New real-time flare measurement system for changing gas compositions

Sierra Instruments announces the release of its new breakthrough QuadraTherm® qMix RealTime Flare Measurement System (FMS). For the first time, a system based on thermal mass flow meters can adjust flow readings when flare gas composition changes within seconds to match real-time readings from a gas analyser-retaining accuracy without factory recalibration.

The qMix RealTime FMS System harnesses the accuracy and computational power of QuadraTherm® thermal mass flow meters and the proprietary qMix RealTime software App. Unlike traditional two-sensor thermal mass flow meters, QuadraTherm has four sensors-three precision platinum temperature sensors and one patented no-drift DrySense mass velocity sensor. With this sensor technology breakthrough, accuracy is now twice as good as conventional thermal meters at +/- 0.5% of reading. Flow Range is extended to ultra-low flows down to 0.1 sfps (0.03 smps) to extreme high flows 120,000 sfpm (600 smps) with a 1000:1 turndown which enables high accuracy over a wide range. Sierra’s Raptor™ OS is the true “brain” of the instrument and includes a dynamic algorithm set which powers the proprietary Mix RealTime app. 

Now US based oil and gas engineers have the perfect solution to comply with EPA Refinery Sector Rule 40 CFR 63 rule which requires refineries to measure and report flare gas measurement at flow rates as low as 0.1 sfps (0.03 smps) where traditional multi-path ultrasonic flow meters can’t operate.  Users can easily integrate with current ultrasonic flow meters to extend the flow range or save money on infrastructure by upgrading the system with one qMix RealTime FMS to meet EPA regulations over the entire flow range.

Th three major components to the qMix RealTime FMS System are the QuadraTherm 640i/780i Thermal Mass Flow Meter, qMix RealTime Software Application and a Window-based laptop computer (included).

qMix RealTime FMS integrates with your current compositional gas analyser to give accurate flows over a large turndown. When the gas composition changes, the qMix RealTime App, loaded onto the supplied PLC, reads the outputs from your gas analyser for updated flare gas composition. qMix RealTime creates a new gas composition to match the gas analyser composition and automatically updates the 640i/780i thermal mass flow meter to adjust the flow rate to account for the new gas composition.