Natural gas, as one of the main energy sources in the clean energy system, has seen a continuous increase in its share within the energy structure. The accuracy and reliability of its trade measurement directly affect the economic interests of both supply and demand parties. Among various metering devices, ultrasonic gas flowmeters have become the preferred choice for natural gas trade handover due to their advantages such as non-contact measurement, no pressure loss, and wide range of measurement.
How It Works:
Gas ultrasonic flow meters measure flow rates by utilizing the time difference between the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the direction of the flow and against it in the moving gas. Two pairs of ultrasonic transducers measure propagation times, convert the time difference into flow velocity via a velocity model, and derive volumetric flow using pipe cross-sectional area. A microprocessor then performs volume correction calculations using multi-channel signals from temperature, pressure, and flow sensors.
· Relatively stable gas composition.
· Minimum absolute density >0.5 kg/m³ (absolute pressure ≈70kPa or higher)
· Installation must avoid strong vibration, noise sources, and electromagnetic interference
· Filters (120-200 mesh) recommended upstream for dirty gas applications
Key Role in Mid-Downstream Trade Measurement of Natural Gas
1.Ensuring Trade Fairness: In trade settlement of natural gas, typically, trade settlement points are established at city gate stations or distribution transfer stations. These points serve as interchange points between upstream and downstream sectors, responsible for metering and price settlement of natural gas.
The ALS-U series gas ultrasonic flow meter achieves an accuracy class of ±1.0%, with calibration accuracy reaching ±0.5% during in-line calibration and repeatability of ±0.2% (measured gas velocity range: 0.05 m/s to 30 m/s). It adopts a multi-path design, featuring high noise immunity, the ability to detect vortex and asymmetric flows, eliminating inherent delays in sensors and processing circuits, and ensuring precise measurements. Even if individual paths fail, the device can continue to operate normally.
2.Wide Range Adaptability: Natural gas demand is relatively low in summer but significantly increases in winter due to heating and other needs, with the flow variation range potentially reaching several times or even higher.
The ALS-U series gas ultrasonic flow meter features a wide range ratio, enabling accurate measurement of natural gas flow under both low-demand summer conditions and high-demand winter peak conditions. It can precisely measure gas flow across a wide velocity range, from low velocities (0.05 m/s) to high velocities (30 m/s).
3.Bidirectional Flow Measurement: To enhance the flexibility and stability of natural gas trade, urban gas companies typically construct LNG emergency stations to serve as supplementary gas sources. Through these LNG emergency stations, cities can flexibly engage in natural gas trade, especially when gate station prices fluctuate significantly. By adopting a buy-low-sell-high strategy, they can timely adjust prices and balance the energy market.
The Gas Ultrasonic Flow Meter ALS-U-B (Insertion type) can display instantaneous flow, positive, negative, net cumulative flow, and velocity (when using bidirectional measurement, the upstream and the downstream straight pipe length must be ≥10D).
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4. High Protection and Safety: Natural gas, as a typical flammable and explosive gas, poses significant risks in case of leakage. In relatively enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, natural gas can quickly accumulate to a certain concentration in the air, forming a highly dangerous combustible gas environment. In such scenarios, even an extremely small ignition source could trigger intense explosions and fires, posing a devastating threat to personnel safety, facility integrity, and the surrounding environment.
Facing such challenging operating conditions, the ALS-U series gas ultrasonic flow meter demonstrates exceptional adaptability and safety. Its protection rating meets Ex d mb IIC T5/T6 Gb and IP 66 / IP 67 standards. With these high-level protection ratings, the ALS-U series ensures precise measurement and safe operation in the mid-to-downstream segments of natural gas processing.
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In conclusion, as the strategic position of natural gas in the energy structure continues to rise, measurement accuracy and reliability are critical to ensuring market fairness and promoting healthy development across the natural gas supply chain. The ALS-U series gas ultrasonic flow meter, with its outstanding technical performance—including high precision, wide rangeability, interference resistance, high safety, and intelligent features—has become a key intelligent device for achieving smart management, ensuring supply security, and supporting the efficient utilization of natural gas as a clean energy source. Explore our solutions: Visit [www.sfhmeter.com] to learn how we continuously provide robust and reliable technical support for natural gas trade measurement.
