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

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!

Monitoring the gas quality

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

Monitoring the gas quality

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)

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

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]

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

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]

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

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%

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results

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
measurement results are within 5%

Multiparameter Flow Measurement Results

3 equations with 3 unknowns
Composition determination of a ternary gas
mixture (CH4 / CO2 / 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 / CO2 / N2); modelling and
measurement results are within 5%

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