Ensuring gas flow rates always within the meter rangeability acting on the automatic regulation pressure value: in this article we tell you about the challenge won by AUTOMA’s GOLEM technology with the installation on an off-take station serving an antenna gas distribution network.
A project that ensures compliance with resolution 512/2021/R/gas, issued by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (ARERA), which requires the gas flow to be maintained within the limits allowed by the meter’s measurement range and, consequently, requires accurate monitoring and adequate flow control.
The Automa solution: GOLEM technology applied to flow control
The GOLEM technology, which is characterised by the ability to make the regulation of gas pressure dynamic and automatic without requiring substantial changes to existing systems, is based on a mechanically coupled servo mechanism which manages the adjustment screw of the regulator and makes it controllable.
Thanks to this innovative adaptation technology, the System can be applied to any pressure regulator, piloted or direct-acting, with a simple retrofit intervention. A solution that can be readily adapted and implemented, and which contributed to our client’s choice of GOLEM.
In this specific case, the operating logic of the GOLEM System has been modified to enable it to keep operating flow rates within the correct rangeability for which the meter was designed.
Considering that it cannot directly influence the plant’s gas demand – since this is determined by the downstream collection –, the System intervenes directly on the network pressure, modifying it to adapt the flow rate in cubic meters to the rangeability of the meter. Specifically, lowering the pressure lowers the flow rate in cubic meters and vice versa. This ability to directly regulate the pressure in the off-take station allows, actually, a direct control over flow rate in cubic meters to the meter.
In addition, the GOLEM operating logic has been optimised to allow flow rate control simultaneously with the management of an hourly pressure profile. Specifically, the pressure is lowered during the night and then brought back up to the desired range during the day, with a consequent significant reduction in fugitive emissions.
Furthermore, to guarantee the safety and continuity of the System’s service, in addition to GOLEM’s internal algorithmic logic, there are mechanical limit switches that constantly monitor the pressure, ensuring that it does not exceed the set thresholds. Mechanical limit switches offer additional safety compared to algorithmic logic alone, protecting against any system anomalies. Indeed, when a limit switch is reached, the system stops and returns the pressure to its origin.
The results obtained thanks to GOLEM by AUTOMA
The implementation of GOLEM can be defined Plug&Play, as it does not require significant interventions on the mechanical and pneumatic part of the system. It is not necessary to modify the motorisation pressures or review existing connections, which considerably simplifies the installation process, and therefore the subsequent management and maintenance of the plant. This was a first, very important advantage for our customer.
From the very first months of activity, following the tuning phase in which the System was calibrated, the implementation of GOLEM on the off-take stations has allowed us to:
- get a significant reduction in out-of-threshold measurements
- make the measurement system more efficient
- significantly reduce the economic sanctions for measures outside the threshold
- significantly reduce fugitive emissions
Even the maintenance of the system proved to be extremely simple for our client to manage. In fact, with a simple action on a screw, it is possible to manually regulate the controller pilot or remove the servo motor and restore the reduction system to its original configuration in about 10 seconds. This greatly facilitates the work of maintenance technicians, allowing them to intervene on the pressure regulator, pilots, monitors and other components of the off-take station to carry out maintenance work in full compliance to current regulations.
The implementation of GOLEM in this project has produced extremely satisfactory results for our customer, while also improving operational efficiency.
With the AUTOMA solution it is possible to benefit from an immediate increase in efficiency and precision of pressure regulation, resulting in reduced gas leaks and operating costs. In addition, thanks to GOLEM, the system is able to reduce inefficiencies linked to changes in gas supply and demand. With a view to a possible integration of renewable sources, GOLEM is designed to also manage the injection of biomethane within natural gas networks, unlike many other solutions on the market.
AUTOMA has been active since 1987 in the development of hardware and software solutions for the monitoring and the remote control of gas transportation and distribution networks, functional to their operational management. As yet over 50,000 Automa devices are installed in more than 40 countries in the world.
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Project Manager at Automa S.r.l.
Andrea Giorgetti, a Project Manager with 20 years of experience in engineering and technological development, has been working at AUTOMA S.r.l. since 2007, where he is responsible for product development, engineering, and market strategies. He also supervises projects and coordinates technical processes to optimize the company’s solutions and technologies.
