Document number: 72.120.

303/B

Document Name: Fluenta Flare Gas Meter

FGM 160

Flow Calculations

Scope:

Additional Information (when applicable)

B 2007.12.13 Updated info regarding density calculation AAJ RT N/A AAJ

A 2007.12.06 Issued for Fluenta release MS RT N/A AAJ
Rev. Review
Issue date Reason for issue Author Review Review Approved
index by QA

Replacement for: 018209/ A

Total no. of pages: 9
Fluenta doc. Ref:

71.000.001_A
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Doc. name: FGM 160 - Flow Calculations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Purpose................................................................................................. 3
2. Abbreviations/Definitions ......................................................................... 3
2.1 Abbreviations:..................................................................................... 3
2.2 Definitions: ......................................................................................... 3
3. Flow Calculations .................................................................................... 3
3.1 Axial Gas Flow Velocity Calculation ......................................................... 3
3.2 Reynold s Number Calculation................................................................ 4
3.3 Correction Factor Calculation ................................................................. 4
3.4 Average Axial Gas Flow Velocity Calculation............................................. 5
3.5 Volume Flowrate Calculation.................................................................. 5
3.6 Mass Flowrate Calculation ..................................................................... 5
3.7 Density Calculation .............................................................................. 6
4. References............................................................................................. 9

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1. PURPOSE
This document lists the fundamental formulas and data used in the Fluenta Flare Gas
Meter, FGM 160, to calculate flow velocity and volumetric and mass flowrate.

2. ABBREVIATIONS/DEFINITIONS
2.1 Abbreviations:
FGM Flare Gas Meter

Additional abbreviations used in this document are for simplicity explained in same
section where used.

2.2 Definitions:
Definitions used in this document are for simplicity given in same section where used.

3. FLOW CALCULATIONS
Formulas and data used in the FGM 160 calculations are given in the following
sections.

Flow calculations performed by the FGM 160 can be derived from Figure 1.

2 (B)
t21
L t12
D

1 (A)

Figure 1 Sensor alignment and parameters of importance for the flow calculations.

3.1 Axial Gas Flow Velocity Calculation

L t 21 t12
2 cos t12 t21
Equation 1 Axial gas flow velocity calculation.

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where:

= axial velocity [m/s] of flowing medium without compensation for

Reynold s number variations
L = distance between transducers
= angle of intertransducer centre line to axis of the pipe
t12 = transit time (sec) from Transducer 1 (A) to Transducer 2 (B)
(downstream)
t 21 = transit time (sec) from Transducer 2 (B) to Transducer 1 (A)
(upstream)

3.2 Re yn old s N u m be r Ca lcu la t ion

v D P T0 Z0
Re
Kin.Visc. P0 T Z
Equation 2 Reynold s number calculation.

where:

Re = Reynold s number
P = Measured pressure in Bar A
P0 = 1.01325 Bar A (reference conditions)
Kin.Visc. = Kinematic Viscosity (See value below)
T0 = 288.15 K = 15 °C (reference conditions)
T = Measured temperature in Kelvin
Z0 = Compressibility factor at reference conditions
Z = Compressibility factor at operating conditions

Kin.Visc. , Z 0 and Z are operator entries (default);

Kin.Visc. = 15 10 m2/s
6

Z0 = 1.0 (default)
Z = 1.0 (default)

3.3 Correction Factor Calculation

k f (Re)
Equation 3 Flow profile correction factor based on Reynold s number.

where:

k = Correction factor used as compensation for flow profile variations,

derived as Reynold s number.

k is typical in range: 0.89 0.96

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3.4 Average Axial Gas Flow Velocity Calculation

_
v k v
Equation 4 Average axial gas flow velocity calculation.

where:

v = Average axial velocity [m/s] of flowing medium compensated for

Reynold s number (flow profile) variations.

3.5 Volume Flowrate Calculation

P T0 Z0
QV A v 3600
P0 T Z
Equation 5 Volumetric flowrate calculation, at reference conditions.

where:

Qv = Volume flowrate at reference conditions [Sm3/h]

A = Cross sectional area of pipe [m2]

3.6 Mass Flowrate Calculation

Qm QV (1 M ) b
Equation 6 Mass flowrate calculation, based on volumetric flowrate at reference conditions.

where:

b = Calculated gas density [kg/m3]

P T0 Z 0
M
P0 T Z

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Qm expressed related to gas flow velocity:

Qm A v b 3600
Equation 7 Mass flowrate calculation, based on average axial gas flow velocity.

3.7 Density Calculation

The FGM 160 calculates the gas density and molecular weight online based on
available information from the process, obtained through the ultrasonic transit time
measurements and through measured line pressure and temperature.

Two different density calculation models are implemented in the FGM 160:

A. General Density Model:

The General Density Model (GDM) is based on the relationship between known
properties of hydrocarbon gases at low pressures, gas density and molecular weight.
The model assumes velocity of sound (VoS), Pressure (P), Temperature (T) and R
(gas constant = 8.31432 J/mol * K) to be known. The GDM is a general, blind
model, with no pre knowledge on the gas composition of a specific installation.

Input:
Velocity of Sound (VoS) Calculated based on ultrasonic transit time
measurements.
Pressure (P) Measured by Pressure Transmitter.
Temperature (T) Measured by Temperature Transmitter.

Output:
Gas Density
Molecular Weight
Mass Flowrate

Model Uncertainty:
Based on model evaluation, the gas density calculation model uncertainty is
estimated to be ~ 2.2 %.

Total Gas Density Uncertainty (example):

Assumed uncertainty of VoS: 5.0 %
Assumed uncertainty of P: 1.0 %
Assumed uncertainty of T: 1.0 %

Total Gas Density Uncertainty: ~ 9.4 %

B. Enhanced Density Model:

The Enhanced Density Model (EDM) can potentially determine the gas density with a
reduced uncertainty compared to the General Density Model, as it allows for input of
gas composition, if known. Further, the nitrogen contents in the flare pipe can be
estimated if nitrogen is used for purging purposes. This may be advantageous in order
to optimize the amount of nitrogen required for purging or for CO2 taxation, where the
nitrogen content can be subtracted from the amount of hydrocarbon gas flared.

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The EDM separates between two scenarios; Flaring and Purging. Flaring is defined as
when hydrocarbon gas is flared to the flare pipe and potentially burned off. Purging is
defined as when small quantities of hydrocarbon gas are flowing through the flare
pipe, and nitrogen is used for purging purposes. The underlying model for the density
model is the AGA 8-94 equation of state [AGA8, 1994].

The FGM 160 automatically switches between the Flaring and the Purging model,
based on measured gas flow velocity, i.e. it is assumed that at low gas flow velocity
the Purging model reflects the flare pipe scheme with nitrogen purging, and that at
high gas flow velocities no nitrogen purging is utilized (=> flaring of hydrocarbon
gas).

Flaring Option:
Input:
Velocity of Sound (VoS)
Pressure (P)
Temperature (T)
Molar fraction of Ethane
Molar fraction of Methane
Molar fraction of Propane
Molar fraction of Buthane ++
Molar fraction of Nitrogen
Molar fraction of CO2
Calculated based on ultrasonic transit time
measurements.
Measured by Pressure Transmitter.
Measured by Temperature Transmitter.
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)

Output:
Gas Density
Molecular Weight
Mass Flowrate

Note that no exact numbers for the molar fractions of the hydrocarbon components
are required, as the dominating factor for the gas density calculation is the velocity of
sound. However, the molar fraction numbers are used to obtain a weighted density
estimate, with a potential lower uncertainty than if no pre knowledge on the gas
composition was known.

Model Uncertainty:
Based on model comparison with hydrocarbon gas compositions from 19
different oil and gas production facilities, the gas density calculation model
uncertainty is estimated to be ~ 1 % when weighted density is used, with pre
knowledge of hydrocarbon gas components.

Sensitivity of Input parameters to total Gas Density Uncertainty (example):

Uncertainty of VoS: 1 m/s => Typical uncertainty contribution of
0.4 0.5 % in the calculated density.

Uncertainty of P: 1.0 % => Typical uncertainty contribution of

1 % in the calculated density.
Uncertainty of T:
Low temp. (typical -40 °C): 1 °C Typical uncertainty contribution of
0.8 0.9 % in the calculated density.

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High temp. (typical 130 °C): 1 °C Typical uncertainty contribution of

0.5 % in the calculated density.

Uncertainty of CO2: 1.0 % (abs)=> Typical uncertainty contribution of

0.2 % in the calculated density.

Uncertainty of N2: 1.0 % (abs)=> Typical uncertainty contribution of

0.15 0.2 % in the calculated density.

Purging Option:
Input:
Velocity of Sound (VoS)
Temperature (T)
Molar fraction of Ethane
Molar fraction of Methane
Molar fraction of Propane
Molar fraction of Buthane ++
Molar fraction of Nitrogen
Molar fraction of CO2
Calculated based on ultrasonic transit time
measurements.
Measured by Temperature Transmitter.
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)
Input from operator (operator information)

Output:
Gas Density
Molecular Weight
Nitrogen Fraction
Mass Flowrate

Note that no exact numbers for the molar fractions of the hydrocarbon components
are required, as the dominating factor for the gas density calculation is the velocity of
sound. However, the molar fraction numbers are used to obtain a weighted density
estimate, with a potential lower uncertainty than if no pre knowledge on the gas
composition was known.

The basis for the nitrogen fraction calculation is the velocity of sound in the gas
mixture, as the velocity of sound in such a mixture depends on the density and the
velocity of sound of the two individual components (natural gas and nitrogen).

Model Uncertainty:
The purging algorithm has been tested on the same natural gases as the flaring
algorithm.
Based on model comparison with hydrocarbon gas compositions from 19
different oil and gas production facilities, the gas density calculation model
uncertainty is generally estimated to be ~ 1 %. For natural gases with velocity
of sound close to the velocity of sound of nitrogen, the uncertainty in the
density calculation will be higher.

Regarding the uncertainty of the estimated fraction of nitrogen, the uncertainty

is closely connected to the uncertainty of the measured velocity of sound (of
the natural gas and nitrogen mixture) and the velocity of sound for the natural
gas and the velocity of sound of the nitrogen. A large deviation between the

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velocity of sound for the natural gas and nitrogen will result in a (relative) low
uncertainty of the nitrogen fraction calculation. Similarly, a small deviation
between the natural gas and nitrogen will result in a (relative) high uncertainty
of the nitrogen fraction calculation.

The General Density Model (A) is implemented in all FGM 160 systems as default. The
Enhanced Density Model (B) is optional, and is available for the operators upon
request.

4. REFERENCES
N/A

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