1. Field demonstration of a microwave black powder detection device in gas transmission pipelines
- Author
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Mohammed Azhar, Andri Haryono, Wesam Taha, Mohammad Faraj, Khaled Al-Wahedi, Mustafa Daoud, Mohamed Alshehhi, Ibrahim AlNabulsieh, Frank Geuzebroek, Mohamed A. Abou-Khousa, and Ahmed Al-Durra
- Subjects
Traverse ,Observational error ,business.industry ,020209 energy ,Flow assurance ,Energy Engineering and Power Technology ,02 engineering and technology ,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology ,Pipeline transport ,Fuel Technology ,020401 chemical engineering ,Transmission (telecommunications) ,Natural gas ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Environmental science ,0204 chemical engineering ,Transceiver ,Process engineering ,business ,Sensitivity (electronics) - Abstract
Black Powder (BP) poses a serious threat to the integrity and operation of natural gas transmission networks worldwide. While BP corrective and preventive remedies have been proposed in the past, real-time detection and quantification of BP in natural gas flows using a viable technology is yet to be addressed. Real-time monitoring of BP is imperative not only to ensure on-spec supply of sales gas, but also to facilitate maintenance decisions and assess the efficacy of in-line filters. In this paper, an industrial-grade BP detection device (BPDD) capable of measuring the total suspended solids (TSS) in real-time is demonstrated. The proposed device is based on measurements of microwave signals transmitted through a pipe section as solids traverse in the gas flow using a custom-made transceiver and in-situ probes. The BPDD is extensively tested on sales gas pipelines in field conditions, whereby high sensitivity is verified. Concentration measurements of the BPDD is benchmarked against a TSS analysis conducted as part of isokinetic sampling of the gas flow. The reported measurement error using the BPDD is less than 7%. Hence, the proposed device is deemed a valuable asset to flow assurance in the oil & gas industry.
- Published
- 2020
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