Odorant Addition System for Natural Gas 3

[sshep]

We just built a new R&D facility on our site. The natural gas supply to that building is straight off our plant fuel gas system. I have just been assigned to design an odorant addition system for this building and am seeking guidance on standards, practices, chemicals, handling and storage systems ect. I have seen a similar topic at least once in these forums. None of the existing laboratories on this site has such a system so I don't even have a reference point. As of this morning I truly know nothing about this subject and will appreciate any information which you can provide. Thanks, sshep

 

[vzeos]

The people at Odor Eyes should be able to help you. See attached link.

http://www.welkereng.com/odoreyes/odoreyes.htm

 

[jsummerfield]

Search for gas odorant injection and find lots.

John

 

[mbeychok]

I am fairly sure that the American Gas Association has a manual or standard about odorizing natural gas ... but they may want you to buy it. You can contact them at

http://www.aga.org

Milton Beychok
(Contact me at www.air-dispersion.com)

 

[EGT01]

Sshep,

A number of years ago, I was associated with a group that was involved in public gas distribution system design and operation. The Department of Transportation regulated those type of systems. I'm not sure if their guidelines would apply to your facility but you may want to check this as a reference.

http://ops.dot.gov/regs/small_ng/SmallNaturalGas.htm

In particular, look at Chapter IV, Leak Detection.

As another reference for a manufacturer of odorizer units, you may want to check

http://www.kingtoolcompany.com/odorizer.htm

 

[sshep]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the good tips. I feel like I better understand the options with respect to the actual equipment for odorizing. My questions now are the logistics of handling this "concentrated skunk juice". In an internet search I found a list of 10 worst farm jobs and filling the wick odorizer was top of the list. I will not be very popular with the operators if I provide something with that sort of exposure.

The odoreyes site has a picture of a 5 gallon tank similar to a propane tank which can be fitted with quick disconnects, etc. An arrangement like this would be sweet. This is part of a pulse bypass system rather than a wick system which (at best) I envision would need to be hardpiped to a tank which itself would then need to be periodically refilled or swapped out. Simplicity and operability may be more important than cost.

I am getting together some usage info (we are in the 350k scfd NG capacity range but usage is probably quite variable and unmeasured). Any further advice on the logistics of handling these mercaptans will be appreciated.

Thanks, sshep

 

[vzeos]

sshep,

I don’t know what you relation is with the local gas utility but it seems strange that you now would have to odorize gas that has been going to your plant fuel system. Are you sure that your problem is not odorant fade? It is common for the gas odor to fade in a newly constructed pipeline until the pipeline is pickled. If this is the case, you might ask the gas company to tweak their odorant injection a little until you get passed your start-up period.

Your concern about the logistics of handling mercaptans is well taken. A lot has to do with where you are located and what your local ordinances are. You may need a special fire department permit or building permit to store the hazardous material and to operate the equipment. You may need to get DOT operator qualification and, prepare O&M and emergency procedures etc. You may also need to get the approval of one or more environmental agencies.

One other logistical nightmare (again depending on you location) is that if you have a mercaptan spill, you (or the local utility) can count on an increased volume of gas leak calls, all of which will need to be responded to because you won't know if the caller is reporting a real leak or the odor of the spilled mercaptan. This can get expensive.

 

[sshep]

Hey RGasEng,
I guess these things are a matter of economic scale. I work on the Louisiana gulf coast surrounded by various refineries and petrochemical complexes consumming MMMSCFD's of natural gas, much of which is passed over fencelines and through industrial gas pipelines to provide fuel to cracking furnaces, boilers, hot oil heaters, etc. It just wouldn't seem economical to odorize those type volumes, and the community would have that much more stink to complain of. The tiny volume I am addressing is the exception because it is used indoors (laboratory, building heat, pilot plant) and I had no experience with these small system. Anyway, thanks for all your help, sshep