Fluxo Soluções
 / December 2019

Flow expands partnership with Honeywell with sale of Elster products

Per Joaquim Barroso

Among Elster's product line, the EnCal 3000 chromatograph, which has already been supplied by Fluxo for the GNA I project, stands out.

Fluxo once again expands its partnership with Honeywell International, now with the inclusion of the representation and distribution for the Brazilian market of its newest line of natural gas products, incorporated into the portfolio after the acquisition of Elster. Among the new products, we can highlight the EnCal 3000 chromatograph, which can be used to:

  • Fiscal measurement of the BTU (calorific value) of the gas;
  • Percentage measurement of each component of natural gas;
  • Gas quality measurement and control.

The Honeywell Elster® EnCal 3000 is a chromatograph specially designed for natural gas energy measurements. Considered a state-of-the-art analyzer that uses chromatography components based on the latest and most modern electromechanical systems (MEMS), resulting in highly accurate analyses. With a compact, explosion-proof design, it includes the analytical hardware, current selection, and all electronics necessary for autonomous operation.

The capillary column technology used in the EnCal 3000 has superior performance compared to the conventional column commonly used in other chromatographs.

Optimum gas separation in combination with a sensitive and linear system using the TCD detector results in a system with high precision for working with a wide variety of gases. As the carrier gas pressure is electronically controlled as a function of temperature changes, it does not influence the peak retention time. The EnCal 3000 design allows the unit to be placed outdoors, close to the sampling point, without the need to control the ambient temperature. Communication with the EnCal 3000 can be established using TCP/IP Connection and two Modbus ports.

The configuration of the EnCal 3000 is performed through the RGC 3000 software. This software can be used to configure the Modbus table (which is programmable), the method used by the analyzer, alarm settings and all other parameters available on the analyzer. Using Modbus TCP/IP protocol, multiple instruments, such as flow computers, can be connected to the EnCal 3000.

In addition to the RGC 3000 software package, the unit can be purchased with a powerful diagnostic software tool designed for analyzing data stored in memory. The data is stored in the EnCal 3000 memory for a period of 35 days, in accordance with the API 21.1 standard, and with the help of the “History logger” software, can be retrieved, displayed and transferred based on reports HTML. The modular design of the EnCal 3000 allows analyzer maintenance by unskilled personnel and reduces instrument downtime. The use of MEMS-based components results in less consumption of helium carrier gas.

Multiple stream sampling

Ideally, the EnCal 3000 should be installed close to the sample collection point. However, in many cases, especially when two or more gases from different measurement lines are to be sampled, a distance between the sampling points should be considered. To guarantee the delay time between the various sampling points and the analyzer, a fast loop system is required. To meet this requirement, the EnCal 3000 has a built-in fast loop system.

In practice, when the analyzer is analyzing multiple currents in a sequence, the next current to be analyzed will automatically clear with a range of approximately 0.7 to 1.1 SCF/h (0.33 to 0.52 LPM). Being able to clean a line at least 100 meters long, considering that this sampling line is 1/8” in diameter.

This fast loop system used by the EnCal 3000 reduces its cost compared to using individual fast loops for each current sampling.

Main features:

  • C6+ => Analysis time 3 minutes;
  • C9+ => Analysis time 5 minutes;
  • Repeatability in BTU <0.005%;
  • Double block and bleed;
  • Selection of up to 5 chains;
  • TCP/IP communication;
  • Data storage according to API 21.1;
  • IP 66 enclosure;
  • Calculations in accordance with ISO 6976, GPA 2172 or GOST 22667.

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