Tkachuk V. Improvement of the method and means of measuring the energy characteristics of natural gas using thermal anemometry

Tkachuk, V. V. Improvement of the method and means for measuring the energy characteristics of natural gas using thermoanemometry. Qualification scientific work on the rights of a manuscript. Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in specialty 152 - Metrology and information-measuring technique. Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk, 2024. The dissertation is devoted to solving the urgent scientific and applied problem in the field of measuring and controlling the quality and energy parameters of natural gas - improving the method and technical means of measuring the quality and energy characteristics of natural gas using thermoanemometry. The object of the research is the thermophysical processes of interaction between the thermoanemometric sensor and the moving working medium, taking into account the influence of humidity as one of the quality indicators of natural gas, which directly affects its energy characteristics. The subject of the research is measuring instruments that include thermoanemometric sensors, their mathematical and metrological models. The work analyzes the current state of scientific, normative and technical support for measuring volumetric and mass flow rate, taking into account the energy characteristics and quality parameters of natural gas. The dissertation solves a theoretical and practical problem related to the improvement of the method and means of measuring the energy characteristics of natural gas using thermoanemometry. Namely, taking into account the physicochemical indicators of the environment, followed by modeling, approbation of theoretical results and the construction of methodological and conceptual approaches to solve the set goals and objectives of the study. The introduction highlights the urgency of determining the energy and quality characteristics of gas using thermoanemometry methods. It justifies the necessity of addressing these problems and their significance, reflects the connection of the dissertation work with scientific programs, plans, and topics; formulates the goal and sets the main tasks for this research direction; defines the object and subject of the research; indicates the scientific novelty and presents the practical significance of the obtained results, notes the personal contributions of the applicant, which are presented in publications on the topic of the work, provides information about the number of the author's publications and the degree of approbation of the work. The first chapter analyzes the current state of scientific, regulatory, and technical support for measuring the energy characteristics of humid natural gas. A comprehensive analysis of key terms and concepts related to the investigation of qualitative and energetic characteristics in natural gas accounting has been conducted. An analysis of regulatory frameworks governing the control of natural gas energy characteristics has been carried out. An analysis of contemporary methods and technical tools for investigating natural gas energy characteristics has been performed. In the second chapter, theoretical studies of the process of measuring the energy characteristics of humid natural gas were carried out. A theoretical investigation into the impact of natural gas humidity on its energy characteristics has been conducted. The influence of compositional makeup and humidity of natural gas on its thermophysical properties has been simulated. The impact of air humidity on the thermophysical and energy characteristics during the operation of thermoanemometric sensors has been studied. The operation of thermoanemometric transducers under conditions of gas-hydrogen mixtures has been simulated. The influence of gas flow velocity and composition on the sensitivity of thermoanemometric transducers has been investigated. The effect of humidity on the calibration characteristic of thermoanemometric sensors has been simulated. In the third chapter, experimental studies of measuring equipment during operation in humid gas-flow environments were developed and conducted. A concept for physical modeling of the influence of humidity on the operation of thermoanemometric sensors has been developed. A laboratory setup has been developed to investigate the impact of water vapor on the performance of thermoanemometry instruments. The influence of humid flow on the operation of thermoanemometers during flow rate and volume measurements has been experimentally investigated. In the fourth chapter, a metrological analysis of the reference setup for reproducing mass flow rates of humid air was carried out based on the uncertainty theory. Key words: natural gas, hot-wire anemometer, humidity, energy characteristics, quality, air, uncertainty, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, flow meter, meter, pressure, temperature, composition, pipeline.