# US 2019/0170723 A1 · Gas energy measurement method and related apparatus

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- Number: US 2019/0170723 A1
- Document ID: US20190170723A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/063,065
- Filed: 2016-01-27
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-27
- Assignees: Micro Motion, Inc.
- Applicants: Micro Motion, Inc.
- Inventors: Simon P.H. WHEELER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170723A1

## CPC

- G01N 33/225: {Gaseous fuels, e.g. natural gas}
- G01N 9/002: {using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis (G01N9/34 takes precedence)}
- G01N 9/36: Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture (methods of measurement in general G01N9/02 - G01N9/32)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method for determining an energy content of a hydrogen-rich gas mixture using a gas density meter (101) is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a vibratory gas density meter (101) and meter electronics (112) with the gas density meter (101). The meter electronics (112) communicate with at least one external input (116). The meter electronics (112) are configured to measure a density of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture, measure a specific gravity of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture, and derive a calorific value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture using the derived specific gravity and a plurality of constant values.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining an energy content of a hydrogen-rich gas mixture using a gas density meter, comprising the steps of:
providing a vibratory gas density meter;
providing meter electronics with the gas density meter configured to communicate with at least one external input;
measuring a density of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture;
measuring a specific gravity of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture; and
deriving a calorific value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture using the measured specific gravity and a plurality of constant values.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a Wobbe Index value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture is calculated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the calorific value (CV) is calculated according to an equation comprising: CV=A+(B·percent H2)+(C·percent CO)+(D·percent CO2)+(E·percent N2)+(F·SG), where A-F comprise the constant values, and SG comprises the specific gravity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein A is between about 144.8 and 150.8, wherein B is between about −2.5 and −2.6, wherein C is between about −12.15 and −12.65, wherein D is between about −47.7 and −49.65, wherein E is between about −24.68 and −25.69, and wherein F is between about 1528.7 and 1591.1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein A is about 147.8458, B is about −2.55807, C is about −12.3963, D is about −48.685065, E is about −25.18546, and F is about 1559.94255.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the external input comprises a percent H2 value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the percent H2 value is determined with a thermal conductivity meter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the external input comprises a percent CO value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the percent CO value is determined with a near infrared meter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the external input comprises a percent CO2 value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the percent CO2 value is determined with a near infrared meter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the external input comprises a percent N2 value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the percent N2 value is determined with a gas chromatograph.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein deriving the calorific value is accomplished in a frequency of under about 10 seconds.

### Claim 15

A system (100) for measuring gas energy, comprising:
a vibratory gas density meter (101) configured to calculate a specific gravity of a hydrogen-rich gas mixture;
a communication line (114) configured to connect to an external input (116);
meter electronics (112) for operating the vibratory gas density meter (101) in communication with the communication line (114), wherein the meter electronics (112) is configured to measure a density of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and derive a calorific value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture using the derived specific gravity and a plurality of constant values.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system (100) of claim 15, wherein the external input (116) comprises at least one of a near infrared meter, a thermal conductivity meter, and a gas chromatograph.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system (100) of claim 15, wherein meter electronics (112) is configured to calculate a Wobbe Index value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system (100) of claim 15, wherein the calorific value (CV) is calculated according to an equation comprising:
CV=A+(B·percent H2)+(C·percent CO)+(D·percent CO2)+(E·percent N2)+(F·SG), where A-F comprise the constant values, and SG comprises the specific gravity.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system (100) of claim 18, wherein A is between about 144.8 and 150.8, wherein B is between about −2.5 and −2.6, wherein C is between about −12.15 and −12.65, wherein D is between about −47.7 and −49.65, wherein E is between about −24.68 and −25.69, and wherein F is between about 1528.7 and 1591.1.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system (100) of claim 18, wherein A is about 147.8458, B is about −2.55807, C is about −12.3963, D is about −48.685065, E is about −25.18546, and F is about 1559.94255.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The system (100) of claim 18, wherein at least one of the percent H2, percent CO, percent CO2, and percent N2 is provided to the meter electronics (112) from the external input (116).