PR-221-9215-R01 Manufacture Pre-Production Gas Flow Measurement System

Measurement of the throughput of a natural gas compressor can be undertaken using a constant flow tracer dilution technique. In this technique, a constant flow of tracer is introduced into the piping upstream of the compressor while samples of diluted tracer are measured downstream of the compressor. The samples are analyzed using a specially configured analyzer. Knowledge of the injection rate and injection concentration coupled with the downstream measurement of tracer concentration allows the throughput through the compressor to be calculated. Under this contract, three systems were fabricated and were to be provided to operating pipeline companies for use and evaluation. Each system consisted of an SF6 analyzer, a high-pressure SF6 tracer injection module, and a gas sampling and analyzer support module. The design was modified based on the findings from the field evaluation and a final inspection.