Panametrics Clamp On for Natural Gas
Natural Gas is fundamental to the energy transition. It is therefore critical to monitor and understand what flows in gas pipelines.
When a natural gas operator in South East Asia recognized that it could better optimize its gas flow operations through improved monitoring and leak detection it turned to Panametrics for a solution.
Medium: Natural Gas (CH4 84%, C2H6 8.4%, C3H8 6%, the rest C4+) Temperature: 15 °C to 55 °C (59 °F to 131 °F) Pressure: 47 bara to 68 bara (682 to 986 psi) Pipe: 36" with wall thickness 12.7 mm (0.5") Material: Carbon steel Flow rate: 20 MMCFD to 350 MMCFD
Benefits: • Easy to set up • Easy to operate • No process shutdown • No downtime and no periodic maintenance/calibration needed • Reliable
To identify any gas leaks within its pipeline network, the operator required a solution that would measure and compare the gas flow at its compressor stations. If the measurements at the compressor stations were equal, then the operator could assume there were no leaks. If measurements varied, then the operator could launch further investigations to pinpoint and repair the leak.
The customer could not afford to interrupt the distribution of natural gas for a flow measurement application. Therefore, the operator’s options, including the use of wetted meters, were drastically reduced. Furthermore, as a result of the bi-directional capability, the customer was limited to selecting an ultrasonic clamp on solution.
However, the customer had entrenched doubts about the ability of a clamp on flowmeter to measure on such a large line size. The Panametrics team ran a demonstration to show the effectiveness of Panametrics clamp on technology.
Using Panametrics’ portable PT878GC ultrasonic clamp on flow meter, flow verification was trialed for several days to prove the technology could deliver accurate and reliable results on such a large line size.
The trial was successful. The customer immediately placed an order for a permanent solution at both its compressor stations. Panametrics installed its GC868 ultrasonic flow meter with Modbus digital output with C-RW 312 transducers. The customer is now in a stronger position to optimize its operations, identify leaks quickly and enable early interventions.
Learn more about Panametrics' Portables Flowmeters
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