Advancements in the Natural Gas Measurement System Under a Multi-Source Scenario: A Domestic and International Perspective

With increasing attention on environmental concerns, natural gas, as a clean energy source, is gaining a larger share in China's fossil energy consumption system. Recently, the consumption of natural gas has been characterized by a diversity of sources and a rise in imported gas, leading to a multi-source gas network pattern. Significant differences in calorific value among various gas sources pose challenges for China's existing measurement system in performing accurate trade measurement and carbon emission accounting. This calls for the development of a new measurement system. This article investigates the current status of domestic and international natural gas measurement systems, introducing three measurement methods: volumetric, mass, and energy measurement, along with their principles. A comparative analysis of current natural gas measurement technologies, including technical standards, measurement instruments, and traceability, is conducted. It highlights that the energy measurement method, based on natural gas calorific value combined with its volumetric or mass flow, offers a fairer and more accurate approach in the context of diverse gas sources. Additionally, the paper identifies shortcomings in China's natural gas quality analysis equipment, the construction of traceability for gas analysis, and pipeline network verification technologies.