High-efficiency measurement technology

1. Introduction to Natural Gas Hydrogen Blending Technology Hydrogen -blended Natural Gas (HBNG ) refers to the technology of mixing hydrogen into traditional natural gas in a certain proportion to form a new low-carbon mixed fuel. As the global energy structure transforms towards green and low-carbon, hydrogen-blended natural gas has become one of the important ways to utilize hydrogen energy, which can not only give play to the clean advantages of hydrogen energy, but also utilize existing natural gas infrastructure and reduce the cost of energy transformation. As a link between hydrogen energy and natural gas, natural gas blending technology is one of the effective ways to help China achieve its " dual carbon " goals. Since 2005 , it has been put into practical use in many countries and regions around the world. 1. High sonic gas Hydrogen-blended natural gas is a high-sonic velocity gas (sonic velocity >600m/s ). Typical high-sonic velocity gas components include: pure hydrogen, pure helium, mixed gas with high hydrogen content, natural gas with a pressure greater than 250bar , etc. 2. Impact on ultrasonic flowmeter The effects of high sonic velocity gas on ultrasonic flowmeters are as follows: Shorter propagation times – shortened time differences, challenges for absolute time measurement Higher pressure further increases the speed of sound Wider sound waves - the outer sound channel is affected by the reflection of the tube wall, and the difference between various signals is not obvious Small-diameter flow meters are more seriously affected

2. Solutions and Product Introduction

Hydrogen is not unfamiliar as a clean energy source. In the field of hydrogen process measurement, Endress+Hauser Technologies' ultrasonic flowmeters have accumulated nearly 20 years of experience. Facing the measurement challenges of high-sonic velocity gases, we have the following solutions:

1. Solution

Let’s take pure hydrogen, which is widely used but difficult to measure, as an example:

· More use of two-channel design (2P&2X)

· Large-caliber configurable four-channel (high precision)

· High frequency probe - 200KHz or 300kHz working frequency probe improves signal-to-noise ratio

· Signal algorithm adjustment - special algorithm settings to handle adjacent / overlapping signals due to pipe wall reflections, shorter sound pulses

2. FLOWSIC600 series

As the successor of the previous generation of successful products, FLOWSIC600-XT gas ultrasonic flowmeter has set a new standard in this field. FLOWSIC600-XT has 4 channels, 4+1 channels, 4+4 channels and 8 channels to choose from to meet all single machine or system field application requirements. In addition to meeting the Class 1 requirements of OIML R137 , it also meets the requirements of Class 0.5 and AGA No.9 report.

Product Advantages

· Long-term stability and reliable measurement

· Wide range of applications

· Not affected by noisy environment

· Reliable performance in harsh conditions

· Constant gas composition monitoring via sound velocity measurement

· Reduce maintenance through intelligent self-diagnosis

Application Areas

· Natural gas trade measurement

· Gas transmission and storage

· LNG onshore or offshore applications

· Measures natural gas with up to 30% hydrogen

· Industrial gas metering CO 2 , H 2 , N 2 , O 2 , NH 3 , ethylene, helium, argon

· Suitable for gases with high H2S content, such as acid gas or biogas

3. Application Case Sharing

The Baotou - Linhe gas pipeline project, which will be put into operation at the end of 2023 , is the first long-distance high-pressure pipeline project in China with hydrogen-blending transmission capacity. The actual total length of the completed pipeline of the project is about 249 kilometers, the pipe diameter is D457mm , the design pressure is 6.3 MPa, and the annual design gas transmission capacity of the pipeline is 393 million cubic meters, which can be achieved after pressurization . 2 billion cubic meters / year. The commissioning and operation of the pipeline plays an important role in promoting the hydrogen energy consumption and the construction of the clean energy supply base industry in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is also an important representative of actively responding to the national " dual carbon " strategy and promoting the use of clean energy.

FLOWSIC600 ultrasonic flowmeters are also used on the Baotou - Linhe pipeline . The FLOWSIC600 ultrasonic flowmeter undertakes key metering tasks in this project. It can accurately measure the volume flow of hydrogen-blended natural gas with a measurement accuracy of ±0.5% , fully meeting the metering requirements of high-pressure pipelines. Its unique adaptive algorithm can automatically compensate for the changes in sound velocity caused by hydrogen mixing, ensuring measurement stability under different hydrogen blending ratios ( 0-20% ). FLOWSIC600 also has excellent anti-interference capabilities and can adapt to 6.3MPa high-pressure environments and complex working conditions, providing reliable data support for this energy artery with an annual gas transmission capacity of 2 billion cubic meters. The successful application of this equipment not only ensures the trade measurement of hydrogen-blended natural gas, but also accumulates valuable experience for flow measurement in China's future hydrogen energy pipeline network.