1. Scope 3.1.2 electrolytic-type cell—this cell is composed of two

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the water noble metal electrode wires coated with P2O5. A bias voltage is
vapor content of gaseous fuels by the use of electronic moisture applied to the electrodes, and water vapor chemically reacts,
analyzers. Such analyzers commonly use sensing cells based generating a current between the electrodes proportional to the
on phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5, aluminum oxide, Al2O3, or water vapor present.
silicon sensors piezoelectric-type cells and laser based tech- 3.1.3 piezoelectric-type cell— sensor consists of a pair of
nologies. electrodes which support a quartz crystal (QCM) transducer.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the When voltage is applied to the sensor a very stable oscillation
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the occurs. The faces of the sensor are coated with a hygroscopic
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- polymer. As the amount of moisture absorbed onto the polymer
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- varies, a proportional change in the oscillation frequency is
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. produced.
3.1.4 laser-type cell— consists of a sample cell with an
2. Referenced Documents optical head mounted on one end and a mirror mounted on the
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 other; however, some models will not need a mirror to reflect
D1142 Test Method for Water Vapor Content of Gaseous the light wavelength emitted from the laser. The optical head
Fuels by Measurement of Dew-Point Temperature contains a NIR laser, which emits light at a wavelength known
D1145 Test Method for Sampling Natural Gas (Withdrawn to be absorbed by the water molecule. Mounted, the laser is a
1986)3 detector sensitive to NIR wavelength light. Light from the laser
D4178 Practice for Calibrating Moisture Analyzers passes through the far end and returns to the detector in the
optical head. A portion of the emitted light, proportional to the
3. Terminology water molecules present, is absorbed as the light transits the
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: sample cell and returns to the detector.
3.1.1 capacitance-type cell—this cell uses aluminum coated 3.1.5 water content—water content is customarily expressed
with Al2O3 as part of a capacitor. The dielectric Al2O3 film in terms of dewpoint, °F or °C, at atmospheric pressure, or the
changes the capacity of the capacitor in relation to the water nonmetric term of pounds per million standard cubic feet,
vapor present. Silicone cells also operate on this principal by lb/MMSCF. The latter term will be used in this test method
reporting a capacitance change when adsorbing or desorbing because it is the usual readout unit for electronic analyzers.
water vapor. One lb/MMSCF = 21.1 ppm by volume or 16.1 mgm/m3 of
water vapor. Analyzers must cover the range 0.1 to 50
lb/MMSCF.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D03 on Gaseous
Fuels and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D03.05 on Determination of 3.1.6 water dewpoint—the temperature (at a specified pres-
Special Constituents of Gaseous Fuels. sure) at which liquid water will start to condense from the
Current edition approved July 11, 2011. Published July 2011. Originally water vapor present. Charts of dewpoints versus pressure and
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D5454–04. DOI:
water content are found in Test Method D1142.
10.1520/D5454-11E01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM 4. Significance and Use
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
4.1 Water content in fuel gas is the major factor influencing
the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on internal corrosion. Hydrates, a semisolid combination of hy-
www.astm.org. drocarbons and water, will form under the proper conditions

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 D5454 − 11´1
causing serious operating problems. Fuel heating value is 5.1.2.1 Pressure gages with bourdon tubes should be
reduced by water concentration. Water concentration levels are avoided as a result of water accumulation in the stagnant
therefore frequently measured in natural gas systems. A com- volume.
mon pipeline specification is 4 to 7 lb/MMSCF. This test 5.1.2.2 Sample purging is important to satisfactory response
method describes measurement of water vapor content with time. There must be a method to purge the sample line and
direct readout electronic instrumentation. sample cleanup system.
5.1.3 Electronics—Output from the sensor will be linearized
5. Apparatus for analog or digital display in desired units (usually lb/
5.1 The moisture analyzer and sampling system will have MMSCF). There must be an adjustment for calibration accu-
the following general specifications: racy available that can be used in the field if a suitable standard
5.1.1 Sampling System—Most errors involved with moisture is available. (This does not apply to instruments that assume
analysis can be eliminated with a proper sampling system. complete chemical reaction of water. Their accuracy still must
5.1.1.1 A pipeline sample should be obtained with a probe be verified as in Section 6.)
per Method D1145. The sample temperature must be main- 5.1.4 Power Supply—Analyzers for field use will have
tained 2°C (3°F) above the dewpoint of the gas to prevent rechargeable or easily replaceable batteries. (Warning—
condensation in the sample line or analyzer. Use of insulation Analyzers for use in hazardous locations because of combus-
or heat tracing is recommended at cold ambient temperatures. tible gas must be certified as meeting the appropriate require-
5.1.1.2 Analyzer sensors are very sensitive to contamina- ments.)
tion. Any contaminants injurious to the sensor must be re-
moved from the sample stream before reaching the sensor. This 6. Calibration
must be done with minimum impact on accuracy or time of
6.1 A calibration technique is described in Practice D4178
response. If the contaminant is an aerosol of oil, glycol, and so
that should be used to verify the accuracy of the analyzer. This
forth, a coalescing filter or semipermeable membrane separator
method uses the known vapor pressure of water at 0°C and
must be used.
mixes wet gas and dry gas to make up the total pressure so that
5.1.2 Construction—Sampling may be done at high or low
a standard gas of known water concentration is achieved.
pressure. All components subject to high pressure must be
rated accordingly. To minimize diffusion and absorption, all 6.1.1 Instruments very sensitive to sample flow must be
materials in contact with the sample before the sensor must be compensated for barometric pressure.
made of stainless steel. Tubing of 1⁄8-in. stainless steel is 6.2 A commercially made water vapor calibrator is shown in
recommended. (Warning —Use appropriate safety precau- Fig. 1, which uses essentially the same technique. This method
tions when sampling at high pressure.) is useful only between 5 to 50 lb/MMSCF.

FIG. 1 Moisture Calibrator

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 D5454 − 11´1
6.3 Low-range water vapor standards may be obtained by dations prior to use. See Section 6. Verification of a dry
the use of water permeation tubes. Permeation rates must be instrument using dry compressed nitrogen to get a reading
established by tube weight loss. below 1 lb/MMSCF is recommended before field use.
6.4 Compressed gas water vapor standards may be used, 7.2 Sample Procedure—Sample as in 5.1.1.1. Use as short a
provided they are checked by an independent method once a sample line as practical. Purge the sample for 2 min before
month. valving to the sensor.
6.5 Calibrate the analyzer using one of the standards in 6.3 7.3 Reading—The time for a sensor to come to equilibrium
and 6.4 and respective procedures. Calibration must be at two is variable depending on its type and condition. The analyzer
points, one higher and one lower than average expected may require 20 min to stabilize. Some analyzers have an
readings. Some analyzers can have large nonlinear errors. Use external recorder output, and these can be used with a chart
the calibration adjustment if applicable. recorder to become familiar with the true equilibrium response
time.
7. Procedure 8. Precision and Bias
7.1 Preparation—The analyzer operation and calibration 8.1 Precision data is being prepared for this test method by
should be checked according to the manufacturer’s recommen- an interlaboratory study.

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