ABSTRACT
The heat flow rate of a fuel gas can be measured by detecting its mass flow rate and multiplying it by its heating value, detected by a calorimeter. The increase in energy costs necessitated a more careful utilization of waste gases and the burning of gases from a variety of sources has made it necessary to measure their heat flow on-line and continuously. Specific gravity measurements were used as an indirect means of estimating the heating value, in addition to using the specific gravity measurement to control the combustion process. The BTU flowmeter for gaseous fuels consists of a heat value measuring instrument and a flow measuring loop with an orifice element. The BTU measuring loop can be used to generate a true indication of the BTU flow rate for use in combustion control systems.
