Shimadzu’s System GC Solutions - Data Sheets

Importance of Gas Chromatography in Refinery and Natural Gas Analysis

Gas chromatography (GC) is a critical analytical technique for characterizing the composition of permanent gases, light hydrocarbons, and trace sulfur species in industrial settings. Precise measurement of components such as H2, He, O2, N2, CO, CO2, H2S, C1–C18 hydrocarbons, mercaptans, and greenhouse gases supports process optimization, product quality control, safety assurance, and regulatory compliance.

Aims and Overview of the Study

Shimadzu's System GC solutions are engineered to meet the requirements of diverse gas analysis applications including:

• Refinery Gas Analysis
• Transformer Oil Gas Analysis
• Town and Natural Gas Analysis
• Trace Sulfur and Greenhouse Gas Analysis
• LPG, Gasoline, and Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis
• Ultrafast and High‐Speed RGA Series

These systems comply with international standards such as ASTM D2504, D1945, D2163, ISO-6976, GPA-2261 and deliver tailored configurations for specific matrices and throughput needs.

Applied Methodology and Instrumentation

Each System GC integrates multiple valve switching configurations, packed or capillary columns, and a combination of detectors (TCD, FID with methanizer, BID). Carrier gases (He or N2) and backflush techniques enable separation of permanent gases and light to heavy hydrocarbons. Key methodological features include:

• Valve‐switching for selective column routing and backflushing of C6+ components
• TCD for universal detection of permanent gases and sulfur species
• FID (with methanizer) for trace CO, CO2 and hydrocarbon quantification
• BID for ultrafast, high‐sensitivity detection of C1–C5 and sulfur compounds
• Integrated software for automated control, data acquisition, BTU and specific gravity calculations

Použitá instrumentace

• GC Modules: Nexis GC‐2030, GC‐2014 series
• Detectors: TCD, FID, FID+MTN, BID
• Columns: Molecular sieve (MS‐5A, MS‐13X), Porapak Q/N, Alumina capillary, Shimalite‐Q, Rtx‐Q, Rtx‐1
• Valves: 1–5 valve configurations (6–9 columns)
• Software: LabSolutions chromatography workstation, calorific value and density calculation modules

Main Results and Discussion

Shimadzu's System GC platforms demonstrate analysis times ranging from 4 to 40 minutes depending on method complexity, with detection limits in the low ppm range for permanent gases and sub‐ppm for hydrocarbons. Ultrafast RGA systems (UFRGA) achieve complete C1–C5 plus sulfur screening in under 6 minutes using BID technology. High‐speed and extended hydrocarbon analyzers extend the range up to C18 with robust repeatability.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Methods

• Rapid throughput for high‐volume QA/QC laboratories
• Compliance with ASTM, ISO, and GPA standards
• Versatile configurations for refining, petrochemical R&D, power generation, gas utility, and environmental monitoring
• Integrated calorific value and density reporting for custody transfer and process control

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging developments include further miniaturization of flow paths to reduce analysis time, expanded use of BID for multi‐component detection, integration of machine‐learning for predictive maintenance and data interpretation, and online coupling with process analyzers for real‐time monitoring of dynamic gas streams.

Conclusion

Shimadzu's comprehensive System GC lineup offers tailored solutions for a wide range of gas analysis needs. By combining robust hardware, method compliance, and intuitive software, these platforms ensure accurate, reliable, and high‐throughput measurements essential for modern industrial operations.

Reference

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