Mass Flow Meter Designed For Coal Mine Methane Gas Measurement

Mine engineers and operators seeking to recover coal mine methane as a fuel resource and to reduce the effects of dangerous greenhouse gases will find the ST51 Mass Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (USA) provides excellent measurement accuracy in an explosion-proof instrument that’s safe, simple to install, requires almost no maintenance and that offers an economical low lifecycle cost.

With its no-moving parts thermal dispersion mass flow sensing element, the ST51 Flow Meter provides direct mass flow measurement of gas without the additional equipment required with other flow measurement technologies. Its non-clogging sensor design operates over a wide flow range with low-flow sensitivity, and the meter’s calibration is matched to the user’s actual gas composition and installation conditions. This proven,

rugged design is ideal for wet, dirty coal mines and coal bed methane gas recovery environments.

Coal mining operations are a major contributor to the greenhouse gas pollution that results in global warming. There are three major sources of coal mine methane: degasification systems (drainage) both pre-mine and gob, ventilation air (VAM) and abandoned or closed mines. As requirements for pollution abatement increase, coal mine methane gas is an increasingly attractive fuel source for co-gen electric power.

Precise measurement of methane gas also is required for methane oxidizer systems and to provide data for incentive credits. The ST51 Flow Meter’s flow element is constructed with a 316L stainless steel body and Hastelloy C-22 thermowell sensors to resist corrosion. It is approved for use in hazardous environments with approvals that include: FM, CSA/CRN, Class 1, Div 1, Groups B, C, D; Class 1, Div II, Groups A-D, ATEX Zone 1, II 2 G Ex d IIC T6 …T3, II 2 D Ex tD A21 IP67 T90°C…T300°C.