Characterization of a biomethane-like synthetic gas mixture through accurate density measurements from (240 to 350) K and pressures up to 14 MPa

Abstract

In this work the thermodynamic behavior of a synthetic four-component biomethane-like mixture, composed mainly of methane (96.48%), with small amounts of carbon dioxide (2.00%), nitrogen (1.50%), and traces of oxygen (0.02%), is studied using accurate (p,ρ,T) experimental data. Two mixtures of identical nominal compositions were prepared by the gravimetric method at the Spanish National Metrology Institute (Centro Español de Metrología, CEM) and at the Slovak National Metrology Institute (Slovenský Metrologický Ústav, SMÚ). The composition was double checked by Gas Chromatography, at both NMI and at the beginning and end of the measurements. An additional test of the consistency of the given compositions was performed by measuring the density of both mixtures at selected points, with two different techniques, in two different laboratories. Accurate density measurements have been taken over a wide temperature range, from (240 to 350) K, and pressures up to 14 MPa, using a single-sinker densimeter with magnetic suspension coupling. Experimental data are compared with the densities calculated with the GERG-2008 and AGA8-DC92 equations of state. Deviations between experimental and GERG-2008-estimated densities are within a ±0.03% band at all temperatures, which shows the outstanding performance of the current reference equation for natural gases when describing a biomethane-like mixture. Deviations between experimental and AGA-8-estimated densities are higher than 0.04% at 250 K for pressures greater than 10 MPa and also at 240 K for pressures higher than 9 MPa. This work is part of the research project ‘Metrology for Biogas’ supported by the European Metrology Research Program.