LNG research and calibration facility Dr Peter Lucas

August 22, 2017

The results described in this paper have been obtained with funding received

from the EMRP. The EMRP is jointly funded by the European Commission and

participating countries within Euramet and the European Union.

LNG distribution chain

4-9-2017 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017 2

Bunkering/ refueling stations/ ships

Ships Trucks and busses

Receiving terminal

Sea transport

Road transport

Ocean tanker

Pipeline gas

Remote industry

Large scale

> 20,000 m3

Small and mid scale

< 20,000 m3

Small and mid scale LNG

• Truck refueling, estimates

• 0.02 million tonnes per annum

• 1,557 vehicles in Europe (214,000 vehicles in

China)

• ~15 Refueling stations in Europe (2,460 in China)

• Ship bunkering, estimates

• 0.2 million tonnes per annum

• 86 LNG fueled ships in operation (87% in Europe),

96 in order

• Transport by road and sea, estimates

• 1.0 million tonnes per annum

• To remote gas grids and industry

4-9-2017 3

Blue corridors (source NVGA Europe)

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Measurement of LNG

Large scale

• Measurement of energy

• GIIGNL custody transfer handbook

• Tank gauging (process control with USM)

Small scale

• Measurement of mass

• Various MID approved CMFs available

• OIML R117-1

• MPE system 1.5 %

• MPE flow meter 1.0 %

• Calibration based on water

4-9-2017 4 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Measurement of LNG – mid scale

Transport by road: weighing bridges (Netherlands)

Transport by sea: similarly as for large scale LNG (Netherlands)

• GIIGNL custody transfer handbook

• Tank gauging (process control with USM)

• Bunkering (?)

Advantage of using flow meters

• Quicker (more cost effective)

• Lower uncertainty (especially for small batches)

But

• No MID approved CMFs available

• No traceability, calibration on water accepted?

• Future uncertainty target more stringent than OIML R117-1?

4-9-2017 5 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Extrapolation models for LNG metering

4-9-2017 6

Water versus LNG

Water versus LIN

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

• Calibration results for LIN (2012) and LNG (2013)

• 2” CMF (straight and bend tube)

• Calibration uncertainty ~0.2%

Mid scale LNG research and calibration facilty

4-9-2017 7

Flow Rate 5 – 200 m3/h

Expandable to 400 (1000) m3/h

Target uncertainty 0.15 % on mass (0.2% on volume)

Line pressure 1 – 10 barg(g)

Temperature -123 °C to -175 °C

Composition Measured, not controlled

Traceable to primary standard

Closed loop/ no boil-off

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Process flow diagram

4-9-2017 8 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Status

4-9-2017 9 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Heat exchangers

4-9-2017 10

LIN/ LNG heat

exchangers to avoid

‘boil-off’

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Working standards cold box

9/4/2017 11

Cold N2 “waste” from

LIN/LNG heat exchanger • Four CMFs in parallel with Qmax of 50 m3/h

• Maximum flow rate 200 m3/h

• Cold box, refrigerated with N2 waste from

heat exchanger

• Traceable to master meters (traceable to

scale)

LNG

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Pumps

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• Initially two of three

pumps installed

• Frequency controlled

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Nitrogen warmer

4-9-2017 13

Nitrogen warmer to

avoid release of cold

Nitrogen

“Warm” Nitrogen

Cold N2 “waste” from

LIN/LNG heat exchanger

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Meter Under Test section

• All vacuum insulated piping

• Initially a 2” and 4” line will be realized

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Temperature measurements

• Robust

• Stresses due to cooling down/ heating up

• Flow induced vibrations

• Thin, fast response to temperature change

• Very small heat inleak from ambient

• Removable sensor for laboratory calibration

• Overall uncertainty 0.1 ºC at -162 ºC

4-9-2017 15 LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

New design

4-9-2017 16

Co design

Fixed-cup

Sensor stem

Gas cavity

Thermowell tip LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Planning and future work

Completion Facility

- Installation remaining skids

- MUT section September

- Analyzers September/ October

- PSL Q1 2018

- Electrical completion (expected finish November)

- Mechanical completion (expected finish November)

- Commissioning (expected finish January/ February 2018)

Research

• Systematic research into flow meter performance

• Feasibility study on how to increase the flow rate up to 1000 m3/h

• Smart sensor development, testing and validation

4-9-2017 17

LNG workshop

Delft, August 2017

Questions? http://lngmetrology.info/ Dr Peter Lucas plucas@vsl.nl

Peter Lucas:

nl.linkedin.com/in/lucaspeter

VSL group:

http://lnkd.in/Bif3Sy

VSL Fluid Flow Metrology group:

http://lnkd.in/DF2zJx

Flow metering error small scale LNG

4-9-2017 19

• Calibration results for LIN and LNG (2013)

• 2” CMF (straight and bend tube)

• Calibration uncertainty ~0.2%

VSL primary

standard LNG

flow

Composition standard

Special design sampler (subcooled conditions)

Vaporization at conditions above critical pressure

Gas Chromatograph

Sampling flow rate at 7,5 ml/min (LNG) / 5 l/min (gas)