Dual-gas metering system and method
A dual-gas metering system and method is described herein, wherein percentages of two types of gas in a gas flow are determined. The system uses two speed of sound measurements, and calculates a percentage of hydrogen gas within a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen gas. In a further example, a first speed of sound within a single type of gas (e.g., natural gas) is obtained. This measurement may be obtained from a remote device operating in a region of the gas system upstream of a location wherein a second type of gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) is introduced. A second speed of sound within a dual-gas mixture is measured. A hydrogen concentration value is calculated based at least in part on the first speed of sound and the second speed of sound, such as by using a ratio of the two speeds of sound and a lookup table.
1 . A method of determining hydrogen concentrations in a gas meter, comprising:
receiving, by operation of the gas meter, a flow of a dual-gas, wherein the gas meter is downstream from a hydrogen injection site;
receiving, by operation of the gas meter, a first speed of sound within gas upstream from the hydrogen injection site;
measuring, by operation of the gas meter, a second speed of sound within the dual-gas supply;
calculating, by operation of the gas meter, a ratio of the first speed of sound and the second speed of sound; and
calculating, by operation of the gas meter, a hydrogen gas concentration at the gas meter based at least in part on the ratio.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a lookup table to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a formula to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-gas comprises natural gas and hydrogen gas.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first speed of sound is a speed of sound within natural gas, and wherein the natural gas comprises one or more of:
methane;
propane, and butane.
6 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising:
calculating an energy value of the flow of the dual-gas metered by the gas meter, wherein the calculating is based at least in part on the hydrogen gas concentration.
7 . A gas metering device, comprising:
a metrology unit;
a sound-speed measuring device;
a memory device; and
a processor, in communication with the metrology unit, the sound-speed measuring device, and the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to execute statements defined on the memory device to perform actions comprising:
receiving a flow of a dual-gas, wherein the gas metering device is downstream from a hydrogen injection site;
receiving a first speed of sound within gas upstream from the hydrogen injection site;
measuring a second speed of sound within the dual-gas;
calculating a ratio of the first speed of sound and the second speed of sound; and
calculating a hydrogen gas concentration based at least in part on the first ratio.
8 . The gas metering device of claim 7 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a lookup table to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
9 . The gas metering device of claim 7 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a formula to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
10 . The gas metering device of claim 7 , wherein the dual-gas comprises natural gas and hydrogen gas.
11 . The gas metering device of claim 7 , wherein the first speed of sound is a speed of sound within natural gas, and wherein the natural gas comprises one or more of:
methane;
propane, and
butane.
12 . The gas metering device of claim 7 , wherein an energy value of gas measured by the metrology unit is adjusted based at least in part on the hydrogen gas concentration.
13 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure a computing device to perform actions comprising:
receiving, by operation of a gas meter, a flow of a dual-gas, wherein the gas meter is downstream from a hydrogen injection site;
receiving, by operation of the gas meter, a first speed of sound within gas upstream from the hydrogen injection site;
measuring, by operation of the gas meter, a second speed of sound within the dual-gas;
calculating, by operation of the gas meter, a ratio of the first speed of sound and the second speed of sound; and
calculating, by operation of the gas meter, a hydrogen gas concentration at the gas meter based at least in part on the ratio.
14 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a lookup table to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13 , wherein calculating the hydrogen gas concentration comprises:
using a formula to map the ratio to the hydrogen gas concentration.
16 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13 , wherein the dual-gas comprises natural gas and hydrogen gas.
17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first speed of sound is a speed of sound within natural gas, and wherein the natural gas comprises one or more of:
methane;
propane, and
butane.
18 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13 , wherein the actions additionally comprise:
calculating an energy value of the flow of the dual-gas metered by the gas meter, wherein the calculating is based at least in part on the hydrogen gas concentration.