Hydrocarbon Dewpoint Measurement on Base of Online Gas Quality Analysis

The trends in the gas industry, such as liberalisation and globalisation, place new requirements on gas measuring equipment. Gas quality analysis plays a central role in the safe and efficient trade as well as the transportation and consumption of natural gas. In addition to measuring the energy values, other gas quality parameters are also increasing in importance. For example, the hydrocarbon dewpoint is a very important value. Condensate in the gas can adversely affect the integrity of gas equipment during the transport process; when the gas is used, the condensate can present a major danger, for example for combustion gas turbines. The hydrocarbon dewpoint is generally measured using complicated, specialised measuring instruments or by sampling and laboratory analysis. A new development of the gas chromatograph EnCal 3000 from Elster now allows the hydrocarbon dewpoint to be measured in the process conveniently and at low cost while at the same time measuring the energy values.