P r o f i l e sThe Elster-Instromet customer magazine 3/2013

Sample conditioning: The right gas in the right place at the right timeBiogas: from waste to gas, while feeding tomatoes

Elster China: Gas meter repair and maintenance center

2 EdITorIal Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Do you ever feel that you can’t see the forest for the trees? RoHS, SIL/PL, ISO, EN, SOX, OHSAS, biogas injection, Power to Gas, the Dodd-Frank Act and this is just the tip of the iceberg: a large number of topics currently giving us food for thought. So how should we deal with them – and how are we going to set about the task?

As often as not, these topics tend to throw up questions, rather than providing us with answers and guidance. The need for guidance is thus growing constantly. Guidance is a basic requirement! Is this requirement fulfilled by all of the outstand-ing questions surrounding smart energy supply? And what will be the effects of fluctuating gas quality on the metering, control and safety technology of the future? Can we really keep track of all this? How are we to prepare ourselves?

Here at Elster, we are increasingly coming to the conclusion that our contribution in terms of the guidance we provide must not be restricted solely to technical solu-tions at the highest level. It must also deal with what are termed the “soft” facts. In this environment, it is a real challenge for us as engineers and planners to under-take our planning and designing safely and in compliance with the relevant regu-lations. How in the great uncharted sea can we be your anchor, providing certainty for planning in life and a source of guid-ance?

I am convinced that a sound marketing strategy is a great contributing factor for sound guidance, as long as it addresses these few – but important – questions:• What is it we do?• How do we do it?• Who do we do it for?• Where do we do it?• Who do we do it with?• Why are we doing it?

At Elster, we not only know what we do and how we do it, but we are also aware that we are doing it for you, and this is a source of some pride for me. And these are things we are also doing for ourselves, as they provide us with the required guid-ance and set objectives for us.

You should be supplied with answers – drawn from our technologies, products and system solutions, and from our know-how as well. To take our gas chromato-graphs, for example: these assist with gas supplies of fluctuating quality and allow downstream metering and control tech-nology to get on with the job without inter-ruption. Our comprehensive range of smart metering and control technology is backed up by self-adapting systems and components with SIL/PL certification. Our large team of support experts are there to guide and help you to make sure that you do the right thing. At the same time, we will continue to contribute to developing international and national regulations and play our part in associations, not losing

sight of the demands you make of your-selves and us.

We look forward to the coming year in which we will continue to offer a guidance package designed to make the world of energy supply smarter at the end of the day. Wherever necessary, we will be looking to provide the clearest possible answers to all of the important topics and unresolved questions.

As we approach the end of the year, it is a good time to thank you for the trust you have placed in us in 2013. Don’t hesitate to continue presenting us with challenges – as guidance is a basic requirement.

On behalf of all at Elster I wish you all the best for the festive season and a Happy New Year.

Thomas KujadtSales and Marketing DirectorElster Kromschröder

Guidance is a basic requirement

PublisherElster GmbH55252 Mainz-Kastel, Germanywww.elster-instromet.com

Editorial staff Gudrun Biedermann, Elster GermanyPaul Webster, Elster Instromet UKK. C. Tan, Elster-Instromet Singapore

Please write toEurope/africa/america/australia:Elster GmbHGudrun BiedermannSteinern Strasse 19–2155252 Mainz-Kastel, GermanyT +49 6134 6 05-2 18E gudrun.biedermann@elster.com

asia:Elster-Instromet Sdn. Bhd.K. C. Tan29 Tai Seng avenue#06-05a Natural Cool lifestyle HubSingapore 534119T +65 62477728E kctan@elster-instromet.com.sg

England:Elster Metering ltd.Steve CaseTollgate Business ParkBeaconside, StaffordStaffordshire ST16 3HS, EnglandT +44 1785 275306E steve.case@gb.elster.com

authors addy Baksteen, Elster-Instromet Nl Chris dwyer, Elster UK Gerd Markert, Elster Germanyrüdiger Pfeil, Elster GermanyHans-Peter Smid, Elster BelgiumWinfried Petry, Elster Germany Helena Wang, Elster China

articles signed by the author reflect their personal opinion.

Customer magazine online:www.elster-instromet.com

Page 3: © iStockphoto.com/qingwa Page 5: © iStockphoto.com/Tomm dr. Feix Translation agency

Publishing dates:Three editions for the year 2013

ProdUCTS 3 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

I had to think of a clear example to help the reader visualize the importance of sample conditioning to the overall analyzer system. Anyway, I was driving on the highway when I passed an armoured security van transporting money and boom, there was my comparison: money distribution to cash machines!

The analyzer for natural gas is the energy meter – the cash machine for suppliers of natural gas as it were – and the transpor-tation of money is the sample handling system. If the security van broke down on the way to your local cash machine, then eventually the cash machine would stop working and exactly the same goes for a well-designed sample handling system. You can have a state-of-the-art analyzer, but if the sample handling system is not designed to cope with the process condi-tions, the analyzer will not function properly and the analysis data will be inaccurate. It is all about getting the right gas to the right place at the right time and in the right manner. You can have the most sophisti-cated analyzer, but if too little time, money and engineering is involved in developing the sampling system, then that analyzer cannot perform to its specification.

In this article, I will go over some of the major issues that you need to think about when designing such a sampling system.

Sampling – getting the gas out of the pipeThe first thing that has to be done is to take the sample from the pipeline. The sample probe is the interface between the pipeline and the sample line. Sampling at the wall of a pipeline can often result in high particle and liquid content in the sample and therefore should be avoided at all times.

To ensure a good sample is taken, the probe should be inserted into the pipeline between one third and two thirds of the pipe diameter.

Pressure – less is moreMost of the time, the pressure in the pipe-line is too high for the analyzer and must therefore first be reduced. This can be done by regulators in the sampling system or by special sample probes that can carry out this function. An added benefit to reducing the pressure is that you reduce the sample lag time.

lag time – getting the gas to the analyzer at the right timeIn order to guarantee that the analyzer reacts in the correct time frame, you need to make sure that the gas entering the analyzer is “new gas”. If the flow in the sample handling system is too low, then the gas in the lines will be not refreshed properly and your analysis results will be based on “old” information. To increase the flow, you can install a bypass line to increase the refresh rate of the gas.

Gas quality measurement: sample conditioning

The right gas in the right place at the right time

While driving home one day, I was thinking about my article for this issue of Profiles. I wanted to do a piece on the importance of the sample hand ling system for gas quality measurement. I already knew which technical issues I wanted to discuss, but I needed to come up with a comparison to demonstrate why sample handling is just as important as the gas analyzer itself.

4 ProdUCTS Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Increasing the flow too much may lead to an excess of vented sample gas or even freezing of the sample due to the Joule-Thomson effect. In addition, choosing the correct line size is important as this changes the internal volume and thus the flush volume. A sample line that is too narrow, however, may cause the pressure drop to be too great.

Clean gas – getting only clean, dry gas to the analyzerAnalyzers and especially gas analyzers are very sensitive towards particles and therefore the gas entering the GC should be clean. Particles in the gas could cause clogging of the lines and ultimately erratic data. Furthermore, the ingress of liquids into gas analyzers can cause damage and errors in the analysis and therefore you must ensure that you have a good filtering system.

It is recommended that you use particle filters and liquid membranes in your sam-ple handling systems. The membranes and filters make sure that only gas gets to the analyzer – droplets and liquids are retained and routed away from the analyzer.

Safety – don’t let the sample ruin your analyzerAnalyzers have a specified operating pressure range. Your sample lines must therefore operate within the specified range. To protect the analyzer against high pressure, safety relief valves can be used. These open once the preset pressure is reached, thus protecting the analyzer.

Temperature – stable is betterThe ambient temperature difference between summer and winter and night and day can have an effect on the tem-perature of the gas. As long as the gas stays above its hydrocarbon dewpoint, this is usually no problem, but absorb-ance of polar compounds by the stain-less steel sample lines is dependent on the sample line temperature. If, for instance, a normal stainless steel line is used and is exposed to sunlight during the day, then more water will be in the gas during this period than during the colder night when more moisture will be absorbed by the wall of the sample line. Hence, this will cause the moisture con-centration to change as the ambient tem-perature changes. One way of overcom-ing this is to use heated sample lines.

Sample wetted materialsWhen measuring really low concentra-tions of substances that have a high affinity for stainless steel such as water or hydro-gen sulphide, the choice of sample line material is also very important. There are special coatings and material treatments available on the market to make the wall material of the sample handling systems less sensitive towards the components of interest. For example, Sulfinert® coatings can make the sulphur components in the gas have less affinity for the stainless steel in the sample handling system. The break-through time of the sulphur from the gas is then much shorter and the analyzer will react faster to changes in the sulphur con-tent of the sample stream.

When developing a sample conditioning system, it is important to consider all the issues discussed in this article. The results of a gas analysis are not only dependent on the analyzer itself but also on how the gas reaches the analyzer. So, next time you are getting money out of a cash machine, consider how the cash got there…

Hans-Peter Smid hans-peter.smid@elster-instromet.com

ProdUCTS 5 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Up to date: EK280

Firmware version 2.20 with new functions

From November 2013, Elster will be supplying the volume conversion device EK280 with a new firmware version. The following provides a brief description of the main changes.

the recipients can be freely defined. This can be done for up to 10 independent events. This is an interesting function with added value which we will present in detail in the next edition of Profiles.

Extended Modbus modesWe have extended the possible modes of Modbus communication with the EK280 now also supporting RS 485 2-wire bus mode and the use of several EK280 devices on a single bus.

Has this awoken your curiosity so that you would like to try these functions in an existing installation? Not a problem – we will be delighted to send you a quotation for a firmware update.

Rüdiger Pfeil ruediger.pfeil@elster.com

different inputs for conversion and flow calculationThe input signals for conversion and flow calculation relative to the standard volume can now be recorded using two different inputs. This makes it possible to use the original meter readings from the Absolute ENCODER index for billing while the HF signal from the meter is used to calculate the flow.

Single change to meter readingsThe main meter readings for the operat-ing volume Vm and standard volume Vb can be changed once using administrator rights even after the calibration lock has been closed. This new function is mainly used when commissioning the device: the main index for the operating volume in the volume conversion device can be synchronized with the current gas meter reading. For this process, opening the calibration lock is not required.

Text messagingIn addition to the existing various methods of remote data transfer, the EK280 can now also send text messages using the Short Message Service (SMS). The event that triggers the message, its content and

GNo=4456531*Time=2013-11-27,11:52:38Pressure Alarm*Typ=EK280.*Statn= Primary School= pressure range viloated (pmax)*MBo.p=2*bar*p.Abs=2.5911*bar*-= conversion with subsititue value*p.F=1.6*bar

11:52 27.11.2013

+491713091722

different inputs for HF sensor and the encoder signal

Example of an alarm message

6 ProdUCTS Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

And this is precisely what has happened to the EK260 – Elster is planning to cease production of one of the most successful products from the EK series at the end of 2014. Elster would therefore like to give its customers plenty of notice and also take the opportunity to take a look back at the “career” of this device. After all, this volume conversion device set completely new standards in the turbulent times caused by the liberalization of the gas market.

The volume conversion device EK280 enters the competition

Goodbye to the pioneer, the EK260

It’s like a top athlete – once he reaches a high level, he is successful and enjoys a certain reputation. after many years at the top, he can no longer continue to improve and keep up with increasing demands. at that point, it is time for him to say goodbye to top-level sport.

EK260 in a gas metering station of a power plant

When Elster launched the volume con-version device in 2000, the principle of recording meter readings rather than consumption values meant that the data logging function was completely rede-fined. The EK260 then went on to support the new Absolute ENCODER index as early as 2001 – even in battery mode. This meant that it was able to transfer original meter readings even for smaller commercial and industrial gas stations. This develop-ment provided the foundation for the spread of Absolute ENCODER indexes (including imitation products from other manufacturers) and since then, they have played an important role in secure data transmission. The following years of 2002 and 2004 saw the market launch of com-ponents for Ex-barriers, intrinsically safe power supply and data communication (function extension units FE260 and FE230 and modem EM260). Our customers are still enjoying the benefits of the modular concept which includes interchangeable

2001: transfer of original meter readings

28

ProdUCTS 7 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

communications components. For exam-ple, analogue modems can be replaced with GPRS-capable devices without the volume conversion device having to be replaced at the same time. Since 2005, Elster has also been offering the option to transfer data via the GPRS network. As from 2006, the pressure sensor has also been available as an external version, an option which to date has made many installations a great deal easier. At the same time, the technical calibration log-book was launched. This enabled our customers to set calibration parameters during the commissioning procedure without opening the calibration lock. In addition, the Modbus protocol was also made available to provide yet another means of communication – making the EK260 suitable for use in industrial applications.

In 2008, the EK260 was one of the first volume conversion devices in Europe to be manufactured and sold in compliance with the MID Directive. Just one year later, Elster launched the ComTCPServ applica-tion. This provided yet another method of transferring data using GPRS technology. This process is now the standard for M2M data transfer.

But it is not just the “CV” of the technical development which demonstrates the success of the device, ultimately it is the sales figures that decide. In total, more than 44,000 EK260 units have been sold to date. Half of these sales have been in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

This success would not have been possi-ble without the committed work of our colleagues in Development, Production, Sales, Marketing, Service and Support. And to continue the comparison with an athlete to whom fans show loyalty even if he fails to produce his best performance, Elster would also like to express its grati-tude to its loyal customers for their patience when things have not gone so smoothly.

Product discontinuation noticeElster will be ceasing production of the volume conversion device EK260 at the end of 2014. Orders for the volume conversion device EK260 will continue to be accepted until the end of September 2014.

repairs and spare partsRepairs and spare parts will continue to be guaranteed for at least five years after the production cessation date. Batteries will continue to be available after the end of this period.

Service and support Service and support for the volume conversion devices will also be guaranteed for at least five years after the production cessation date. And the EK260 will continue to feature in our seminars and individual training courses.

Customer magazine online:www.elster-instromet.com

P r o f i l e s

Elster volume correctors now with MID approval• Flow computer trends

• Gas meter test facility: remote bootstrapping

• Elster Instromet metering in the UK

Customer Magazine of the Elster-Instromet Group1/ 2008

2008: MId approval

2012: the new EK280 has entered the competition

Thank you for the trust you placed in Elster and all the constructive suggestions you have made – these have been applied in the development of the EK280 successor product. The new device has even more potential than the EK260 – and has now entered the competition.

Rüdiger Pfeil ruediger.pfeil@elster.com

8 SErVICES Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

According to Chinese regulations on fiscal turbine meters, recalibration should be carried out every 3 years for Accuracy Class 1.0 and every 2 years for Accuracy Class 0.5 meters. In order to solve the problems of repair, maintenance and periodic calibration of these turbine meters, Elster and the Beijing Public Utility Science Institute, a subsidiary of the Beijing Gas Group, decided to jointly establish a repair and maintenance center for the installed base of turbine gas meters.

Preliminary discussions on this cooperation were held at the Gas China 2012 Exhibition in Beijing. In March 2013, the Beijing Public Utility Science Institute sent four engineers to attend a two-week training course at Elster GmbH in Mainz-Kastel, Germany. The main focus of this training course was to learn how to assemble, disassemble, clean and repair Elster turbine gas meters.

Establishment of a gas meter repair and maintenance center:

Sincere cooperation for a better future

The Beijing Gas Group is one of Elster’s most important customers in China. Since Elster set up business in the Chinese market, we supply the vast majority of Beijing Gas Group’s annual demand for large turbine gas meters in sizes dN 200 to dN 500.

Beijing Gas Group’s gas meter repair and maintenance center has a floor area of 500 m2 and two units of test benches with a maximum capacity of 6500 m3 each. The capacity for maintenance amounts to more than 500 large turbine gas meters per year.

The opening ceremony of the “Gas Meter Repair and Maintenance Center” was held at the Beijing Public Utility Science Institute on the morning of 17 July 2013. Mr. Zong Feng, Vice President of Beijing Gas Group, Mr. Peter Hampel, Sales Director of Elster Gas Metering International, Ms. Che Lixin, General Manager of Beijing Public Utility Science Institute, and some senior managers of the Beijing Gas Group were present at this event. The opening addresses were given by Mr. Zong Feng, Mr. Peter Hampel and Ms. Che Lixin respectively.

Both Mr. Zong Feng and Peter Hampel said: “This kind of co-operation helped to connect Elster and the Beijing Gas Group more closely, which means that our rela-tionship is not just one of buyer and seller, but has become a strategic partnership.” Both parties expressed their intention to further develop this co-operation in future.

Helena Wang helena.wang@elster.com

Unveiling ceremony

Besides the ultrasonic cleaning machine

EVENTS 9 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

a great success – Elster Insight 2014:

Elster brand awareness and customer engagement day

The UK Gas teams hosted a Customer day on 31 october at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire. The event focused on our solutions to meet the demands of the UK gas networks stipulated by the “rIIo” (revenue = Incentives + Innovation + outputs) initiative which is being driven by the UK industry regulator ofgem.

RIIO is Ofgem’s framework for setting price controls for the UK transmission and distri-bution network companies. Over the next decade, the network owners face the unprecedented challenge of securing sig-nificant investment to maintain a reliable and safe network, while dealing with the changes in demand and generation that will be necessary to achieve a low carbon future. The expected investment by the UK networks over the next eight years will run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

During the last 12 months, Elster staff have been attending various industry work-shops to ensure that we understand the requirements being placed on our cus-tomers to maintain, repair and replace their assets including a large quantity of flow control and measurement equip-ment. We have listened to our customers, understood their requirements and in response, decided to host the Elster Insight 2014 event to clearly demonstrate that we are a strategic stakeholder within the UK distribution networks and as such, continue to offer a range of innovative products and gas flow control and meas-urement solutions to meet their demands. Whether it is the provision of key compo-nents to maintain the infrastructure or the management of complete replacement programmes, our solutions will ensure the security, dependability and accuracy of supply in the UK for many years to come.

We also took the opportunity to demon-strate the advances that Elster is making in the biogas sector through application of the EnCal 3000, along with our commit-ment to supply meters to the Residential and C&I SMART markets.

The Insight day consisted of a series of informative presentations made by key Elster specialists from across the Group. The key products and services presented included:

Ultrasonic meters, turbine/rotary meters, gas chromatographs, flow computers, integrated solutions, regulators, smart meters and Orpheus & Proteus pressure reducing stations.

We followed the presentations with a “breakout” session that allowed our guests to meet the presenters and get a little closer to the comprehensive range of products that was on display.

Elster Insight 2014 proved a great success with our key customers and has provided us with the opportunity to promote the Elster brand, demonstrate our wide range of innovative products and reinforce strong and enduring relationships.

Following the event, we have received very positive feedback from a wide range of customers, many stating that they had not previously appreciated the broad range of products and services that are available from the Elster Group.

Chris Dwyer chris.dwyer@elster.com

10 EVENTS Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Although Elster technology is not what is required by the Olympic judges, the com-pany has still managed to make a signifi-cant contribution to ensuring the success of the world’s largest sporting event!

In keeping with the popular saying “it’s the taking part that counts”, Elster has done its best by developing state-of-the-art gas measuring equipment for the energy supply of the Olympic infrastructure which will con -tinue to be used once the Olympics are over.

Over the past two years, Gazprom Trans-gas Krasnodar has built the 177 km-long Dzhubga-Lazarevskoye-Sochi gas pipe-line, 90% of which has been laid offshore along the coast of the Black Sea, and which will allow 3.8 billion m³ of natural gas to be transported to CHP plants per year.

2014 Winter olympics:

Elster is already on site!

on 7 February 2014, the 22nd Winter olympic Games will be opened in the russian city of Sochi under the slogan “Hot. Cool. Yours.”. The 330,000 inhabitants of Sochi and the many visitors to the Caucasian riviera can look forward to top-class performances against the backdrop of the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. This is the first time that the Winter olympics will have been held in a city with a subtropical climate.

Gas pipeline laying on Black Sea bottom

C-Master pipelaying barge Pipelaying process control

EVENTS 11 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

These power plants will in fact generate a third of the electrical energy required for the Olympic Games. Elster supplied integrated metering solutions for the two automated onshore gas distribution stations (Dzhubga and Kudepsta). These solutions comprise in each case two measuring systems with ultrasonic meters Q.Sonic 5 in DN 500, inlet and outlet sec-tions, pressure and temperature sensors, flow computers FC 2000 and switchover valves and where necessary, they have been installed to be frost-proof.

The Russian colleagues from Elster Instromet provided precious support to ensure that the systems were commis-sioned in due time by the operating company.

With the extinction of the Olympic flame on 23 February 2014, Elster will continue to take part in an extremely useful way – for the people who live and work there and their many visitors from near and far who are seeking to relax in a seaside and mountain resort that is open all year round, whatever the weather.

Elster is thus also on site to ensure that the slogan of these Winter Olympics “Hot. Cool. Yours.” is implemented on a permanent and sustainable basis.

Gerd Markert gerd.markert@elster.com

Ultrasonic meters Q.Sonic

Automated onshore gas distribution stations

12 aPPl ICaTIoNS Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Few will argue that green and red are a good match, especially at the end of the year when many Christmas trees and dinner tables will be cheerfully garnished with decorations in the two complementary colours. Whereas green stands for nature, renewal or regeneration, red is often seen as the colour of passion and love, but also of endurance and courage.

For one farmer in Worcestershire, all of this may seem like psychological twaddle, but his tomato greenhouse combined with a biogas plant was certainly an innovative application of a renewable energy concept and without a doubt, it required courage and endurance to make it all happen. Being one of the first commercial biomethane installations in the UK, it was anything but a straightforward operation.

Co2 – a plant nutrientMatt Powell from Vale Green Energy in Pershore is running the first-of-its-kind tomato greenhouse in combination with a biomethane production facility. Traditionally, greenhouses are heated with CHPs run-ning on natural gas. The CO2 released during the burning of natural gas is used to fertilize the greenhouse. In fact, the much maligned gas CO2 is an essential plant nutrient. Increasing its concentration in the air is a frequently used method to make crops in greenhouses grow faster! A strange contradiction to our general view of CO2 as the alleged cause of global warming. A discussion we will stay away from as we are not scientists but techni-cians!

Matt uses the waste from his tomato crop together with other waste sources from other farmers to produce biogas. Instead of producing electricity from raw biogas, the gas is upgraded to biomethane by removing CO2 and other unwanted com-ponents. The innovation in the whole con-cept is that the CO2 is not simply vented into the open but is used to fertilize his greenhouse. The produced biomethane is either used for generating the heat re -quired for the greenhouse or it is injected

into the natural gas grid of the local distri-bution network, which is operated by Wales and West Utilities. The concept is drawing a lot of national and international attention because it is a showcase of innovative thinking. On a national level, it is the first commer-cially-operated biomethane grid injection system in the UK and Elster is proud to have been selected as the supplier. The expertise Elster has gained in other mar-kets like Germany and France meant that Vale Green Energy felt comfortable with the technical solution offered.

Gas to grid in the UKCompared to the situation in France and Germany, the UK has its own approach when it comes to connecting biomethane suppliers to the grid.

In Germany, the grid operator is the owner of the grid injection system and the supplier

of the gas contributes to the investment costs of the system. This contribution is a one-off investment which is capped to a maximum of 250 k€. Since most grid injection systems in Germany are con-nected to medium or high pressure gas grids, compressors are required which are often built redundant in order to guar-

From waste to gas – while feeding tomatoes:

red and green – a festive combination

aPPl ICaTIoNS 13 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

antee a high up-time of the system. For this reason, the total investment costs for a system are currently the highest in the EU. In France, the grid injection systems are much more compact and often do not require compressors nor propane blend-ing. Propane blending is used when the Cv value of the gas produced does not

correspond to the Cv value of the gas in the grid. In many cases in France, this is not required since the Cv value of the gas in the grid is close to the biomethane Cv value. The systems are purchased by the network operators and the biomethane supplier rents the system from them.

In the UK, there is a unique situation in which there are two possibilities:

Maximum connection: the biomethane producer pays the network operator a certain fee or rental cost to take care of the whole grid injection system. The net-work operator owns and operates the system.

Minimum connection: the grid injection system is owned and purchased by the biomethane supplier. It has to comply with the rules set by the network operators. The network operator will be sent all relevant measured data and can close an entry valve to the grid if the gas supplied does not comply with the specifications.

This remotely operable valve (ROV) is the only part owned by the grid operator.

In Pershore, the connection to the Wales and West network was arranged accord-ing to the so-called “minimum connection” scheme. Elster supplied the grid injection station to Vale Green Energy Ltd. and the ROV was handled by Wales and West Utilities themselves. The station supplied comprises the follow-ing system parts:• Propane blending system• Pressure reduction system• Flow measurement• Ofgem approved gas quality

measurement

• Flow-weighted average Cv calculation• Diverter valves to divert “off-spec” gas• Odorization system

ofgem and FWaCVOne of the key products in the biogas injection station is always the gas quality analyzer. With the EnCal 3000 gas chro-matograph, Elster can offer a state-of-the-art product. However, the UK market has its special requirements when it comes to gas quality measurement. First of all, there is the local metrological approval the GC has to obtain from Ofgem. In early 2013, Elster was the first company for many years to be granted this approval. The second main requirement is the ability to provide a flow-weighted average Cv value. This requirement is UK-specific and applies to all “regulated” metering systems.

With the Springhill system, the UK sees its first state-of-the-art GC on the market complying with the Ofgem specification and offering a proprietary solution to the flow-weighted average Cv requirement. With this innovation, Elster is supporting the deployment of renewable energy in the UK by offering a cost-effective solution that is fully compliant with all regulations. As Albert Einstein once said: “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler!”. That’s exactly what Elster stands for when it comes to biomethane grid injection systems – an affordable solution without compromising on safety, accuracy and pipeline integrity. Once again, a festive combination!

Addy Baksteen addy.baksteen@elster.com

Tomatoes

Green waste Biogas

other biomass sources

anaerobic digestion

Upgrading process

Gas to grid

Tomatoes to market

Co2 fertilization

Bio- methane

Co2

14 GroUP Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Presetting the pressure in the gas container

Gas variety: which gas would you like?

Gas chromatograph EnCal 3000:

What gas would you like to test?

Production transfer of the gas chromatograph EnCal 3000 from Silvolde (Elster Netherlands) to the Mainz-Kastel site in Germany began in april 2013.

Colleagues both in Silvolde and in Dort-mund, Germany, actively assisted the project team in Mainz and thus made their contribution to successful transfer of production. Transfer of the materials covered several hundred individual parts per unit which were de livered with an 18 ton truck. The first production steps in Mainz were then launched with electro-mechanical assembly and the function tests of the gas chromatograph. The production concept was designed for optimum material and production flow, workplace organization and ergonomics.

This was then followed by installation of the gas container on the works site. The 32 certified test and calibration gases and the carrier gases are provided in the gas container. Consequently, they can be tapped immediately in the test room for calibrating the gas chromatographs. The gas supply system complies with all current safety requirements and is also designed for use of strongly odorized and toxic gases (e.g. H2S). This means that Elster is equipped to meet future customer requirements. Successful IECEx approval in late October now means that worldwide sales of gas chromatographs are guaranteed. The customer can also audit production and release production launch of his product at all times directly on the Elster premises.

And what other benefits does it give you?

GroUP 15 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Only one question still needs to be answered: what gas would you like to test? Why not ask about the gas chromatograph EnCal 3000?

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to all our colleagues at Elster who made possible the transfer of know-how for this complex device, the EnCal 3000.

Winfried Petry winfried.petry@elster.com

Gas container with heated line duct

Evaluation and presentation of calibration results

Gas tapping points and fume cupboard in test room Initial and final inspection of the EnCal 3000

On eight test benches, an output capacity of eight to ten units per week is possible. You are thus provided with an unbroken quality data recording chain for safety-related components, calibration results and accuracy values. This means that Elster can provide you with full traceability in SAP.

Repair and servicing of the units are also included in Elster’s tasks. With immediate effect, Elster can guarantee shorter deliv-ery times – you can get your standard units delivered within six weeks and install them in your system.

16 GroUP Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Series: Introducing you to a company with tradition and future – Elster

Elster american Meter

In the early days of the gas industry, american Meter produced the first gas meter in the United States enabling utilities to earn revenue based on gas consumption rates. This state-of-the-art meter, built in the 1830s, featured a tin case design that worked well indoors but proved to be unsuccessful when exposed to outdoor elements.

In pursuit of innovation and responding to market demand for a meter built domestically, American Meter dedicated itself to a research and development programme to improve the early meter design. The new design would feature material improvements of working parts and diaphragms that would allow the meter to successfully operate outdoors without failure. In doing so, American Meter also began working on expanding its presence in the United States. Their facilities quickly became a hub for repair-ing residential meters and customers have looked to American Meter since for its know-how and expertise.

Around 1950, American Meter continued its on-going programme to refine the domestic meter. The objective of its new campaign was to design a new meter that would clearly differentiate the com-pany and revolutionize the gas industry. This meter would also go on to serve as the backbone product of American Meter and develop a standard of quality and engineering that would be followed for years to come.

With the success of designing a new dia-phragm meter, American Meter opened a new plant in Nebraska City on 4 June 1953. Originally built to manufacture iron case meters for its customers in the Mid-west region, American meter switched gears and began focusing on manufac-turing aluminium based meters. As iron ore became scarcer, the new aluminium meters proved to be a valued substitute

that could withstand potential impact damage and also allowed ample room for household heating load capacities at a reduced weight.

Today, the Elster American Meter Nebraska City plant continues to play a vital role in improvements and new technologies that make gas measurement more efficient and more productive for our customers. Elster American Meter fostered the evolu-tion from that first tin case meter into what we have today. Our aluminium case meter is a segment icon for residential and com-mercial customers throughout the United States today and Elster American Meter in Nebraska City leads the way as regards

innovative and accurate gas measure-ment products now and in the future.

Best in class for research & developmentRecognizing the need for continuous improvement, Elster American Meter has consistently invested its resources in its plants and equipment. Highlighting this commitment is our 30 acre manufactur-ing, warehousing, laboratory and office complex in Nebraska City, Nebraska. This updated facility is dedicated to producing the company’s core gas products and features a state-of-the-art research and development laboratory to support the company’s new development projects and routine performance testing. Using both SNAP and bell provers to simulate real world environmental conditions, Elster American Meter upholds a consistent track record of safe operation that brings value to our utility customers.

aC-250 diaphragm meter

Elster american Meter in Nebraska City:facility and administration building

GroUP 17 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

our productsWhether it is pressure regulation, meter-ing, data collection, data transfer or evaluation, Elster American Meter offers solutions for every application and can provide customized products for each individual customer. Our metering and

regulation product range covers devices for measuring consumption and we have developed volume conversion devices and flow computers for stations in the fields of gas distribution and transportation.

Elster american Meter’s history shows 75 years of know-how and market leadership

18 GroUP Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

Elster American Meter’s portfolio of prod-ucts includes diaphragm meters, turbine meters, rotary meters and pressure regu-lators.

North american leader in a global environmentElster Gas North America combines the products and resources of well-recog-nized and respected brands such as Elster American Meter, Elster Instromet, Elster Meter Services, Elster Perfection and Elster Canadian Meter. Elster Gas North America is a critical piece of Elster Gas’ global reach and also aims to increase its customers’ productivity and efficiency through their portfolio of measurement and distribution products in the gas industry.

The Nebraska City plant is the main North American research and development hub and also works in conjunction with Elster Perfection in Cleveland, Ohio.

Today, Elster American Meter is continuing the progress of its service and technical innovation based on its 175 years of tradi-tion and knowledge. The hallmark of the Elster American Meter brand continues to be its long-term product reliability and performance, lowest total costs of owner-ship and installation, and its outstanding technical training, field support and cus-tomer service. These all combine to provide solutions that enable utilities to cost-effec-tively generate, deliver, manage and con-serve the life-essential resources of gas for the 2014 outlook and beyond.

Elster American Meter2221 Industrial RdNebraska City, NE 68410USA www.elster.com

Elster American Meter aims to contribute to the Elster Group’s global gas vision of being “the best gas measurement and gas safety control company in the world”. Through its 5 tier strategy approach of sales, product, operations, people and cost, Elster American Meter is leading the way for Elster Gas North America to reach new heights and goals that will impact Elster in a global perspective for years to come.

The foundation of Elster American Meter is its employees. Elster American Meter employees are vital to the growth and sustainability of its vision. Since 1953, Elster American Meter has employed over 4500 employees. The average tenure of employment is 12 years and about 30% of the Elster American Meter workforce has accomplished at least 15 years with the organization. Furthermore, a considerable number of employees can boast 25 years of service and about 5% of employees have graced Elster American Meter with 40 years or more. Over 83% of the Elster American Meter workforce is Nebraskans and many are multigenerational employees. All of these individuals work every day to produce over 12,000 meters a day and also provide the best solutions possible for Elster American Meter products and services for the customer and market.

Gas meter production

CoNTENT 2013 19 Elster-Instromet Profiles 3/2013

ProdUCTS

Data communication with the new volume conversion device EK280: Multilingual and backward compatible 1/13, p. 3

EnCal 3000 Biogas now also approved in France: The gateway to France and to the grid 1/13, p. 6

UK customers are offered a choice: EnCal 3000 gas chromatograph now Ofgem approved 1/13, p. 7

Smart Metering in practice: Developing a smart gas meter for the Dutch market 1/13, p. 9

Even mechanics can be smart: CHEKKER for diaphragm gas meters 1/13, p. 12

The right partner for improving your process Creating stable conditions 2/13, p. 8

EK280 operation made easy: Clear structures in the user interface 2/13, p. 10

EK270 – volume conversion and more: Holistic approach to gas metering consistent with Russian federal requirements 2/13, p. 12

Biogas: Successful biomethane injection in France 2/13, p. 20

Gas quality measurement: sample conditioning The right gas in the right place at the right time 3/13, p. 3

Up to date: EK280 Firmware version 2.20 with new functions 3/13, p. 5

The volume conversion device EK280 enters the competition Goodbye to the pioneer, the EK260 3/13, p. 6

EVENTS

E-world 2013: System solutions – an important focus for Elster 1/13, p. 14

Anniversary – 165 years of Elster: Today we are writing a little bit of history 2/13, p. 14

A great success – Elster Insight 2014: Elster brand awareness and customer engagement day 3/13, p. 9

2014 Winter Olympics: Elster is already on site! 3/13, p. 10

Profiles content 2013GroUP

Series: Introducing you to a company with tradition and future: Elster Metering Ltd. – smart and traditional 1/13, p. 22

Under new management : Head of Marketing Communication, Gas and Head of Product Management 2/13, p. 21

Faces of Elster: Heinrich Bertke – a pilot leaves the ship 2/13, p. 23

Gas chromatograph EnCal 3000: What gas would you like to test? 3/13, p. 14

Series: Introducing you to a company with tradition and future: Elster American Meter 3/13, p. 16

aPPlICaTIoNS

Wireless technologies for residential gas meters: Selection and design of a wireless network for Smart Metering 1/13, p. 16

Smart Metering pilot for public housing application: Elster delivers turnkey solution to a multi-utility company in Germany 1/13, p. 18

German premiere for bi-directional turbine gas meters: SM-RI 2 and Q.Sonicplus in bi-directional continuous series operation 2/13, p. 3

The EnCal App store: Take your pick 2/13, p. 4

Utility company Werkbetriebe Frauenfeld: Smart Meter roll-out with Absolute ENCODER technology 2/13, p. 6

From waste to gas – while feeding tomatoes: Red and green – a festive combination 3/13, p. 12

SErVICES

Elster 1 – 2 – 3: Happy Birthday, Electronics helpdesk 2/13, p. 18

Establishment of gas meter repair and maintenance center: Sincere cooperation for a better future 3/13, p. 8

STaNdardS

Measuring Instruments Directive MID: What has changed in the last six years? 1/13, p. 20

Vital Connections

Elster GmbHSteinern Strasse 19–2155252 Mainz-Kastel, Germanywww.elster-instromet.com