Measurement of hydrocarbon fuel gas composition and properties from tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer and a method of processing absorption spectra is used to measure concentrations of selected fuel gas components and calculate several fuel gas parameters, including heating value, relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content and Wobbe index. In the described incarnation, a tunable laser diode directs near-infrared light into an optical cavity through a sample of fuel gas. A sensor measures intensity of light exiting the cavity as the laser wavelength is tuned over a specified range to construct a cavity-enhanced absorption spectrum for the fuel gas. A set of basis spectra for expected component species is used to analyze the spectrum and determine component concentrations, including methane, ethane, carbon dioxide, and other discrete and structured absorbers. Critically, a generic broadband absorption is used to model higher hydrocarbons that present themselves as nearly featureless absorption spectra. The fuel gas parameters are then calculated directly from determined component concentrations and the broadband absorption representing the higher hydrocarbons.

Claims

1. A tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry system for fuel gas measurement, comprising: an off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (ICOS) instrument comprising a first tunable laser diode with a first tunable wavelength range providing laser light coupled off-axis into a high-finesse optical cavity, a second tunable laser diode with a second tunable wavelength range providing laser light coupled off-axis into the cavity, a gas inlet and a gas outlet arranged to flow a fuel gas through the cavity, and an optical sensor arranged to measure intensity of laser light exiting the optical cavity, wherein the laser diodes are tuned over their respective wavelength ranges so that the sensor measurement provides a wavelength-dependent optical absorption spectrum; and a computer processor to receive the sensor measurement from the optical sensor, access a database of basis spectra for fuel gas components, process the absorption spectrum with a chemometric fitting routine to determine concentrations of selected fuel gas components, and calculate at least a heating value (F) and an additional value (X) selected from relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, and Wobbe index from the determined fuel gas component concentrations on the basis of determined concentrations for methane (C.sub.CH.sub.4) and ethane (C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6) and the determined concentration (C.sub.BB) of an offset basis spectrum representing higher hydrocarbons such that:
X=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.X.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.X.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where X.sub.CH.sub.4 and X.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective coefficients for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, or Wobbe index of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the database includes basis spectra for at least methane, ethane, together with a broadband offset basis to represent the higher hydrocarbons.

3. The system as in claim 2, wherein the heating value (F) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
F=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.F.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.F.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where F.sub.CH.sub.4 and F.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective heating values for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite heating value of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the Wobbe index (I.sub.w) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
I.sub.w=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.I.sub.wCH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.I.sub.wC.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where I.sub.wCH.sub.4 and I.sub.wC.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective Wobbe indices for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite Wobbe index of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the relative density (G) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
G=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.G.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where G.sub.CH.sub.4 and G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective relative densities for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite relative density of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein the compressibility (Z) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
X=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.Z.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where Z.sub.CH.sub.4 and Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective compressibility factors for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite compressibility of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content (L) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and the ethane and the determined concentration (C.sub.BB) of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
L=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.L.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where L.sub.CH.sub.4 and L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective theoretical liquid content values for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite theoretical liquid content of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein concentrations of the selected fuel gas components to be determined include specified fuel gas contaminant species.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein specified fuel gas contaminant species are selected from any one or more of H.sub.2S, H.sub.2O, O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, or OCS.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range is a near-infrared wavelength range encompassing absorption bands of the selected fuel gas components with minimal cross-interference.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the first wavelength range is in a vicinity of 1.58 m.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the second wavelength range is in a vicinity of 1.27 m.

13. A method of measuring a heating value for a fuel gas, comprising: coupling laser light from first and second tunable laser diodes off-axis into a high-finesse optical cavity of an off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (ICOS) instrument, wherein the first and second laser diodes have respective tunable wavelength ranges, flowing a fuel gas from a gas inlet through the cavity to a gas outlet, measuring intensity of laser light exiting the optical cavity using an optical sensor while the laser diodes are tuned over their respective wavelength ranges so that the sensor measurement provides a wavelength-dependent optical absorption spectrum, receiving, with a computer processor, the sensor measurement from the optical sensor, accessing, with the computer processor, a database of basis spectra for fuel gas components, employing, with the computer processor, a chemometric fitting routine to process the absorption spectrum so as to determine concentrations of selected fuel gas components, and calculating, with the computer processor, a heating value (F) and an additional value (X) selected from relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, and Wobbe index from the determined fuel gas component concentrations on the basis of determined concentrations for methane (C.sub.CH.sub.4) and ethane (C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6) and the determined concentration (C.sub.BB) of an offset basis spectrum representing higher hydrocarbons such that:
X=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.X.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.X.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where X.sub.CH.sub.4 and X.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective coefficients for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, or Wobbe index of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the database includes basis spectra for at least methane, ethane, together with a broadband offset basis to represent the higher hydrocarbons.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein the heating value (F) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
F=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.F.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.F.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where F.sub.CH.sub.4 and F.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective heating values for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite heating value of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

16. The method as in claim 13, wherein the Wobbe index (I.sub.w) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
I.sub.w=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.I.sub.wCH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.I.sub.wC.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where I.sub.wCH.sub.4 and I.sub.wC.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective Wobbe indices for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite Wobbe index of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

17. The method as in claim 13, wherein the relative density (G) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for the methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
G=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.G.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where G.sub.CH.sub.4 and G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective relative densities for the methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite relative density of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

18. The method as in claim 13, wherein the compressibility (Z) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for the methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
Z=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.Z.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where Z.sub.CH.sub.4 and Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective compressibility factors for the methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite compressibility of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

19. The method as in claim 13, wherein the theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content (L) is calculated by the processor on the basis of the determined concentrations for the methane and ethane and the determined concentration of the offset basis spectrum representing the higher hydrocarbons, such that:
L=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.L.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E, where L.sub.CH.sub.4 and L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective theoretical liquid content values for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite theoretical liquid content of all the expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture.

20. The method as in claim 13, wherein concentrations of the selected fuel gas components determined by the processor include specified fuel gas contaminant species.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein specified fuel gas contaminant species are selected from any one or more of H.sub.2S, H.sub.2O, O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, or OCS.

22. The method as in claim 13, wherein the wavelength range of the first diode is a near-infrared wavelength range encompassing absorption bands of the selected fuel gas components with minimal cross-interference.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein the wavelength range of the first diode is in a vicinity of 1.58 m.

24. The method as in claim 23, wherein the wavelength range of the second laser diode is in a vicinity of 1.27 m and is coupled into the optical cavity to obtain an absorption spectrum in a second wavelength range.

25. The system as in claim 1, wherein the first laser diode is tunable over a spectral range of at least 20 GHz, and wherein the second laser diode is tunable over a spectral range of 60-80 Ghz.

26. The method as in claim 13, wherein the first laser diode is tunable over a spectral range of at least 20 GHz, and wherein the second laser diode is tunable over a spectral range of 60-80 Ghz.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an off-axis ICOS instrument in accord with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a graph of cavity-enhanced absorption versus optical frequency for representative basis sets for analysis of H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2 in natural gas. Critically, the basis set includes methane, ethane, and broadband constant that represents higher hydrocarbons and other relatively featureless absorptions.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a table, split as indicated by the legend into FIGS. 3A and 3B, of heating value calculations for four distinct blends of fuel gas and pure methane.

(4) FIG. 4 is a graph of ICOS-measured higher heating values (HHV) versus actual higher heating value for a five fuel gases tabulated in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a table, split as indicated by the legend into FIGS. 5A and 5B, of Wobbe index calculations for the same five fuel mixtures as in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a graph of ICOS-measured Wobbe index versus actual Wobbe index for the five fuel gas mixtures tabulated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) With reference to FIG. 1, in an off-axis ICOS instrument like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,795,190, laser light 11 from a tunable near-infrared diode laser 10 is coupled off-axis into a high-finesse optical cavity 16 with two highly reflective (R99.995%) mirrors 17a and 17b, while fuel gas to be analyzed is flowed through the cavity 16 between gas inlet 13 and gas outlet 14. A near-infrared sensor 20 measures the intensity of light exiting the cavity via a lens 19 as the laser wavelength is tuned over a specified range by means of laser control electronics 21, thereby providing a transmission spectrum that measures wavelength-dependent optical absorption by all of the various chemical components present in the fuel gas. The preferred embodiment utilizes Off-Axis ICOS; however, other tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry methods may also be used.

(8) Choice of wavelength range depends upon the chemical species to be detected, avoiding where possible interfering absorptions from different species. Multiple laser diodes may be available for providing absorption measurements over several different ranges. A preferred embodiment may use two lasers operating near 1.58 m and 1.27 m, but other choices are possible. The spectral range over which each laser diode may be tuned is at least 20 GHz and preferably 60-80 GHz. Sensor data is collected and analyzed by a computer system 23, which in accord with the present invention employs chemometric fitting routines and calculations of heating value, relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, Wobbe index, and contaminant concentrations for the fuel gas stream.

(9) To facilitate line fitting of the measured spectrum, the stored basis sets for use with the chemometric modeling should include individual spectra from each of the expected components in the fuel gas for the wavelength ranges being scanned by the instrument. Thus, an absorption spectrum of pure methane (the dominant constituent of natural gas, coal syngas and biogas) is included. The CH.sub.4 spectrum is typically highly structured. Likewise, the basis set also includes the absorption spectrum of ethane (C.sub.2H.sub.6). Because the expected percentage of ethane in the fuel gas mixture is lower, it is convenient that the basis spectrum employed be that of a mixture of 10% ethane in inert nitrogen background. This spectrum still retains some structure. The absorption spectra of target contaminants (e.g. H.sub.2S, H.sub.2O, O.sub.2, and CO.sub.2) measured in an inert background (e.g. nitrogen or zero-air) are also included. These spectra are typically highly structured. The system is not limited to any particular set of fuel gas components and contaminants and can be extended to other gases with or without fuel values (H.sub.2, OCS, etc.) provided a basis spectrum is available for use in the fitting operation. All of these absorption spectra may be empirically determined by filling the cavity with certified concentrations of the components diluted in dry air, nitrogen or other inert gas, and taking the spectra under similar conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.) as the fuel gas measurements to be made. A final basis set spectrum included with the chemometric model is a broadband offset basis that is totally featureless (e.g. 10% absorption at all measured wavelengths). This accounts for essentially featureless absorptions by all higher hydrocarbons over the selected wavelength ranges.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a representative basis set for chemometric fitting and analysis of natural gas with possible contaminants H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2 for the vicinity (40 GHz to +30 GHz) of 1.58 m. Here the cavity-enhanced absorption (the y-axis) equals the cavity gain factor G (=R/(1R), where R is the mirror reflectivity) multiplied by the single-pass absorption A.

(11) A chemometric data analysis strategy like that described in Linh D. Le et al., Development of a Rapid On-Line Acetylene Sensor for Industrial Hydrogenation Reactor Optimization Using Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy, Applied Spectroscopy 62(1), pp. 59-62 (2008) is one known way to quantify the respective constituents. In this scheme, the measured spectrum of a fuel gas is expressed as the sum of the absorption contributions from each individual component in the mixture:
A()=.sub.nc.sub.n.Math.A.sub.n()
where c.sub.n is the coefficient that corresponds in a known way to the concentration of the n.sup.th component species. This dependence is typically linear and can be determined directly from the basis sets. For example, if a 10% ethane/N.sub.2 basis set is used for A.sub.ethane() and c.sub.a for that basis set is 0.1, the calculated concentration of ethane in the fuel gas is 1%. Note that, since the gain factor G is a constant, the coefficients c.sub.n will be the same if cavity-enhanced absorption GA is used instead of the single-pass absorption A.

(12) Once the concentrations C.sub.a of each component species a have been determined, the heating value F is calculated. Heating value F (higher heating value or HHV) for the overall fuel gas mixture is a weighted sum of heating values F.sub.a of the separate component species that add heating value, where concentration of each species constitutes the weight:
F=.sub.aC.sub.a.Math.F.sub.a

(13) Normally, only hydrocarbons found at concentrations exceeding 0.1% contribute to heating value in any meaningful way. Typically, some 10 to 20 species of hydrocarbon with up to 9 carbon atoms contribute. Tabulated heating values may be used, such as 1010 Btu/sft.sup.3 (37.6 MJ/m.sup.3) for methane and 1770 Btu/sft.sup.3 (65.9 MJ/m.sup.3) for ethane. These example values depend upon gas density (a function of temperature) and may change depending on the measurement conditions. Heating values per mole or per kilogram are generally constant. All higher hydrocarbons (those other than methane and ethane) are represented here by a measured concentration C.sub.BB of an essentially featureless broadband absorber in the spectrum. This contribution can be included by scaling it by an empirical factor E. The heating value F therefore reduces to:
F=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.F.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.F.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E
Note that the equation can be altered in two ways. Additional terms could be added if they have sufficient concentration and heating value (e.g. for hydrogen, acetylene or ethylene) and the ICOS instrument is configured to measure their concentrations (by appropriate selection of diode laser wavelength and inclusion of their spectra in the chemometric basis set). Second, the empirical scaling factor E depends upon the particular broadband basis set employed for the fit and the expected components in the fuel gas mixture. For natural gas and a 10% broadband absorption used for the basis set, a value E=6500 Btu/sft.sup.3 (242 MJ/m.sup.3) is suitable for accounting for any hydrocarbons other than methane and ethane in the gas. For a substantially different fuel gas mixture (e.g. hydrogen), the empirical factor E will have a different value. Nevertheless, it has been found that this simple method of dealing with the vast array of higher hydrocarbons works across a wide range of natural gas mixtures.

(14) Relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, and Wobbe index can be calculated in exactly the same way, except that the empirical scaling factor E for the broadband concentration C.sub.BB is different. For example, for the Wobbe index:
W.sub.w=.sub.aC.sub.a.Math.I.sub.wa=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.I.sub.wCH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.I.sub.wC.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E
where I.sub.wa are the Wobbe index values for each component. These are related to the heating values, but with specific gravity G.sub.Sa of each component a separately factored in (I.sub.wa=F.sub.a/G.sub.Sa). Wobbe index is a measure of the heating value of the quantity of gas that will pass through a hole of a given size in a given amount of time. Since the flow of gas is regulated by an orifice in almost all gas appliances, the Wobbe index can be used to compare actual heating value of different gas blends. The relationship between gas composition and gas parameter for the aforementioned parameters is described in detail in the Gas Processors Associate Standard 2172-09 entitled Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Relative Density, Compressibility, and Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content for Natural Gas Mixtures for Custody Transfer.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a table of heating value calculations for five distinct blends of fuel gas ranging from pure methane (similar to biogas), to a mixture containing high levels of ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes, to still other mixtures even containing hexanes, heptanes, octanes, nonanes and decanes. The respective heating values (high heating value in Btu/sft.sup.3) are given on the left, next to each component. The composition of each mixture and the heating value contributions from each component present are given for each of the five fuel gases, together with a sum total. At the bottom of the table are the corresponding ICOS measured concentrations for methane, ethane and broadband absorption and corresponding calculations of the fuel values. As plotted in FIG. 4, it is seen that there is excellent agreement between the actual and measured heating values over a wide dynamic range. Mixture 2 shows the widest deviation, but in all cases, the measurement is accurate to better than 10 Btu/sft.sup.3 and 1% of actual heating value, which is adequate for many customer applications.

(16) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a similar table and graph of Wobbe index calculations for the same five blends. Again, the ICOS measured Wobbe index is accurate to better than 1% of actual value. Extending the basis sets to spectra from higher hydrocarbons (three to ten carbon atoms), with appropriate choice of one or more additional laser diode wavelength ranges, should further improve the fit and resulting heating value and Wobbe index calculations to even higher precision. Likewise, optimizing or calibrating the prefactor for the broadband absorption will also improve the results.

(17) Similarly, the relative density G may be calculated by the processor on the basis of determined concentrations for methane (C.sub.CH.sub.4) and ethane (C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6) and a determined concentration C.sub.BB of an offset basis spectrum representing higher hydrocarbons, such that:
G=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.G.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E,
where G.sub.CH.sub.4 and G.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective relative densities for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite relative density of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture. And likewise, the compressibility Z is calculated by the processor on the basis of determined concentrations for methane (C.sub.CH.sub.4) and ethane (C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6) and a determined concentration C.sub.BB of an offset basis spectrum representing higher hydrocarbons, such that:
Z=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.Z.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6.Math.Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E,
where Z.sub.CH.sub.4 and Z.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective compressibility factors for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite compressibility of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture. And finally, the theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content L is calculated by the processor on the basis of determined concentrations for methane (C.sub.CH.sub.4) and ethane (C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6) and a determined concentration C.sub.BB of an offset basis spectrum representing higher hydrocarbons, such that:
L=C.sub.CH.sub.4.Math.L.sub.CH.sub.4+C.sub.C.sub.2.sub.C.sub.6.Math.L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6+C.sub.BB.Math.E,
where L.sub.CH.sub.4 and L.sub.C.sub.2.sub.H.sub.6 are respective theoretical liquid content values for methane and ethane, and E is an empirical factor for a composite theoretical liquid content of all expected higher hydrocarbons in the fuel gas mixture. In each case, the empirical factor will vary according to the fuel gas property being calculated.

(18) Thus, the invention has several advantages over the legacy technologies in use today. TDLAS sensors, and off-axis ICOS analyzers in particular, offer substantially more accurate and precise contamination measurements than lead-tape, chilled mirror and electrochemical sensors. The legacy technologies frequently require recurring calibration to account for changes in detector response, drift and other issues. Since TDLAS (including off-axis ICOS) is a first-principles technique, it requires little or no calibration, but at most only annual reverification. A key advantage in the present invention is speed. Gas chromatography, chilled mirror, lead tape and electrochemical sensors typically take 5 to 10 minutes to make a single measurement. In contrast, TDLAS sensors can make a comparable (or even more accurate) measurement in just 10-20 seconds. This allows customers to actively control their processes in essentially real time to prevent end-product contamination and react quickly to changes in heating value, Wobbe index, and the other properties. Due to high spectral resolution of the laser in TDLAS systems, the analyzers are capable of measuring fuel gas components with little to no cross-interference. Thus, in contrast to electrochemical sensors which have strong chemical interferences (e.g. between H.sub.2S and CO), the present invention's readings are both selective and accurate. Additionally, many of the legacy instruments only operate over a small dynamic range before they saturate. The off-axis ICOS instrument used in the present invention operates over a dynamic range in excess of 10000, allowing customers to detect both trace levels as well as upset conditions. The large dynamic range is especially valuable in calculating heating value, relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, and Wobbe index; since the concentrations of hydrocarbon constituents can vary widely. Unlike gas chromatographs and lead-tape analyzers, the present system does not require any consumables, resulting in lower operating costs. Indeed, it combines the measurements from multiple legacy instruments into one single instrument capable of measuring heating value, relative density, compressibility, theoretical hydrocarbon liquid content, and Wobbe index calculation, as well as trace contaminant detection and quantification.