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NaturalGasSystems

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NaturalGasSystems

NaturalgascomesfromtheNorthSeaandcontinentalpipelinesviaanundergroundpipenetworktourban
areasintheseislands.

NotesfromDomesticNaturalGasSafetyCITB1999.

1.Anemergencycontrolvalveshouldalwaysbefitted:
(a)totheinletofthemeteror
(b) totheinstallationpipewhereitentersthebuildingwherethemeterissited6morfurtheraway
fromthebuilding.
(c)insideindividualflats.
2.Atestpointshouldbelocateddownstreamofanemergencycontrolvalve.
3.Metersmaybelocated:
(a)inapurposemademeterboxorcompoundoutsidethebuilding.
(b)inagarageoroutbuilding
(c)ataboundaryoftheproperty,inasuitableenclosure.
(d)insidethebuildingonlowpressureinstallations(notmorethan75mbarinletpressure)
4.Metersshouldnotbeinstallednearescaperoutesorunderthestairs.
5. BS 6891:1998 specifies the design, materials and methods of installing gas pipework in sizes not
exceeding28mmfordomesticandlowpressureinstallationsupto21mbar.
6.Mediumorheavygradesteel(galvanisedifexposed),stainlesssteelandcopperpipescanbeused.
7.Polyethylenepipeisonlyusedforundergroundsituations.
8.Pipeslaidinconcretefloorsmustbeprotectedagainstmovementofthefloorandcorrosion.
9.Pipespassingthroughwallsshouldbesleevedandpipespassingfromonefloortoanothershouldbefire
stopped.
10.Anappropriatefluesystemisnecessaryforgasboilersandfires.
11.Ventilationopeningsarerequiredinroomswheregasisusedinboilersandfires.
Openingsinhabitableroomsshouldbeminimum35cm2upto7kWinput.
Forlargerboilersthefollowingformulaisused:
Ventsizefreearea(cm2)=(maximumnetinputinkW7)x5

Thediagrambelowshowspartofagasinstallation.

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GasPressures

Natural gas originates in the north sea at a well head pressure of 100 bar. After pressure reduction at
pumpingrigsthisisreducedto70baratshoreterminals.
Themainspressureinthelocaldistributingsystemmaybefrom30mbarto7bar.
Thegassystemsareclassifiedasfollows:
Lowpressureupto75mbar
Mediumpressure75mbarto2bar
Intermediatepressure2barto7bar
Highpressureabove7bar
Theservicespipepressuretoaconsumerspremisesisabout30mbarto50mbar.
Thisisreducedtoaworkingpressureof21mbarbyaregulatorattheinlettothemeter.

GasGovernors

Naturalgasissubjectedtofluctuationsinpressureandthegovernorlimitsthegaspressureandflowrate.A
safeminimumgaspressureinthemainsisrequiredbystatute,thisis12.5mbar.
Toensurethateachapplianceissuppliedwithgasatthepressureforwhichitwasdesigned,itisnecessary
tocontrolthepressurewithinlimits,thisisdonebythegovernor.

A service governor is fitted on a gas service pipe, upstream of the meter. A meter governor is fitted
downstreamofthemeter.
Internalinstallationpipeworkstartsafterthemeter.
Most domestic meters are supplied with meter governors connected to the meter gas inlet. A filter is
incorporatedintothemetergovernortoridthegasflowofimpurities.

Insidethegovernoraspringloadeddiaphragmregulatesflowandpressure.Thediaphragmwillworkinany
positionsinceitisspringloaded.

NaturalGasApplianceControls

Severalsafetydevicesarerequiredtoensuresafeignitionandburningornaturalgas.
Theblockdiagrambelowshowsatypicalsimpleelectricallyoperatedsystem.

The thermoelectric flame supervision or flame failure device is an important safety feature in any gas
system.Itcomprisestheignitiondeviceandflameprotectiondevice.Ignitiondevicesmayuseapermanent
pilot flame or piezoelectric park ignitors. A thermocouple is used to sense heat and if the flame is

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extinguishedthenthethermocouplecoolsdownandstopsproducingavoltagewhichinturnclosesaspring
operatedgasvalve.
Electronic devices are also used in flame control. Flame rectification devices use a flame electrode as a
sensorandanelectronicamplifiertoboostthesmallcurrentinvolvedtooperatearelay.Thesystemrelies
on the ability of a flame to conduct an electric current. When a flame is burning large numbers of free
electronsandionsarepresentintheflame,sotheflameactsasanelectrolyteinwhichthecurrentcanflow.
Currentsfrom4to12microampsmaybeconductedwhenaflameispresent.Thiscurrentisusedtoclosea
relayandshutoffthegassupplyifnoflameispresent.

TypicalInstallation

Theschematicdrawingbelowshowsatypicalnaturalgasinstallation.
ForGaspipesizingseePlantSizingsection.

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