FLARES?

Whats new? On December 2, 2023, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a conclusive Clean Air Act (Act) regulation aimed at diminishing methane and other pollutant emissions originating from activities within the oil and natural gas industry. This regulation incorporates New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) to curtail methane and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from newly established, modified, and reconstructed sources (40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart OOOOb). Additionally, it introduces emissions guidelines (EG) for the first time, offering directives to states in formulating plans to address the methane emissions of existing sources (40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart OOOOc).

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Pipelines: Energy-Based Transactions and Operational Integrity

Since the 1980s, the natural gas industry has transitioned from volume-based trading to energy-based transactions, where gas is bought and sold based on its heating value per unit volume. This shift means pipeline operators must accurately measure both flow rate and BTU content to determine the total energy delivered. Variations in gas composition—especially with the rise of hydrogen blending, LNG, and renewable gas inputs—require continuous BTU monitoring to ensure:

• Accurate billing and contract compliance.

• Consistent energy delivery to downstream consumers.

• Safe blending and flow control within complex pipeline systems.​

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​​                                                                                                                                                                                                                 RKI's Solid State Optical BTU Analyzer

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​​​​​Process Plants: Optimizing Blending and Control

In industrial facilities, BTU measurement enables precise flue gas blending and hydrogen blending, both of which are critical for emissions control and process optimization. As plants seek to decarbonize and improve efficiency, these strategies require:

• Real-time insight into the energy content of incoming fuel.

• Dynamic adjustment of air-fuel ratios and burner settings.

• Seamless integration with advanced control systems to maintain performance amid fluctuating fuel streams.

BTU data feeds directly into feed-forward control loops, allowing for faster, more accurate responses to fuel changes than reactive systems.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The OHC-800 Opti-Sonic Modules​

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Power Plants: Stability, Efficiency, and Compliance

For power plants, fuel gas variability poses a direct threat to combustion stability, equipment longevity, and contractual performance. Gas turbines and boilers are highly sensitive to changes in fuel heating value, making real-time BTU measurement vital for:

• Feed-forward control of combustion systems to maintain stable operations.

• Minimizing thermal stress and extending maintenance intervals.

• Meeting strict environmental and performance criteria to avoid penalties.

Advanced BTU measurement technologies allow operators to proactively manage changes in fuel quality, ensuring consistent output, reduced maintenance costs, and compliance with power purchase agreements and regulatory standards.​​​​​