Gas Push Seen as Key to Energy Revolution

Green technologies are creating hope for the future of energy production: biochar can be produced synthetically through CO2 recycling, biobutanol through genetically modified microorganisms, and biogas and biohydrogen through wind energy electrolysis. However, perfecting these technologies and making them profitable will take years. Until then, natural gas will continue to replace coal and oil, securing supply and helping to advance the energy revolution in a practical manner. This can be achieved even faster with liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and compressed natural gas (CNG). SICK participates globally in production and distribution in all these processes with analysis and verifiable ultrasonic measurement technology. The European Union (EU) is responsible for approximately 12.5% of the world's CO2 emissions. Approximately half of EU emissions are generated by heat and power production for residential and industrial facilities, while 20% is caused by road traffic. Industrial facilities and especially road traffic are areas where petroleum products are used on a large scale.

Because natural gas produces emissions with 25% less CO2, a higher share of gas here has a particularly positive environmental impact.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (LPG/liquefied petroleum gas or camping gas), and also compressed natural gas (CNG) provide significant advantages in transport and transmission by substantially reducing volume. All three, in addition to fuel cells powered by hydrogen, are major competitors to petrol and diesel in freight transport. An extensive network of filling stations already exists for LPG; CNG is currently supported by automobile manufacturers.

Particularly promising, however, is LNG, which can be supplied independently of pipelines and transported in large volumes by ship.

It is particularly well-suited to replace heavy fuel in maritime transport. Additionally, its use as aircraft fuel instead of jet fuel is being discussed. LNG can also be supplied independently to industrial facilities and homes and even entire countries like Japan. The EU currently hosts LNG port facilities with 1/5 of the world's regasification capacity. The EU Commission is now introducing large LNG filling stations and trucks with liquefied natural gas tanks under the "LNG Blue Corridors" project.

Raw Gas Processing, Liquefaction and Emission Monitoring Analysis

SICK analyzer systems are already used for LNG and LPG production. During raw gas processing, for example, a TRANSIC100LP laser spectrometer controls oxygen supply while separated acid gas is burned to form sulfur dioxide and processed to obtain pure sulfur. A GMS800 OXOR gas analyzer enables monitoring of oxygen content in the Merox® process where LPG obtained from raw gas is desulfurized, thereby enabling efficient operation of the process.

GMS800 UNOR contributes to the production of synthesis gas for industrial applications.

In liquefaction facilities, the GMS800 UNOR gas analyzer prevents residues from previously separated CO2 from clogging the cooling unit's gas turbines. In LNG tankers and floating regasification facilities, MARSIC analysis systems are used for continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) and emission values released to the environment can be measured; during regasification on land, particularly the low-cost cold extraction PowerCEMS50 systems perform the same function. SICK analysis systems are used in many major LNG import projects at measurement stations where the quality and quantity of gas delivered to customers are reliably and accurately recorded. SICK also provides solutions for correct analyzer systems for auxiliary facilities in natural gas processing; CEMS monitors combustion processes in steam boilers and gas turbines while TRANSIC oxygen detectors measure the inert atmosphere in pipes and storage tanks. TOCOR analyzers reveal the smallest hydrocarbon contamination in process and cooling water, surface and wastewater. Accurate Billing and Flare Gas Monitoring SICK's well-known, highly reliable and nearly maintenance-free ultrasonic flow measurement systems are used worldwide. FLOWSIC gas flow meters are used to measure gas flow rates under the most challenging conditions - in drilling towers in Norway, in coalbed methane fields in Australia, in shale plays in the USA, in addition to flare gas and LNG systems, this product is used throughout the entire distribution network from pipelines to industrial end customers or CNG filling stations. Approximately 350 million tons of CO2 are released globally each year through controlled or uncontrolled combustion; for example, this represents approximately 40% of all German CO2 emissions. In the meantime, verification requirements in many countries have begun to mandate significant reductions and precise measurement of flare gas emissions. FLOWSIC100 Flare enables safe measurement of the flow rate of emissions released to the atmosphere in flare stacks; gas velocity can be detected even at very low flow rates and it can withstand very large flows in short periods. Thanks to its special design, it enables measurement over a wide range of velocities.

Future Status of Green Energy-Based CO2-Neutral Fuels

According to the Paris Agreement, by 2050, 90% of energy must be generated from renewable fuels. In this case, "green" power - x processes aim to create a new gas infrastructure where green power is stored in gas form and converted to CO2-neutral fuels. Furthermore, synthetic natural gas and LNG can be produced from wind power through power-to-gas. SICK is already testing this technology and developing appropriate measurement concepts.   Özlem Yavuz Aydınlık Product Manager, Analyzers SICK A.Ş.