Category: ABB

A Gas Chromatograph – Built On

A Foundation Of Leadership

ABB manufactured and sold the first

on-line process gas chromatograph in

1957. In the decades since, ABB has

continually advanced its process GC

technology leadership. Now, ABB is

leading the way into the 21st Century

with the PGC2000 series of process

gas chromatographs.

The PGC2000 is the second generation

of Vista on-line process GC’s. ABB PGC

analyzers have set a new standard for

ease of use, quality and reliability. The

PGC2000 has also raised process GC

technical standards, with more compact

size, improved serviceability, superior

connectivity and digital analytical

control.

In line with the duties required by

UK health and safety law and in particular the

Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres

Regulations (2002) Regulation 6 and the Provision

and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998)

Regulation 12, HSE is stating that Users of GC’s

produced by other manufacturers should discuss

the suitability of their current operating

arrangements for other manufacturers’ GC’s.

The specific intent of this communication is to

formally respond to users of ABB’s GC equipment

manufactured in Lewisburg, WV regarding the

suitability of said equipment relative to the specific

issue that is the subject of the HSE Safety Alert

Bulletin Number CE MHD 1 2017. The document

attached to this communication represents ABB’s

relevant response to its end users.

On October 1, 2017, the Chemicals, Explosives and

Microbiological Hazards Division of Health and

Safety Executive in the United Kingdom issued

Safety Alert Bulletin Number CE MHD 1 2017.

A safety issue was discovered with another

manufacturer’s Gas Chromatograph that uses the

“PX” protection concept in the upper Electronics

Enclosure. This design is based on a purge flow of

air being used to dilute any flammable gasses

present below the flammable limits. This issue was

unfortunately discovered after an instrument

technician was injured as a result of an explosion.

The general concern presented in Safety Alert

Bulletin Number CE MHD 1 2017 is the possibility that

a similar set of circumstances may be replicated

with GC equipment supplied by other

manufacturers.

Gain a practical understanding of

the operation and maintenance of

the PGC2007/PGC5007 Total Sulfur

in Fuels.

Course type and methods

This is an instructor led course with approximately

one third consisting of hands-on activities.

Student Profile

This training is intended for end users and service

engineers responsible for the operation, maintenance

and repair of the PGC2007/PGC5007 Process Gas

Chromatograph.

Prerequisites

This training is intended for analyzer technicians,

operators or service engineers that have experience

with the operation and maintenance of a PGC2000/

PGC5000 Process Gas Chromatograph.

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will have a

basic understanding of the operation, maintenance

and repair of both the PGC2007/PGC5007 Total Sulfur

and Process Gas Chromatographs.

Main Topics

• Sample Injection

• Sample Splitting

• Furnace Operation

• Column Systems

• Detectors

• Method Development

• Temperature/Flow Controls

• Maintenance

• Troubleshooting

Duration

The duration is 3 days. The start of the class is:

Tuesday – Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Data is difficult to obtain and not cost effective

Shipping requirements and DOT regulations make it

increasingly difficult to ship samples to the central laboratory.

These problems with composite sampler had to be tolerated

because the cost of a GC was too much to put on these lower

volume stations, UNTIL NOW.

Solution: NGC8106

Data that is real-time

ABB is pleased to introduce the NGC8106. Based upon the

industry leading NGC platform, the NGC8106 is a perfect

replacement for composite samplers. The user can now enjoy

real-time data instead of monthly averages, and shipping and

sample collection errors have been virtually eliminated.

Addin a multivariable transmitter and the NGC8106 becomes a

total energy meter. Or utilize the remote communications on

the 8106 to transmit real gas quality data to an existing flow

computer.

Data that is accurate

The NGC8106 is a single stream manual calibration device, it

is intended to be calibrated monthly or quarterly, so there is no

need to leave an expensive calibration blend at each GC site.

Easy to use and cost effective

The use of the NGC8106 eliminates many of the problems

associated with composite samplers. There are no sample

transport issues, no analysis costs, no lag in getting the

gas quality information into the gas accounting system and

instant alarming of potential data loss. While the initial cost of

the NGC and its installation may be higher than a composite

sampler. The sampler’s ongoing operation and maintenance

costs make the NGC8106 a viable economic alternative.

Data is not real-time

Typically it takes one month to collect sample before it is sent

to the laboratory for analysis. Although the analysis probably

only takes a week, it could still be another three weeks before

the technician is back at the site to collect the next sample

bottle. By the time the gas quality data is entered into the flow

computer it could be anywhere from 1-2 months old.

Data is not accurate

Although the lab analysis is very accurate it is only as good

as the sample handling practices that were used to obtain the

sample. IF the sample bottle is not properly purged or clean

when it was installed then the analysis data will be corrupted.

The error gets magnified when applied across a whole month

of gas production.

Data is difficult to obtain and not cost effective

Shipping requirements and DOT regulations make it

increasingly difficult to ship samples to the central laboratory.

These problems with composite sampler had to be tolerated

because the cost of a GC was too much to put on these lower

volume stations, UNTIL NOW.

Solution: NGC8106

ABB is pleased to introduce the NGC8106. Based upon the industry leading NGC platform,

the NGC8106 is a perfect replacement for composite samplers. The user can now enjoy

real-time data instead of monthly averages, and shipping and sample collection errors have

been virtually eliminated. Add-in a multivariable transmitter and the NGC8106 becomes a

total energy meter. Or utilize the remote communications on the 8106 to transmit real gas

quality data to an existing flow computer.

Composite samplers

Natural gas is exchanged on the basis of how much energy it

contains. One must not only know the quantity of gas going

through a receipt point, but they must also know the quality of

gas going through the receipt point.

Their most common primary metering device to measure gas

quantity is an orifice plate meter with a flow computer. The

orifice plate causes a pressure drop in the meter tube. The

flow computer senses the pressure drop and calculates the

volume based upon standard equations. Orifice plate meters

are simple, low-cost and installed on a very large percentage of gas wells.

For gas quality, a gas chromatograph is required to provide a

gas composition from which the heating value is calculated.

However, most sites do not have enough gas volume to

justify purchasing a chromatograph. To alleviate this problem,

composite samplers were installed on measurement sites

where the flow was too low to justify a dedicated GC.

A composite sampler is a device containing a sample bottle.

On a periodic basis, either time or volume based, the sampler

will put an aliquot of gas in the sample bottle. The sample

bottles are collected either monthly or quarterly depending

upon the sales contract, and sent to a lab for analysis.

Problems with composite samplers

Standard features

Modular design includes

– Modular software – application-based, plug-in software modules

– Manifold module (internal tubing now replaced manifold)

– Analysis section contains stream selection solenoids,

pressure regulation, 32-bit digital detector electronics, and a

single-train chromatograph in a single, replaceable module

– 32-bit digital, low power, controlling electronics. Using

Windows CE® (internal to GC unit)

– Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or XP-based, remote user

interface software

– Lithium battery-backed RAM

– Two remote serial digital communications ports; one local port

– Comprehensive diagnostics and wizards available to users

– Two-level security for user access control

– Audit-quality historical data; date and time stamped

– Operational alarms available with each analysis cycle

– Detectors – constant temperature, glass encapsulated

thermister beads for rugged service and long life. Will not

burn out on loss of carrier

– Valves have no moving metal parts

– Single stream – Manual Calibration

– On demand diagnostics

– Available standard sample conditioning system

– Front panel consisting of LED indicators for: Run, Hold,

Calibrate, Warning, Fault, Warm-up

– USB (host and client) and ethernet ports

– SD memory cards

– Optional Feed-through heater

– AGA3/AGA7 flow calculations

– API 21.2 compliant flow computer functionality

The NGC8106 performs on-site, real-time gas analysis and

heating value computation. The 8106 can be used as a total

energy meter with the addition of a multivariable transmitter!

The NGC8106 is a perfect replacement for automatic

samples. The user will enjoy real-time data instead of monthly

averages, and shipping and handling errors have been virtually

eliminated. The NGC8106 is based upon the industry leading

NGC8206 platform.

Innovations include

– Compact design

– Extreme serviceability

– Low installation costs

– Low utility requirements

– Low maintenance

– Unmatched performance

Simple, reliable, easy to service, low cost measurement.

The perfect choice to replace automatic samplers

Introduction

The NGC8106 is a field mounted GC capable of a C6+

natural gas analysis. By bringing real-time gas quality data

closer to the wellhead, the NGC8106 is the perfect choice to

replace automatic samplers. Not only will users enjoy real time

measurement to correct their flow calculations, users will no

longer have to deal with the cumbersome tasks of shipping

samples and the sample handling errors that can result.

Real time measurement and heating value computation

ABB flow computers, analyzers and sensors customarily

set defacto standards for natural gas custody transfer

measurement. As an extension of the NGC8206, the

NGC8106 introduces a new paradigm by allowing real-time

measurement at lower volume stations where it was previously

cost-prohibitive to put a GC.