Usually not in time. The dew point analyzer in the sales gas only responds once the water has already passed through the contactor, and the next lab sample may be days away. If the TEG concentration in the lean stream is measured continuously, a drop of just a few tenths of a percent can be seen while the unit is still operating within specification.

The lab analysis remains the reference value, but it only describes the moment when the sample was taken. There is also a practical issue: glycol absorbs moisture from the ambient air, and the sample comes hot from the line. Both shift the result toward a wetter reading. Inline measurement, by contrast, provides a continuous trend; the lab can limit itself to spot checks for confirmation.

In the lean TEG line after regeneration, ideally after the lean/rich heat exchanger and cooler and before entering the absorber. There, the flow is steady, the temperature is moderate, and the value describes exactly the glycol that is about to absorb water next. A second measurement point in the rich stream is useful for diagnostics, but not required.

Neither. What is measured is the speed of sound in the glycol, from which the concentration is determined together with the temperature. Refractometers evaluate the refractive index and depend on a clean optical window; density measurements are sensitive to gas content and installation conditions; conductivity describes the salt load, not the water content. The acoustic method works without a window, without moving parts, and without a sample loop.

As a rule, yes. Flash gas, dissolved hydrocarbons, or entrained stripping gas impair the ultrasonic measurement significantly less than many other methods. There is still a limit, however: if the gas content in the measuring volume is very high, the measurement becomes unreliable. Larger gas intrusions characteristically change the received signal and can be output as a disturbance variable, giving you an indication of the operating condition. When selecting the installation point, we also make sure to avoid gas collection points.

That is the normal case in used circuits. As long as the accompanying components are known and vary only within narrow limits, the TEG value remains reliable; their influence is taken into account during design. If another component changes significantly, the measurement task can be expanded to include additional variables in order to evaluate two fractions separately. For assessment, a typical analysis of your circulating glycol is usually sufficient for us.

Yes. Ex versions of the sensor and controller are part of the standard product range, and we can typically meet the requirements commonly found in gas processing. We determine which variant fits your zone classification and approval framework during the project.

Yes. Monoethylene glycol used for hydrate inhibition and diethylene glycol used in older dehydration units follow the same physical relationship, just with a different characteristic curve. Tell us which glycol you use and the operating range, and we will assign the appropriate data set.

Via analog outputs or directly via fieldbus: Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, and Ethernet/IP are available. Limit values for the TEG concentration can also be assigned to digital outputs, for example as a pre-alarm for reboiler operation. Up to four sensors can operate on one controller, which is practical for lean and rich measurement in the same loop.

Practically none. The sensor has no moving parts, no membrane, and no optical window that could become dirty. Regular recalibration is not required; the factory calibration is stored in the sensor and remains available even if the device is replaced.