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This study reports on the integration of a Silicon MEMS hotplate into a natural gas quality analyzer, i.e., a miniaturized gas viscometer used to measure the Wobbe Index (WI). COMSOL Multiphysics simulation was used for selection of the optimum geometry of the hotplate and gas sensing cell. Experimental characterization of the hotplate confirmed its stability under working condition of the sensor. The sensor has been tested by running various gases such as Nitrogen and Methane. The thermal analysis of the sensor and experimental results show a reduced response time of the sensor at lower power consumption and lower thermal time constant.

Abstract. Biogas is a fuel made from the anaerobic digestion of organic material to form methane. It can be used to power a stationary engine to generate electricity making it a viable method of decentralised power generation from renewables. However, biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, and other trace gases such as hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen. As such the quality can vary and setting the air-fuel ratio for efficient combustion can be problematic under these conditions. The Wobbe Index, or Wobbe Number, is a quality of combustible gases that allows the air-fuel requirement to be determined. This work presents a novel type of Wobbe Index sensor based on a miniaturised capillary viscometer that can be used with biogas. The sensor is validated at a biogas cogeneration plant which uses a stationary engine and the results are compared to a methane sensor installed at the plant.

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