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A Multi-species tracking analyser for natural gas process refinement and optimisation

Objective

Natural gas is the world’s fastest growing fossil fuel with global consumption expected to increase by 70%, from 4 tn m3 in 2014 to 7 tn by 2040. Raw natural gas varies in composition and also contains undesirable impurities and contaminants, including water, CO2, nitrogen and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Unconventional sources such as shale gas have an even greater variance. Despite this, the composition of gas delivered to transmission pipelines has to be tightly controlled by the gas producers to meet stringent quality standards and specifications.

Natural gas therefore has to be processed to remove these contaminants. With high financial penalties or the threat of closure for gas producers not meeting high quality standards, and because producers do not currently have sufficiently accurate data on the gas composition at any one time, most natural gas is highly over processed. This is time consuming, energy intensive and leads to high CO2 emissions. It is also ultimately expensive, (a cost of €91 billion p.a globally).
The industry has an urgent and growing requirement for a new gas analyser that can accurately and rapidly measure the composition and contaminant levels of the gas stream so that the gas processing stage can be optimised.

The aim of this innovation project is to bring to technology maturity and market readiness a disruptive, cost effective, multi-species natural gas analyser to improve the energy efficiency of natural gas processing facilities by up to 20%. Our technology is at proof of concept stage (TRL6) and is based upon a novel, method of thermal laser frequency control. Mustang PRO is the world’s first multi species, cost effective TDLAS analyser. The Phase 1 project will deliver vital market and end user data to elaborate our business plan for Phase 2. We aim to save the EU industry €1.3bn p.a. in gas processing costs whilst generating revenues of €51 million, 7 years post project, creating 54 jobs and a profit (EBITDA) of €20.9 m.

Call for proposal

H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SMEINST-1-2014

Coordinator

MICHELL INSTRUMENTS LIMITED
Net EU contribution
€ 50 000,00
Address
48 LANCASTER WAY BUSINESS PARK
CB6 3NW ELY
United Kingdom

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 71 429,00