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Danalyzer

Basic Principles and Considerations


for Installing and Maintaining a BTU
Analyzer

Danalyzer
Introduction
The Daniel Gas Chromatograph (GC) can be a
fairly simple instrument to use if you understand
the basics of how it works. The following
presentation will discuss the various operational
components of a GC, and show what takes place
during an analysis.

Gas Chromatographs- Principle of Operation


The GC oven contains 3 main components mounted
together in an electrically heated heat-sink-oven:
GC Valves
Micro-packed Columns
TCD Detectors

HEATSINK OVEN
AND VALVES

DETECTOR
HOUSING

MEASUREMENT
DETECTORS

REFERENCE
DETECTOR

HEATSINK
OVEN

COLUMNS

SAMPLE
LOOP
6 PORT
VALVE

Analyzer Oven

Step 1: Start of an analysis. Sample valve (V-1) OFF, backflush


valve (V-2) ON, and dual column valve (V-3) ON. The sample
purging system maintains a sample in the gaseous phase and passes
the sample through transport tubing to the sample valve, and
through the sample loop.

Analyzer Oven

STEP 2: The sample valve is turned ON to capture a precise


volume of sample and to allow carrier gas (Helium) to sweep the
sample loop into the first column. Column 1 separates C6, and
heavier components (C6+) from the other constituents in the gas.

Analyzer Oven

Step 3: The sample valve turns back OFF to purge the next stream.
The backflush valve turns OFF reversing the carrier flow through
column 1 so that C6+ components elute first (all combined as a single
peak) to the measure detector. Note: by switching the direction of flow
through the first column, C6+ components bypass columns 2 and 3.
This helps to expedite the analysis.

Analyzer Oven

Step 4: C6+ (heavies combined) is on its way to the detector.


Column 2 separates the mediums C3, C4s, and C5s while the lightest
components N2, C1, CO2, and C2 continue traveling through column 2
into column 3.

Analyzer Oven

Step 5: Dual column turns OFF after trapping the lightest


components N2, C1, CO2, and C2. The medium components
bypass column 3 by going through the restrictor column (R-1) and
Follow C6+ to the detector. Once again this helps speed up the
analysis.

Analyzer Oven

Step 6: After the heavy and medium components elute to the


detector the dual column valve is turned back ON freeing the
light components and allowing them to cross the detector next.
This is the end of the analysis and the next one is ready to begin.
Typical

Gas Chromatogram
Shows raw area under each peak

Gas Chromatogram Comparison

Typical Raw Data Report

Response Factor (RF)


Mole %

= Area(comp x ) / Cal Conc.(Comp x)


= Area(comp x) / RF (Comp x)

Typical Analysis Report

Typical Calibration Report

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport


The sample conditioning system is a very important
component in any analytical system. This is a frequently
overlooked component that must deliver a representative
sample from the pipeline to the GC without changing the
composition.
This is not a difficult task when low BTU gas is measured
in warm climates. When high BTU gas is measured the
potential exists to lose the heavier components as they
drop into the liquid phase due to sample cooling.

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

The Joules-Thompson (JT)


Cooling effect causes heavier
components to drop into liquid
phase.
Will bias energy readings low
because the high BTU
contributors drop out of the vaporphase sample before the GC even
has a chance to measure it.

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

Pressure Balancing stream


to stream.
Minimizes normalization.
Minimizes cross-stream
contamination if solenoids do not
seal completely.

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

Calibration Standards
may require heated insulation
blankets when installed in High
BTU applications in cooler
climates.
Sample transport lines require
heat tracing to a heated area or all
the way to the sample valve.

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

Sample Conditioning and Sample Transport

Instrument Performance
Linearity
Repeatability
Calibration
Accuracy

Instrument Performance-Linearity Check


Using three standards
Component
Hexanes +
C6+
Propane
C3
Iso-Butane
IC4
N-Butane
NC4
Neo Pentane Neo C5
Iso-Pentane IC5
N Pentane
NC5
Nitrogen
N2
Methane
C1
Carbon dioxide CO2
Ethane
C2
Totals

Standard Heating
Standard Heating
Standard Heating
#1
Value 1
#2
Value 2
#3
Value 3
0.01
0.53
0.03
1.59
0.20
10.58
1.00
25.16
3.00
75.48
7.00
176.13
0.50
16.26
0.10
3.25
0.40
13.01
0.50
16.31
0.10
3.26
0.40
13.05
0.08
3.19
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.08
3.20
0.30
12.00
0.80
32.01
0.10
4.01
0.30
12.03
0.80
32.07
3.32
0.00
2.00
0.00
1.00
0.00
89.50
904.15
87.67
885.47
77.40
781.74
2.91
0.00
1.50
0.00
1.00
0.00
2.00
35.39
5.00
88.48
11.00
194.66
100.00 1008.20
100.00 1081.56
100.00 1253.25

Note: Heating values are based on GPA 98 Engineering Data Book Volume II Section 23.
Using 60 F and 14.696 base conditions

Instrument Performance-Calibration Check

Response Factor (RF)

Area(comp x)

Cal Conc.(Comp x)
Mole %

Area(comp x)
RF(Comp x)

Physical Property Calculations-Pressure Base


Typical
Natural
Gas
Nitrogen
Methane
C02
Ethane
Propane
Iso-Butane
N-Butane
IsoPentane
N-Pentane
C6+
Relative
Density
Gross Dry
BTU

Composition

Pressure
Base @
14.73

Pressure
Base @
14.696

Pressure
Base @
15.023

.6222

.6222

.6223

1053.70

1051.26

1074.73

2.46
89.709
1.001
5.001
.999
.300
.300
.100
.100
.03

Physical Property Calculations-GPA Standards

Typical
Natural Gas

GPA 2145-96

Rich Gas
Typical US
Gulf Coast

1300 BTU
1078 BTU
Table 4

GPA 21452000 (Jan 1


release)
+0.0138 BTU
+0.0032 BTU

Optimizing your GC
Summary
To verify GC operation, historical calibration reports and
configuration reports are necessary to ensure that all
configuration parameters and calibration parameters are
correct and within specifications. Three certified standards
should be used to check repeatability, linearity and
accuracy throughout the measured heating value range for
all streams. Sample conditioning and sample transport
systems should be carefully considered for possible JT
effect on rich gas samples.

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