Accurate Experimental (p, ρ, and T) Data for the Introduction of Hydrogen into the Natural Gas Grid (II): Thermodynamic Characterization of the Methane–Hydrogen Binary System from 240 to 350 K and Pressures up to 20 MPa

Abstract

Most of the experimental density data of the methane–hydrogen binary system available at the time of the development of the equation of state for natural gases and related mixtures, GERG-2008, at temperatures above 270 K were limited to hydrogen contents higher than 0.20 (amount-of-substance fraction). On the contrary, for mixtures with hydrogen contents lower than 0.20, experimental data were limited to temperatures below 270 K. This work intends to close the gap and provides accurate experimental (p, ρ, and T) data for three binary mixtures of methane and hydrogen, (0.95 CH4 + 0.05 H2), (0.90 CH4 + 0.10 H2), and (0.50 CH4 + 0.50 H2), at temperatures of 240, 250, 260, 275, 300, 325, and 350 K, thus extending the range of available experimental data to higher temperatures for mixtures with hydrogen contents lower than 0.20 and, accordingly, to lower temperatures for mixtures with hydrogen contents higher than 0.20. The density measurements were performed by using a single-sinker densimeter with magnetic suspension coupling at pressures up to 20 MPa. Experimental data were compared to the corresponding densities calculated from the GERG-2008 and the AGA8-DC92 equations of state, respectively. The experimental data are within the uncertainty of both equations of state, except at the lower temperatures of 240 and 250 K and pressures over 14 MPa for the mixtures with a hydrogen content of 0.05 and 0.10, respectively. The virial coefficients B(T, x) and C(T, x), as well as the second interaction virial coefficient B12(T) for the methane–hydrogen binary system, were also calculated from the experimental data set at temperatures from 240 to 350 K using the virial equation of state.