Gas Flow Metering Using National Standards and Gas Mixtures Containing Hydrogen

We present the first European intercomparison of primary flow measurement standards with hydrogen-enriched natural gas (up to 20% hydrogen in molar fraction) and natural gas with pressure up to 60 bar and volume flow rates in the range (5 to 160) m3/h. We describe the principles of operation of the primary standards and present the transfer standards, a rotary meter and an ultrasonic meter, used for the intercomparison. In many instances, the overlap between the different laboratories is satisfactory, but the collected results are limited and do not allow us to make advanced conclusions. In addition, we investigate the effect of nitrogen impurities (2% in molar fraction) on the performance of low-pressure gas meters for pure hydrogen using newly developed measurement standards. We present the methods and results of this investigation. We show that nitrogen impurities affect the volume flow measurements of an ultrasonic meter but seem to have little effect on a thermal mass flow meter. This paper explores future opportunities and challenges in international intercomparisons involving hydrogen blends and highlights key issues and solutions with hydrogen gas metering in the presence of impurities.