Rhino OLM

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Northern Gas Networks

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 March 2020

01 March 2022

ENA months

£246,940

Energy

Yorkshire & Humberside

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Northern Gas Networks

The project will be approached in three stages: Spectral CalibrationLaboratory-based research work will be undertaken to determine the UV spectral features of each of the odorant components, the lower detection levels achievable and develop new calibrated gas analysis models. The models will be implemented into software and tested for a range of known gases. First, testing for each of the odorants individually in a carrier gas such a nitrogen and second, in a mix of gas considered to be representative of the gas on the gas network. This will be a significant step in validating that the technique will deliver the required measurement capability and sensitivity. Field trials Two field trial devices will be developed – one in a location considered normal and one in a location where the type of material being digested may result in significant other components being present on the gas. Gas will be manually collected (in tedlar bags) from the network and measured in the device and also compared to laboratory measurement of the same gas. This stage will validate the capability of the technology to measure the odorants at the required levels in real gas mixtures. During this stage the impact of masking agents on the analysis and quantification of any masking agents in the measured gas will be investigated.Online trialsThe device will be upgraded to operate in continuous mode and draw samples of gas from the gas grid for automated analysis and communicate the gas measurement results to the gas network. This online testing will validate the long term stability of the device and demonstrate its capability for wide spread deployment The project will validate a UV-DOAS technique that can be used for online measurement of odorant on the gas network. The project will deliver a new online odorant monitoring system (Rhino OLM) which will be based on Camlins existing BioSENSE product. The odorant to be measured is New Blend (80% Tert-butyl mercaptan (TBM) and 20% dimethyl sulphide (DMS). Stage 1The objective of this stage is to develop and test in the laboratory, calibrated models for the determination of the concentration of TMB and DMS compounds and hence the New Blend odorant. The GDNs have confirmed that the technology must be capable of reliably measuring New Blend with a concentration range of 5 to 12mg/m3. 5mg/m3 of New Blend equates to 1ppmv of TBM and 0.4ppmv of DMS.Stage 2The objective of this stage is to test the technique with real gas mixtures. This is to ensure that other compounds present in the gas mixture do not impact the accuracy of the odorant measurement. Stage 3The objective of this stage is to upgrade the field trial units to operate continuously and provide hourly measurements to enable the long-term measurement stability and performance of the device to be confirmed

The GD Networks (GDNs) require continuous monitoring and assurance that the odorant added at Biogas Entry Facilities results in the correct concentration of odorant being present in the biogas being injected onto the gas network to meet regulatory compliance standards. Currently, laboratory spot samples and trained Rhinologists can only provide a snapshot in time and not continuous monitoring. Furthermore, the Rhinologist test is subjective. Masking agents can be present in biogas which may mask the odorants to human olfactory sense and laboratory tests that only identify odorants (and not masking agents that may fail to provide the necessary assurance).The proposed Rhino OLM system will provide cost effective continuous monitoring and assurance that the correct concentration of odorant is present on the gas injected at the Biogas Entry Facilities, whilst also measuring concentration levels of masking agents.

02/11/22