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G3 Module 3 - Properties & Safe Handling of Fuel Gases

The document discusses the origin and properties of natural gas and propane. It explains that natural gas was formed from the remains of ancient organisms buried underground and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. It also details the typical chemical composition of natural gas, which is primarily methane, as well as other components like ethane, propane, and nitrogen.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
319 views

G3 Module 3 - Properties & Safe Handling of Fuel Gases

The document discusses the origin and properties of natural gas and propane. It explains that natural gas was formed from the remains of ancient organisms buried underground and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. It also details the typical chemical composition of natural gas, which is primarily methane, as well as other components like ethane, propane, and nitrogen.

Uploaded by

Ethan Black
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Gas Technician III

Learning Package

Module 3 - Properties & Safe


Handling of Fuel Gases
Contents
Learning Outcomes: ....................................................................................................................... 3
Origin of Natural Gas: .................................................................................................................... 4
Chemical Composition Natural Gas ............................................................................................... 5
Natural Gas Transmission .............................................................................................................. 6
Chemical Structure - Energy Content ............................................................................................ 8
Origin of Propane ......................................................................................................................... 10
Gas Pressure ................................................................................................................................ 11
Pressure Terminology .................................................................................................................. 14
Specific Gravity ............................................................................................................................ 16

Volume ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Combustion Requirements .......................................................................................................... 19
Air Requirements - Flame Characteristics.................................................................................... 20
Ignition Temperatures ................................................................................................................. 21
Flame Temperature & Speed ....................................................................................................... 22
Carbon Monoxide - Flue Gases .................................................................................................... 23
Gas Detection............................................................................................................................... 26

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 Before beginning to work with natural gas or
Learning
propane we must fully understand their properties
Outcomes:
and characteristics.

After completion of this module you will be able to:

Understand the origin and identify the properties of natural gas and propane.

Identify the characteristics of natural gas and propane.

Identify the odorant added to natural gas and propane.

Identify the requirements of complete combustion of natural gas and propane.

Differentiate between the characteristics of complete and incomplete combustion of


propane and natural gas.

Define primary, secondary and excess air.

Know the upper and lower explosive limits of propane and natural gas.

Identify potential sources of ignition.

Define and understand carbon monoxide and other by-products of incomplete combustion.

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 Natural Gas is a "fossil fuel". Most Scientists
Origin of
believe that natural gas was formed in the earth
Natural Gas:
millions of years ago, shortly after the demise of the
dinosaurs.

As the animals, plants, and marine life of


that period died, layers of mud and sand buried
them in sea beds.

While the mud and sand above


continued to build, over millions of years,
extremely high pressures were exerted on the
Figure 3-1 Dinosaur - Origin of Natural Gas
buried organic matter below.

When the pressure increased, the temperature within the


buried matter increased. This started a
chemical reaction that converted the
animal and plant remains into natural gas
Figure 3-2 Plant Life - Origin and oil.
of Natural Gas

The mud and sand covering the dead animals and plants
eventually turned into rock material.

The oil and natural gas would seep into pockets within the
Figure 3-3 Drilling for
rock and remain there under high pressure, sealed beneath Natural Gas

layers of solid rock.

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Chemical Composition Natural Gas

Many different components make up natural gas. Methane is the largest component,
representing approximately 85% to 90% of the total composition of natural gas. In our
trade, natural gas is commonly referred to as methane. The properties of methane are used
when comparing the properties of natural gas to other fuels.

An analysis of natural gas would reveal the following:

Typical Percentage of Component in Natural


Component
Gas.

Methane 85.0 - 90.0%

Ethane 2.20% - 4.32%

Propane 0.16% - 0.98%

Butane 0.01% - 0.18%

Pentane trace - 0.03%

Nitrogen 1.38% - 5.50%

Carbon Dioxide 0.50% - 0.92%

Oxygen 0.01% - 0.05%

Hydrogen trace - 0.02%

Table 3-1 Properties of Natural Gas

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Natural Gas Transmission

Methane, the largest component of natural gas, is a simple hydrocarbon. A


hydrocarbon is a substance consisting of hydrogen and carbon.

Natural gas is closely related to petroleum oil, which is made up of liquid


hydrocarbons.

Although oil deposits contain natural gas,


natural gas is also discovered without oil
being present.

Figure 3-4 Natural Gas Well

Once it has been determined that a well is capable of natural gas production, a
"Christmas Tree" configuration consisting of valves,
pressure gauges, and flow lines is installed at the surface
to control the flow of gas from the well.

In Canada, natural gas is transmitted through a


natural gas transmission system called the TransCanada
Pipeline.
Figure 3-5 “Christmas Tree”
The pipeline extends from the
Alberta/Saskatchewan border to the Quebec/Vermont border and connects with other
natural gas pipelines in Canada and the United States.

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The gas from the pipeline is delivered to Gate Stations. The gate station reduces the
gas pressure from the transmission
line, preparing the gas for delivery into
the gas utility's distribution system and
district regulating stations.

In its pure state, natural gas is


odourless, colourless, and non-
toxic. For safety and leak detection
purposes, an odourant called

Figure 3-6 Natural Gas Metering Station Mercaptan is added to the gas at the
gate station. This gives the gas its distinctive odour.

Under certain conditions the mercaptan odour can be inadvertently removed or


masked, causing natural gas or propane to be difficult or impossible to detect by smell.

The mercaptan odour from a gas leak underground could be filtered out by the soil and
not detectable without gas detection instruments. Further, some people cannot
detect odours, or it may be possible for the mercaptan odour to be masked by other
odours such as perfumes, air fresheners, gasoline, etc. The use of a gas detection
device is always recommended.

The boiling point of natural gas is -258 0 F (–161 0C). Therefore, at atmospheric
pressure, natural gas will be in a gaseous state at any temperature above -258 0 F (–
161 0C). Although natural gas can be stored and transported as a liquid, it is primarily
transmitted and stored as a gas. For our work, natural gas will always be in a gaseous
state.

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Chemical Structure - Energy Content

There are many hydrocarbon fuels. Each with its own number of carbon and hydrogen
atoms joined together to form a particular type of fuel gas.

Methane has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4).

Propane has three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms (C3H8).

Figure 3-7 Methane Atom Figure 3-8 Propane Atom

As the number of hydrogen and carbon atoms increase, the heavier the gas becomes,
releasing more heat and more energy per cubic foot of gas when ignited.

The heat value of a fuel is the amount of heat energy released by a measured amount
of the fuel during combustion. Natural gas has a heat value (or heat energy content) of
about 1000 Btu's (British Thermal Units) per cubic foot (cf) of gas (10.3 kW/m3). One
Btu is the amount of heat energy required to increase the temperature of one pound
of water one degree Fahrenheit.

By comparison, propane has a heat value of about 2500 Btu's per cubic foot of gas
(21.0 kW/m3).

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The heat value of natural gas and propane is used to determine the gas consumption
or input of natural gas and propane appliances.

The flow of gas is measured in cubic feet per hour (Cfh) or cubic meters per hour
(M3/h). The input rating of gas appliances is usually given in British thermal units per
hour (Btuh).

To convert Cfh to Btuh, multiply the gas flow rate in Cfh by the heating value of the gas
in Btu’s/cf .

o Example 1: Determine the Btuh input for a natural gas appliance having a flow
rate of 100 cfh.

▪ Answer: 100 cfh X 1000 Btu/cf = 100,000 Btuh.

o Example 2: Determine the Btuh input for a propane gas appliance having a
flow rate of 50 cfh.

▪ Answer: 50 cfh X 2500 Btu/cf = 125,000 Btuh.

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Origin of Propane

Propane (C3H8) is a colourless, odourless, easily liquefied, gaseous hydrocarbon. It is


referred to as liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Propane is extracted from natural gas and
petroleum oil.

Before propane and other hydrocarbons are extracted from natural gas, the natural
gas is referred to as wet gas. Once propane and
other hydrocarbons have been extracted, the
processed natural gas is referred to as dry
gas, consisting primarily of methane, ready for use
Figure 3-9 Transporting Propane Via Truck
as a fuel gas.

Once propane is separated from natural gas or crude oil, it is sent from the natural gas
processing plants or refineries either by a pipeline system, truck transport, train, or by
barge to bulk storage plants.

The boiling point of propane liquid is -44 0 F (-42 0 C). Therefore, propane is gaseous at
any temperature above -44 0 F (-42 0 C). Due to its boiling point, propane can be easily
transformed, stored, and transported as a liquid under elevated pressures.

Like natural gas, the odourant mercaptan is added to the propane for leak detection
purposes.

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Gas Pressure

Gas pressure is the force exerted by gas molecules against the walls of a
container. The pressure is equal in all directions (Pascal's Law). Gases can be
compressed due to the fact that there is a lot of space between their molecules.

The more molecules there are within a given space, the greater the pressure, as there
are more molecules colliding with the container's walls. Reducing the volume of a
container containing a gas would increase the pressure of the gas inside the
container. The intensity of the pressure can be defined as the force per unit area or
pounds per square inch (psi).

The temperature of the gas also determines the pressure of the gas. An increase in the
temperature of a gas within a container will increase the pressure of the gas within the
container.

Inside a propane cylinder, propane is in liquid form. A space is left at the top of the
cylinder where propane vapour forms. Providing the temperature is above -440 F (-42
0
C) the liquid propane will boil and there will be propane vapour occupying this
space. As the temperature of the liquid propane in a cylinder increases, the vapour
pressure in the space above also increases.

Figure 3-10 Propane states


within cylinder

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The higher the liquid propane temperature, the higher the vapour pressure. Likewise,
the lower the liquid propane temperature, the lower the vapour pressure.

At temperatures below -440 F (-42 0 C), there would be almost no propane vapour in
the space above as the propane would have stopped boiling.

Providing the temperature was above -440 F (-42 0 C), and no vapour was being
withdrawn from the top of the cylinder, the vapour pressure in cylinder would start to
increase. As the vapour pressure increases, the boiling temperature of the liquid
propane increases, until the vapour pressure is high enough to suppress the boiling of
the liquid propane. The result is a stabilized temperature-pressure relationship.

The withdrawal of propane vapour from the top of the cylinder lowers the contained
pressure, changing the temperature-pressure relationship. The lowered pressure
lowers the boiling temperature of the liquid propane. The liquid propane starts to boil
and vapourize in an effort to re-establish a stabilized temperature-pressure
relationship.

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Propane Temperature / Pressure Relationship Chart
Temp. 0 F Temp. (0 C) Vapour Pressure psig Vapour Pressure (kPa)

-45 (-43) 0 (0)


-40 (-40) 1.5 (10.3)
-35 (-37) 3.4 (23.4)
-30 (-34) 5.6 (35.6)
-25 (-32) 8.0 (55.2)
-20 (-29) 10.7 (74)
-15 (-26) 13.6 (94)
-10 (-23) 16.7 (115)
-5 (-20) 20.0 (138)
0 (-18) 23.5 (162)
5 (-15) 27.2 (188)
10 (-12) 31.3 (216)
15 (-9) 35.9 (248)
20 (-7) 40.8 (281)
25 (-4) 46.2 (319)
30 (-1) 51.6 (356)
35 (2) 57.3 (395)
40 (4) 69.3 (478)
45 (7) 69.9 (482)
50 (10) 77.1 (532)
55 (13) 84.6 (583)
60 (16) 92.4 (637)
65 (18) 100.7 (694)
70 (21) 109.3 (754)
75 (24) 118.5 (817)
80 (27) 128.1 (883)
85 (29) 138.4 (954)
90 (32) 149.0 (1027)
95 (35) 160.0 (1103)
100 (38) 172.0 (1186)

Table 3-2 Propane Temperature / Pressure Relationship

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Pressure Terminology
In our work we must have a solid understanding of the following terms used to describe
various types of pressure:

Atmospheric Pressure or Barometric Pressure:

Atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure is the pressure the atmosphere


exerts on the earth’s surface. Atmospheric pressure is measured in pounds per
square inch absolute (psia) or kilopascals absolute in metric (kPaa). Atmospheric
pressure will vary depending on the altitude or elevation of the area. Some areas
of Western Canada are located at higher altitudes than areas in Eastern Canada.

The barometric pressure at sea level is 14.73 psia. The barometric pressure
decreases by ½ psia for every 1000 foot rise in elevation. Natural gas and propane
become less dense at higher altitudes and it is necessary to make compensation
adjustments to gas-fired appliances to ensure they function properly while
operating at higher elevations.

Gauge Pressure:

Gauge pressure is the pressure determined by most instruments and gauges,


usually expressed in pounds per square inch gauge (psig) in which zero is calibrated
at local atmospheric pressure. Gauge pressure equals absolute pressure minus the
local atmospheric pressure.

Absolute Pressure:

Absolute pressure is a pressure measurement in a vacuum, measured from zero.


Absolute pressure equals gauge pressure plus the local atmospheric pressure.

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Static Pressure:

Static pressure refers to gas pressure in a gas line when no flow is taking place and
is often referred to as “lock-up” pressure.

Working Pressure:

Working Pressure refers to gas pressure in a gas line while flow is taking place or
while the gas appliance is firing.

Pressure Drop:

Pressure Drop is defined as the working pressure measured at the gas meter or
propane supply regulator minus the working pressure measured at the gas-fired
appliance.

Units of pressure:

Pressures in our work are commonly measured in pounds per square inch gauge
(psig) or inches of water column (" w.c.) Psig can be converted to " w.c as follows:

1 psig = 28 " w.c.

½ psig = 14 " w.c.

¼ psig = 7 " w.c.

A water filled U-tube manometer is commonly


used to measure low pressure in " w.c. The
amount of water column displaced on the Figure 3-11 Water-Filled U-Tube
pressure side of the manometer is added it to Manometer and pressure gauge

the amount displaced on the atmospheric side to obtain pressure. Gauges are
commonly used to measure higher pressures in psig. (manometers and gauges are
covered in more detail in Module 8 - Introduction to Piping and Tubing).

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Specific Gravity

At the same temperature and pressure, the weight of a gas compared to the weight of an
equal volume of air is known as the specific gravity of the gas. The higher the specific
gravity, the heavier the gas.

The specific gravity of air is taken at 1.0. The specific gravity of natural gas is
0.6. Therefore, natural gas is lighter than air. Natural gas will rise if escaping, which
helps to dissipate the gas from the site of a leak.

Propane gas has a specific gravity of 1.52. Since the specific gravity of air is 1.0,
propane gas is heavier than air. Leaking propane gas will consequently have a
tendency to accumulate in low-lying areas.

Figure 3-12 (a) Specific Gravity of


Natural Gas Compared to Air

Figure 3-12 (b) Specific Gravity of


Propane Gas Compared to Air

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The specific gravity of liquid propane is compared to the specific gravity of water. The
specific gravity of water, like air, is taken at 1.0.

Propane in liquid form has a specific gravity of 0.51. Therefore, propane liquid is
lighter than water. One imperial gallon of liquid propane would weigh approximately
half as much as one gallon of water - or about 5.1 pounds (2.3 kg).

Figure 3-13 Specific Gravity of Propane


Liquid Compared to Water

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Volume

The volume of natural gas and propane gas is measured in cubic feet or cubic meters.

When liquid natural gas and liquid propane change from a liquid state into a gas
state, the resultant gas occupies significantly more space than the liquid.

★ Natural gas occupies 600 times more space as a gas than it does as a liquid.

★ Propane occupies 270 times more space as a gas than it does as a liquid.

Figure 3-15 Expansion Rate of


Propane Liquid to Gas State

Figure 3-14 Expansion Rate of Natural Gas from a Liquid to a


Gas State

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Combustion Requirements

Before natural gas and propane gas can be burned, they need to be mixed with
oxygen. Combustion is the result of the ignition of oxygen-fuel mixtures.

Recall the combustion triangle from Module 1 -


Fire Awareness. It was mentioned that three
things must be present at the same time in order
to produce fire. They are oxygen, fuel and heat.

The oxygen that natural gas and propane need is


supplied from the air. Air contains approximately Figure 3-16 Combustion Triangle

20% oxygen. Air also contains 80% nitrogen but the nitrogen is inert and does not
play a part in the combustion process.

There can be too much or little air to support combustion of natural gas and
propane. Likewise, there can be too much or too little gas to support
combustion.

For a natural gas and air mixture to be combustible, the amount of gas in the gas-
air mixture needs to be between 4% and 14% of the total air-gas mixture. This is
known as the range or limits of flammability.

This means that a natural gas-air mixture will ignite anywhere within the range of
4% - 14%. If the mixture is below 4% it can be too lean to support combustion. If
the mixture is above 14% it can be too rich to support combustion.

A propane gas-air mixture ignites within the range of 2.4% to 9.5%.

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Air Requirements - Flame Characteristics

An atmospheric burner is a very basic type of fuel burner. Air, called "primary air” is
pulled into a mixing or venturi tube when natural
gas or propane gas exits an orifice.

Primary air is referred to as the air


that is mixed with the gas prior to ignition. To
Figure 3-17 Atmospheric Burner complete the combustion process of an
atmospheric burner, additional air, called secondary air, is required.

Secondary air is supplied during the final stages of the combustion process.

A blue flame is the result of the gas mixing with the primary air prior to
ignition. This type of flame is referred to as a
Bunsen flame.

Where there is no premixing of air and fuel,


the flame tends to be yellow in colour and is
called a luminous flame.
Figure 3-18 Figure 3-19
Bunsen Flame Luminous Flame
★ For perfect or theoretical combustion, natural gas
requires 10 cubic feet (0.28 m3) of air to burn 1 cubic foot (0.028 m3) of gas (10:1).

★ For perfect or theoretical combustion, Propane gas requires 25 cubic feet (0.41 m3))
of air to burn 1 cubic foot (0.028 m3) of gas (25:1).

Any air above that which is required for perfect or theoretical combustion is called
excess air. Additional or excess air is required to insure complete combustion.
When there is not enough air supplied, incomplete combustion will take place
resulting in the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and aldehydes.

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Ignition Temperatures

In order for ignition of a natural gas-air or propane gas-air mixture to take place, an
ignition or heat source of a specific temperature must be present.

The temperature at which a natural gas-air mixture will ignite and maintain
combustion is approximately 1200 0 F (649 0 C).

The temperature at which a propane gas-air mixture ignites and maintains


combustion is between 920 0 F - 1020 0 F (493 0 C – 549 0 C).

Figure 3-20 Ignition Temperature of Natural Gas Figure 3-21 Ignition Temperature of Propane Gas

It is important to realize, especially when responding to gas odour calls, that if a


combustible gas-air mixture is present, sparks from doorbells, telephones,
electrical switches etc. are capable of generating enough heat to become a source
of ignition. Do not use electrical switches or any other potential ignition source,
and ensure that there are no potential sources of ignition present.

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Flame Temperature & Speed

The flame temperature of natural gas is approximately 3500 0 F (1927 0 C).

Figure 3-22 Flame Temperature of Figure 3-23 Flame Temperature


Natural Gas of Propane Gas
The flame temperature of propane is approximately 3650 0F (2010 0C).

The burning speed of a flame or flame velocity is the speed at which a flame travels
through an air-fuel mixture.

A natural gas-air mixture of 0% to 4% is too lean to burn, thus the burning speed is
zero. A mixture of 15 to 100% is too rich, so the burning speed is again
zero. Only within the range of flammability (4 to 14%) can good combustion

Figure 3-24 be achieved.


Flame Speed

Increasing the primary air increases the flame speed. If too much primary air is
provided the flame will have a tendency to lift off the burner heads. Too little
primary air can result in the flame burning back inside the burner head.

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Carbon Monoxide - Flue Gases

Natural gas and propane contain carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). During complete
combustion the carbon and hydrogen combine with the oxygen (O2) from the air to
produce carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O), and heat. The nitrogen in the air is
inert and does not react chemically in the combustion process.

★ Natural Gas (CH4+ 2 O2+ 8 N2 →CO2 + 2 H2O + 8 N2 + heat)

★ Propane (C3 H8 + 5 O2+ 20 N2 →3 CO2 + 4 H2O + 20 N2 + heat)

During incomplete combustion part of the carbon is not completely oxidized. This
produces carbon monoxide (CO). Incomplete combustion uses natural gas and
propane inefficiently and the carbon monoxide produced can be a serious health
hazard.

During incomplete combustion, carbon monoxide concentrations may reach levels


above 5,000 ppm. Any spillage of flue gases from an appliance burning
inefficiently into occupied areas is dangerous and can be life-threatening.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, toxic, and flammable, gas. When
carbon monoxide is inhaled into the body, it combines with the body's blood and
prevents it from absorbing oxygen. When the heart and brain do not receive
enough oxygen, they stop functioning properly.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning range from headaches, dizziness, fatigue,


and nausea to death. The health effects related to CO poisoning depend upon its
concentration in the air and the duration of exposure. The amount of carbon
monoxide in the air is measured in parts per million (ppm). Exposures to
concentrations of 200 ppm can cause headaches within a couple of hours, while
concentrations of 6,000 ppm can cause death within minutes.

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It is not possible to reliably determine if a fuel-burning appliance is producing
excessive amounts of carbon monoxide by visually examining the flame. There are
however, other signs that may alert you to the possibility that an appliance is
producing carbon monoxide gas or that it may be present.

Although you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, you can often see and smell
the effects of carbon monoxide production, or the by-products of incomplete
combustion, as it relates to fuel burning appliances.

When an appliance is producing carbon monoxide and spilling into occupied areas,
you may see soot, sense elevated humidity in the room from water vapour in the
flue gases, notice water staining or discoloration on the appliance, scaling and
deteriorated venting. You may smell a pungent odour or experience nasal
irritation from aldehydes, which are by-products of incomplete combustion.

Adjustment of the burner affects the amount of CO produced. Insufficient primary


air increases CO production. Restricted air inlets often produce a noticeable
disruption of flame pattern changing from blue to yellow. (Note that sporadic
orange-coloured flame is sometimes caused by dust being burned as it passes over
the flame and not necessarily from an air restriction.)

In practice, most gas burners produce CO in the range of 0.0 - 50.0 parts per
million (ppm). Restricted air inlets, excess gas pressure, oversized gas orifices, or
improperly adjusted or malfunctioning regulators can cause carbon monoxide
levels to increase.

A properly designed, adjusted, and maintained gas flame produces only small
amounts of carbon monoxide.

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Perfect or theoretical combustion of natural gas produces 11.9% CO2 and zero
percent 02 in the products of combustion or flue gases. If a flame was adjusted to
produce more than 11.9% CO2, it is certain that carbon monoxide would be
produced.

For propane gas combustion, perfect or theoretical combustion would yield 13.9%
CO2 and zero O2.

Complete combustion is obtained only by having more air available than that
required for perfect or theoretical combustion (excess air) and its control is the key
to reducing CO production and optimizing combustion efficiency.

For practical purposes (depending on the type of appliance) a target value of 7 - 9%


CO2 is realistic for natural gas combustion. This would give approximately 3 - 5% 02
in the flue gases owing to excess air. The excess air amount in this case is 17%
above the theoretical amount required for perfect combustion.

A flue gas combustion analyzer (Figure 3-25) can be used to measure CO2, O2, and
CO concentration in the flue gases. The appliance can then be adjusted to
maximize CO2 levels, minimize O2, and CO levels, until an optimum point is
obtained.

Figure 3-25 Flue Gas Combustion Analyser


Residential light commercial

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Gas Detection

Technological advances in recent years have resulted in the availability of many excellent
gas detection instruments.

The instruments range from relatively inexpensive glass detector tubes with hand
operated pump, to more sophisticated electronic types with a wide range of functions.

Figure 3-26 Gastec Gas Detector Pump

Gastec is one brand of gas detector commonly used. Glass detector tubes for the
Gastec pump can be obtained for detection of numerous gases including specific gases
like carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, or single detector tubes capable of testing
for the presence of various gases on a qualitative level.

The Gastec “Polytec” detector tube is helpful in locating unknown gases and vapours
such as gasoline vapours, paint fumes, and
sewer gas.

Figure 3-27 Gastec Gas Detector Tube


As air is drawn across the tube by the pump,
chemicals inside the glass detector tube
change colour to indicate presence and concentration of the particular gas being
sampled.

Electronic multi-gas detectors can simultaneously monitor from one to four gases
continuously. They are often configured to measure oxygen, carbon monoxide,
combustible gases, and hydrogen sulphide. They have plug in sensors that can be
replaced as necessary. Although more expensive than detector tubes, they are better
suited if you are doing a fair amount of testing or continuous monitoring.

For use with Instructor facilitated © 2021. Gas Technician III Learning Package by Clarke Petty Version 6.0
G3 Fanshawe Online course only
26
Normal air movements activate electro-chemical
sensors within the electronic multi-gas detectors. The
sensors react immediately to changes in the
concentrations of the gases being sampled by Figure 3-29 Electronic Multi-Gas
Detector
monitoring the air immediately surrounding them. They
can be fitted with a pump and sampling hose which works well at pinpointing leaks by
drawing the air sample up to the instrument’s sensors.

Hand-held combustible gas leak detectors are designed to


pinpoint leaks of natural gas, propane, and other
combustible gases in piping, valves, and gas metering
stations.

Ensure that you fully understand how to properly use gas


detection instruments before using them. Read the
instructions.
Figure 3-30 Electronic
Combustible Gas Detector
Gas Detection instruments must be calibrated regularly to
ensure that they are functioning properly. Faulty instruments can lead to injury to
yourself and others.

Calibration kits are available for most instruments. These kits contain all the necessary
calibration accessories such as calibration gas, regulators, hoses, and
fitting.

Figure 3-31 Electronic Gas


Detector Calibration Kit

**End of Module - Return to Course and Complete Associated Online Test(s)**

For use with Instructor facilitated © 2021. Gas Technician III Learning Package by Clarke Petty Version 6.0
G3 Fanshawe Online course only
27

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