Abstract
The decarbonization of the residential sector is fundamental for energy transition. In this context, it is promising the introduction of hydrogen in natural gas networks in specific hydrogen districts. Accordingly, hydrogen meters are needed for accounting the fuel consumptions. The topic of this work is the development and construction of an experimental apparatus for testing safely hydrogen volume and flow meters up to 24 m3/h (referred to standard conditions) in controlled environmental conditions, between -25 and +55 °C (and beyond). The apparatus realized can test up to four volume and flow meters in a climatic chamber while processing air or pure hydrogen or methane. Methane-hydrogen mixtures can be tested connecting simply bottles with synthetic blends. The aim is to verify the measurement accuracy of the meters under test. A dedicated data analysis protocol featuring statistical process control is developed to monitor the stability of the system during the test. It exploits statistical indicators representing the autocorrelation, the normality of residuals of the mean value and the lag plot. The apparatus is realized, and it complies with the leakage limits set by indications in literature. A new ultrasonic domestic meter is tested in the apparatus. It has been developed by Pietro Fiorentini S.p.A. in the framework of the Hy4Heat project. Its error trends measured at all temperatures comply with the limit of 3.5% between 0.12 and 2 m3/h and 2% between 2 and 20 m3/h, as imposed by legislations.
Highlights
The process of energy transition involves the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors
The apparatus can test up to four volume and flow meters in controlled environmental conditions as part of the apparatus itself is located inside a climatic chamber
The apparatus has been validated for the calibration of volume and flow meters as presented in the case study
Summary
The process of energy transition involves the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors. The aim of the system is to verify the measurement accuracy of hydrogen volume and flow meters with respect to a reference system This assessment must be performed even under extreme environmental conditions, as temperature variation. The data analysis protocol computes some statistical indicators to assess the stability of each sample It converts the readings in comparable unit of measurements, and it computes the deviations between the tested meters and the reference thermal mass flow meters. This paper features a description of the experimental apparatus and the safety systems It presents the testing procedure and the instrumentation exploited, the data analysis protocol, the results from a case study where volume and mass flow meters have been calibrated with the apparatus. The conclusions of the work are drawn in the final section
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