Metrology for LNG

custody transfer and transport fuel applications

Metrology for LNG workshop 2017

Gerard Nieuwenkamp

Noordwijk aan Zee,

4th April 2017

Metrology: The science of measurement

VSL - Beyond all doubt 2

A measurement is a comparison between the quantity (unit) you want to know or to determine, with the one you think to know (the standard) (wikipedia)

Keywords are: Traceability, comparability, uncertainty Trust , reliability

Measurements are seen as the cornerstones of trade, science and technology

Metrological traceability

VSL - Beyond all doubt 3

Traceability pyramid (mass)

Grand K

National PtIr

Reference standards NMI

Working standards NMI

Accredited laboratories

Industry

internationally accepted SI units

Many activities between source and the point of use

Bunkering/Fuelling stations

Ships Trucks

Receiving terminal

Small ship Road tanker

Buses

Ocean tanker

Pipeline gas

VSL - Beyond all doubt 4

Energy content of LNG (=money!)

Energy ≈ Volume x Density x Gross Calorific Value

Source: GIGGNL Custody transfer handbook, 3rd edition

Traceability based on a Metrological infrastructure did not exist!! (2009 -)

Metrology for LNG roadmap (2009)

What about finance / funding?

EMRP / EMPIR

VSL - Beyond all doubt 7

-23 participating European Countries -Individual national research funding collected by EU and doubled! -Collaborative project proposals in several themes:

-environment - energy - industry - health - etc

-Per call 8-10 projects funded (>60 ideas) -Budget 2-3 M€ per project -REGs / RMGs (Research Grants) -unfunded partners from industry/university etc. -in EMPIR: funded partners from industry/university

European Metrology Research Program (2009-2016) European Metrology Program for Innovation and Research (2014-2021)

VSL - Beyond all doubt 8 Based on the succesful EMRP results, the new 8 years EMPIR program has started

EMRP / EMPIR: call for energy

VSL - Beyond all doubt 9

LNG (2010-2013) - Primary LNG mass flow standard (25 m3/hr) - Density literature study and experiments for new EoS

LNG II (2014-2017) - MidScale calibration facility at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte (400 m3/hr) - Methane number algorithm and experiments - Flow (USM, coriolis, LDV), density and composition measurements - Thermodynamic properties, density equation of state LNG III (2017-2020) - Study flow disturbance effects on measurement uncertainty - Design and build liquefier for LNG composition reference standards - In-line (sensor) measurements for composition, density, MN, MS and particles

(Worldwide) Industrial support

Partners / sponsors

VSL - Beyond all doubt 10

coordinator

Highlight of first EMRP project: LNG I:Primary LNG mass flow standard, 25 m3/h

11 VSL - Beyond all doubt

Flow meter to be calibrated

Reference for calibrations

Weighing tank

Supplying tank

Pump

Uncertainty sources in primary flow standard

Fixed connection causing non-constant forces on scale

Partly undefined direction of flow during switch over

Uncertainty in mass collected between MUT and Reference

Realized with uncertainty of 0.08% (0.12% for meter under test)

Examples of actual EMRP projects: LNG II: Unique calibration facilities on “de Maasvlakte”

Designing, building and validating a mid-scale LNG mass and volume flow calibration facility

Plans in EMPIR project: LNG III: full uncertainty budget for flow meters (400m3/hr)

VSL - Beyond all doubt 14

Test parameters: • Presence of upstream disturbances (bends, fittings and other obstructions).

• Presence of 2nd phase (Nitrogen is proposed as a second phase for LNG and air for water)

• Different Coriolis meter and ECT inclinations

• Testing with and without insulation jacket under cryogenic conditions

• Tests for Coriolis response time, thermal stability and non-nonlinearity

• Feasibility study for a piston prover as a primary standard and for an upscaling of the facility to 1000 m3/hr

Total uncertainty is not only based on ideal conditions:

LNG composition measurement

Aims:

Produce an accurate, lab-based

sampling and analysis reference

method to test and calibrate

commercially available sampling/ composition

measurement systems

Develop methods to sample and vaporize LNG

in a representative and homogeneous fashion

Validate Raman spectroscopy methods for

composition analysis and compare the results

obtained to those from GC methods

Study the effects of long-term storage on LNG

composition

Sampling point New sampler

VSL - Beyond all doubt 15

Sampler & Vaporizer

Reference Liquefier

LNG calibration gas

LNG reference gas (known composition)

Measurement 1 (Reference)

Measurement 2 (Result)

Developed within the project

LNG Composition reference standard

Supercritical vaporizing

Laboratory tests:

Reference Result

Quantity

(unit)

Raman Probe

LNG reference gas in

Liquefier/ measurement cell

Insulation shield

Liquefier and Raman measurement cell

16 VSL - Beyond all doubt

Single-Sinker Densimeter for cryogenic liquid mixtures at Ruhr-University Bochum

Specifications

• T-range: 90 K to 300 K

• p-range: 0.05 MPa to 12 MPa

• Homogeneous + saturated liquid (incl. vapor pressure), hom. gas

• Δρ/ρ < 0.05 % (incl. mix. unc.)

LNG density measurements

17 VSL - Beyond all doubt

Novelty!

MSC: first

time operated

at cryogenic

temperatures

Single-Sinker Densimeter

for Cryogenic Liquid Mixtures

of Richter, Kleinrahm,

Lentner and Span (2015)

18

Improved Equation of State implemented in new release of GIIGNL handbook

VSL - Beyond all doubt 19

.cfacs.

19

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

MN

(NP

L)

MN (MWM)

Methane Number (MN) Algorithm

with uncertainty!

• Ranking of knocking resistance of gases

(expressed in MN/ like octane number for

petrol)

• Developed MN algorithm based on

experimental data from detailed study by AVL

• Includes correction for nitrogen and higher

hydrocarbons

• Algorithm shows good agreement with other

popular methods (e.g. DGC, MWM)

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Emirates Norway Libya Oman Alaska

Me

than

e N

um

be

r

MN-algorithm

DGC

MWM

DGC - Danish Gas Company MWM - Motorenwerke Mannheim

LNG origin sources 20 VSL - Beyond all doubt

Selected mixtures for MN study

• Selected mixtures represent

commercially available mixtures and

their variations in composition well

• Resulting MNs cover a very broad

range allowing for sufficient feedback

for the algorithm

Components Mol fractions

(% mol/mol)

Nitrogen 0.15 - 1.5

Methane 78.5 - 99.7

Ethane 0.1 - 14

Propane 0.03 - 4

iso-Butane 0.01 – 1.1

n-Butane 0.01 – 0.9

iso-Pentane 0.005 – 0.15

n-Pentane 0.005 – 0.15 50

60

70

80

90

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Me

than

e N

um

be

r

Selected mixtures

21 VSL - Beyond all doubt

MN algorithm calculations

VSL - Beyond all doubt 22

Determination of knocking resistance:

• Ignition delay time measurements

– Using Rapid Compression Machine (RCM)

– 3 stoichiometries

– 5 temperatures between 500K and 900K

– Pressures 20 – 80 bar

• Spark-Ignition (SI) engine measurements

– Test with 2 types of engines

– Test with reference gas (CH4 + H2)

– Test with all selected mixtures

– Test with different engine speeds, intake cam position, and center of

combustion

RCM and SI engine tests

23 VSL - Beyond all doubt

Algorithm and validation results will be communicated with standardization communities

LNGIII : Development and validation of “in-line” sensor techniques

VSL - Beyond all doubt 24

Engine measurements for: Composition Methane Number Methane Slip Particles (LNG and LBG)

simultaneously measuring

speed-of-sound and density

(91 < (T/K) < 110)

Contribution to the LNG business

Reduced flow measurement uncertainty, well-defined properties and knowledge about the behavior of LNG will contribute to the market acceptance and the sustainability of the LNG business

25 VSL - Beyond all doubt

VSL

PO Box 654

2600 AR Delft

The Netherlands

T

F

E

I

+31 15 269 15 00

+31 15 261 29 71

info@vsl.nl

www.vsl.nl

www.LNGmetrology.com gnieuwenkamp@vsl.nl

Thanks to all who contributed so far and looking forward to continue in future projects. Are there any questions?