Screening analysis of natural gas with respect to methane content by near-infrared spectrometry

Autor(es)

Dantas, Hebertty V. ^[1] ; Barbosa, Mayara F. ^[1] ; Nascimento, Elaine C. L. ^[2] ; Moreira, Pablo N. T. ^[1] ; Galvao, Roberto K. H. ^[3] ; Araujo, Mario C. U. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Paraiba, Dept Quim, Lab Automacao & Instrumentacao Quim Analit Quimio, BR-58051970 Joao Pessoa, PB - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rural Pernambuco, Dept Quim, UAST, BR-56900000 Serra Talhada, PE - Brazil

^[3] Inst Tecnol Aeronaut, Div Engn Eletron, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Microchemical Journal; v. 114, p. 210-215, MAY 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 8

Resumo

This paper proposes a method for fast, non-destructive screening analysis of natural gas (NC) with respect to methane content by using near-infrared (NIR) spectrometry. A total of 55 NC samples were collected from vehicle fueling stations in north-eastern Brazil by using a lab-made high-pressure sampling cylinder with a purpose-built admission system. In addition, a gas mixing system was specifically developed for use in this investigation in order to simulate NC samples with methane content smaller than 85.0% mol/mol, which is the lower limit specification established by the Brazilian National Fuel Authority. A total of 23 simulated samples were prepared by mixing NC with nitrogen, compressed air, lighter fluid (commercial propane-butane mixture) and ethane. The NIR screening analysis was then carried out by using a SIMCA (soft independent modelling of class analogies) model. For this purpose, samples with methane content above and below the 85.0% mol/mol specification were considered negative and positive cases, respectively. At a confidence level of 95%, all test samples were correctly classified, i.e. no false positives or false negatives were obtained. These findings indicate that the use of NIR spectrometry can be of value for routine quality control of NC with respect to methane content. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/17610-0 - Monitoramento e controle de sistemas dinâmicos sujeitos a falhas
• Beneficiário: Roberto Kawakami Harrop Galvão
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático