Michell’s OptiPEAK TDL600 moisture analyser helps monitor moisture levels in stored natural gas.
The TDL600 demonstrated the necessary fast response and immunity to methane, resulting in an order for seven units.
The six-month evaluation took place at an underground natural gas storage facility near Milan. The facility has been converted from a depleted natural gas reservoir so careful control of moisture levels is important.
Excess gas is taken from the regional network during the summer when demand is low, and stored in the facility to quickly respond to periods of exceptionally high demand. During storage, the gas absorbs moisture and needs to be dried to acceptable levels before being pumped into the transmission network.
The near-infrared spectroscopy measurement is immune to cross-interference from methanol, an additive injected to avoid hydrate formation, but also glycol, a liquid desiccant that is commonly carried through in the export gas when operating dehydration contactor towers.
Overall, the tuneable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLAS) principle of the OptiPEAK TDL600 offers the advantage of high-precision measurements combined with a fast response to changes in process gas moisture content. This makes it suitable instrument for applications where swift action is needed to activate dehydration processes if moisture levels rise above a certain point.
The OptiPEAK TDL600 is available through AMS Instrumentation & Calibration.
