Thermal Mass Flow Meters
Market and applications
Geographic Sales
34% 23%12%
3%6%
10%
10%
3%
Competition
Competition
Industry
Applications
Pipe Size
TYPE
Technology
Location
Sage Metering SalesRepresentative Sales
Applications
Green House Gases Natural Gas Combustion Air Compressed Air Flare Digester gas/Bio gas/Landfill gas
Green House Gases
40 CFR 98– Mandatory reporting of Green House Gas Emissions
CO2, CH4, N2O– Subpart C – Stationary Combustion sources– Other subparts are Industry specific
Natural Gas Industry Landfill operations Chemical Plants Refineries More
Carbon Credits
Natural Gas Flows Boilers/Combustion Process
– Reporting GHG (EPA requirements)– Reporting Emissions (Local requirements)– Combustion efficiency– Typical Conditions
2 – 3 inch pipe Temperatures 60 – 80F Pressures max 5 psig Flow rates:
– 2” = 10,000 SCFH– 3” = 20,000 SCFH (6,000 SFPM)
– Burner Size 20 MM BTU/hr
Natural Gas Flow
Sub-metering– Internal cost allocation within a facility– Typical Conditions:
Pipe Size 6” Pressure – 20 psi Flow rate = 250,000 SCFH (20,000 SFPM)
Natural Gas Flow “Check” meter
– Gas Company distribution center– Repeatable, relative flow measurements– Check relative time of day flow in different distribution
sections– Typical operating Conditions
18” pipe 80 – 100 psig Flow Rate 65,000 SCFM (40,000 SFPM)
Natural Gas Flow
Avoid– Transmission Lines
Pressure too high = 500 to 2,000 psi
– Custody TransferNot AGA approvedProvide entire meter run
ISO 50001
Energy Management Systems Reduce Energy Usage
– Continually review and monitor energy usage– Goal of improve energy performance
Program supported by US Department of Energy (DOE)
Opportunities for Sage:– Improvement in combustion efficiency
Natural gas – Compressed air measurement to reduce leakage
Stoichiometric CombustionTheoretical combustion of all the fuel when mixed with the correct amount of air
Fuel + air = Heat + CO2 + H2O + CO + Unburned Fuel + Waste Heat up stack
Does not occur in reality – some excess air is neededo Control Air Fuel Ratios
o Ratio based on the mass of fuel compared to the mass of air
Increases as Combustion
Air Decreases
Increases as Combustion
Air Decreases
Stoichiometric Combustion
Optimum ratio of combustion air to fuel flow– Does not exist
Some excess air is required– Want to minimize excess air– Amount of excess air dependent on boiler load
Proper Air to fuel control requires mass flow measurement of air and fuel flow rates.
Combustion Air
DP flow measurement typically used– Flow element:
Averaging pitot tubePressure drop around an obstruction in
the ductVenturi
DP - Combustion Air Flow Limitations:• Require pressure and temperature
compensation to get mass flow• Loss of signal at low flow rates
Typical velocity in duct gives 1” w.g. pressure drop.
• Square root relationship between flow and signal
Limits turndown
Advantages:– “Sample” multiple points or
“entire” flow
Thermal – Combustion Air Flow Advantages:
– Measures mass flow without pressure or temperature compensation
Desired for combustion air to fuel ratio– Excellent low flow sensitivity– High turndown capabilities
Disadvantages:– Single point measurement
How representative is flow measurement Multi point averaging arrays
– Accuracy limitations due to straight run/flow profile However, repeatability is required
Combustion Air - Conclusion
Suitable for “small” ducts
Not suitable for “large” ducts
Compressed Air
DOE estimates 30% compressed air produced is lost due to leakage– ¼” leak at 100 psi = 100 CFM
$8,000 - $20,000 per year Cost Allocation Compressor efficiency
Flare/Vent Varying gas composition
Natural Gas
Tank venting (Gas Production)
Process Operations (CPI/HPI)
– Refineries40 CFR part 60, subpart Ja (modified August 2012)
– Emissions on non-emergency flares
Sage Selling Points Compact enclosure
– Prime - Smaller enclosure than other suppliers Insitu calibration verification Calibration on actual gas
– Ability to provide adjustment factors for varying gas composition
– Competitive calibration prices– Good delivery
Flow conditioner Great organization – good people to work with