Bureau of Standards studies LNG flow measurement

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Cryog. Ind. Gases; (United States)

OSTI ID:6886632

Higgins, K T

U.S. National Bureau of Standards cryogenic engineers in Boulder, Colo., are developing and refining their flow-measurement technology involving LNG (see also Gas Abstr. 32, 76-0868, 76-1192). The LNG program can benefit from and tie in with NBS's established liquid-nitrogen program to some extent, but LNG-flow measurements differ from nitrogen measurements in several important ways: (1) LNG is a mixture, not a pure substance, (2) the desired result is the heating value of LNG, not just its quantity, and (3) problems of scaleup are severe. Because LNG is an energy storage medium, flow measurement per se is but one element of the total measurement chain. Accordingly, NBS will continue to evaluate conventional means of measuring the heating value of flowing LNG, to evaluate densimeters, and to evaluate other essential elements in the measurement chain (e.g., the liquid level and the dynamic response of pressure transducers). The ultimate goal is to provide a direct-reading therm (energy) meter for LNG custody-transfer measurements. This program is proposed to include (1) evaluating the thermodynamic and transport properties of LNG relevant to energy content, (2) evaluating the feasibility of specific transducers for this purpose, (3) synthesizing a prototype therm meter, (4) evaluating transfer standards, and (5) performing field tests and evaluations. The LNG-flow research facility also provides a means to substantiate industrial onsite calibrations. Through this measurement chain, the present LNG facility is the critical link to eventual very large-scale LNG-flow measurements (up to 1.06-m or 43-in. dia performed at industrial sites.

• OSTI ID: 6886632
• Journal Information: Cryog. Ind. Gases; (United States), Journal Name: Cryog. Ind. Gases; (United States) Vol. 11; ISSN CRIGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
CALIBRATION
DENSIMETERS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOW RATE
FLOWMETERS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MIXTURES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS
US NBS