New Flow Computer for More Intuitive Natural Gas Volume Conversion

RMG by Honeywell (USA) recently introduced the ERZ 2000-NG Flow Computer and Gas Volume Corrector, providing a reliable and more intuitive solution for natural gas volume conversion in fiscal and secondary metering applications.

Featuring a new graphical touch screen user interface, the new, flow computer enables gas distribution, transportation and storage service organisations to accurately measure gas flow, correct the measured volume, calculate energy consumption, and provides all data via standardised protocols. It is certified by the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) as a gas volume and calorific value corrector for custody transfer metering of natural gases. The unit can easily be integrated in a gas train application in a cabinet along with gas chromatographs, flow computers, data loggers and controllers.

The new intuitive human-machine interface (HMI) touch screen navigation can even be used by operators wearing gloves by using a touch pen. Remote maintenance software capabilities limit the number of on-site visits and reduce the time for commissioning and maintenance. In addition, an optional USB port allows the use of an external keyboard.

“The ERZ 2000-NG combines RMG by Honeywell’s proven reliability with a significantly improved user experience for operators in the field,” said Frank Michels, general manager, RMG Gas Metering.

The ERZ 2000-NG can be used in conjunction with all types of gas flow meters, including turbine meters, vortex meters, ultrasonic gas meters and rotary displacement meters, as well as orifice plate metering. The flow computer utilises a wide range of communication protocols to deliver data securely to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), enterprise resource planning (ERP) or data collection systems. It also employs a pair of Ethernet plugs (RJ45) to communicate with separate IP networks, ensuring better overall system security and eliminating the influence from remote readings.

Designed as a universal instrument, the ERZ 2000-NG can be used for all metrological tasks in a gas metering station. It is available in a choice of system configurations, including: ERZ 2002-NG Density Volume Converter, ERZ 2004-NG State Volume Converter, ERZ 2104-NG State Calorific Value Volume Converter, ERZ 2102-NG Density Calorific Value Volume Converter and ERZ 2014/2114-NG Effective Pressure Gas Meter.

The ERZ 2000-NG performs gas volume conversion on the basis of the equation-of-state for ideal gases. Since this equation alone does not meet all the requirements for high-precision gas metering, the gas volume corrector also takes into account the characteristics of the real gas by using the K co-efficient as a correction factor. Such an approach ensures utmost measurement accuracy and repeatability. The device monitors limits specified for custody transfer metering. An alarm is tripped if these limits are exceeded, and all alarm messages are stored in a log, just like parameter changes.