Fuel Gas

ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR FUEL GAS APPLICATIONS

Fuel gas refers to any gas that is used as a fuel for heating, power generation or other industrial purposes. Common examples of fuel gases include natural gas, propane, butane, methane, and hydrogen. Fuel gases are typically produced from fossil fuels or renewable sources such as biomass or biogas and can be used in a variety of applications such as heating homes and buildings, cooking, powering vehicles, and generating electricity. The properties and composition of fuel gases can vary widely depending on the source and method of production and can have different safety considerations and handling requirements.

Fuel gas applications need to be monitored with gas analyzers for a variety of reasons, including safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Safety: Fuel gases can be hazardous if they are not properly controlled and monitored. For example, natural gas leaks can cause explosions and fires, while propane and butane can be explosive in certain concentrations. Gas analyzers can detect leaks, measure gas concentrations, and provide early warning of potential hazards, helping to prevent accidents and protect workers and the public.
Efficiency: Fuel gas applications also benefit from gas analyzers by improving efficiency. By measuring the composition and quality of the gas, gas analyzers can help optimize the combustion process and reduce waste. For example, if the fuel gas contains impurities or has an incorrect mixture of gases, the combustion process may not be as efficient, leading to increased fuel consumption and higher costs.
Regulatory compliance: Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements for emissions monitoring and control. Gas analyzers can provide accurate measurements of emissions and pollutants, helping to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

With rising energy prices and the escalating pressure to increase efficiency, the analysis of natural gas production and point of use had become a critical need. Since natural gas products are priced according to their BTU values, our EXTREL™ MAX300-RTG™ 2.0 Industrial Process Mass Spectrometer are in demand to provide fast and accurate analysis critical for fuel gas quality control and maximizing natural gas revenue. In addition to its fast analysis time, the MAX300-RTG 2.0 implements stream-switching capabilities. One MAX300-RTG 2.0 has all the capabilities needed to replace several conventional BTU analyzers in natural gas processing facilities.

Benefits

Ability to perform full composition analysis in less than 10 seconds
Ability to analyze multiple streams
Compositional analysis as opposed to receiving only the final BTU value from a BTU analyzer
No makeup gas or carrier gas required

Applications

Measures the stream components ranging from C1-C6 including butane and pentane isotopes
Measures “heavies” such as C6 isotopes, heptane, octane and aromatics such as benzene and toluene
Optional electron multiplier detector provides part per million (ppm) analysis of hydrogen sulfide
Provides accurate hydrogen measurement when analyzing a blended fuel gas stream such as refinery “off-gas”
Performs BTU or heating value calculations and trends this information (in addition to the individual components)

The EXTREL MAX300-RTG 2.0 Industrial Process Mass Spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument that is commonly used in fuel gas applications for real-time gas analysis and process monitoring. Here are some of the ways in which the instrument is used:

Gas analysis: Capable of analyzing a wide range of gases and gas mixtures with high sensitivity and accuracy. In fuel gas applications, the instrument can be used to monitor the composition of the fuel gas stream, including the concentrations of individual gases such as methane, propane, butane, and hydrogen. This information can be used to optimize combustion efficiency and reduce emissions.
Process monitoring: Can be integrated into industrial processes to provide real-time monitoring of gas concentrations and other process variables. In fuel gas applications, the instrument can be used to monitor the gas flow rate, pressure, and temperature, as well as the composition of the gas stream. This information can be used to optimize process performance and prevent equipment failure.
Leak detection: Highly sensitive and can detect very low levels of gases, making it an ideal instrument for leak detection in fuel gas applications. By continuously monitoring the gas stream, the instrument can detect leaks in real time and provide early warning of potential hazards.
Regulatory compliance: Many fuel gas applications are subject to regulatory requirements for emissions monitoring and control. The MAX300-RTG 2.0 can provide accurate measurements of emissions and pollutants, helping to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.