BS EN 15984-2022 PDF

Full title and description

BS EN 15984:2022 — Petroleum industry and products — Determination of composition of refinery heating gas and calculation of carbon content and calorific value — Gas chromatography method. This is the British adoption of the CEN European Standard that specifies a multi‑system gas chromatographic procedure to determine the composition of refinery heating (fuel) gases and to calculate carbon content and lower calorific value from those results.

Abstract

EN 15984:2022 defines a gas chromatographic analytical method for routine laboratory determination of the composition of refinery heating gas (dry basis). The standard covers the analysis of 23 principal components typically found in refinery fuel gases, gives requirements for system configuration (multiple GC systems or integrated multi‑channel instruments), detectors (TCD and FID), calibration using certified reference gas mixtures, response factor determination, and the calculations required to report mole fractions, carbon content and lower calorific value. Water is not analysed and results are reported on a dry gas basis. Precision estimates, validation checks and recommended reporting elements are included.

General information

• Status: Published / Adopted as a national standard (BS adoption of EN 15984:2022).
• Publication date: 18 February 2022 (EN text published early 2022; national adoption dates may vary by body).
• Publisher: CEN (European Committee for Standardization) — nationally published by BSI as BS EN 15984:2022.
• ICS / categories: 75.160.30 (Gaseous fuels); related subject groups include physicochemical analytical methods.
• Edition / version: 2022 (this edition supersedes EN 15984:2017).
• Number of pages: Typically 26–28 pages depending on national publication format.

Scope

This standard specifies a gas chromatographic method for determining the composition of refinery heating gas used as a fuel in refineries and for calculating the carbon content and the lower calorific value from the measured composition. The method covers an overall set of 23 components (per the standard's Table 1) present at concentrations typical for refinery gases. Water vapour is excluded (results represent dry gas). The document sets out instrument configuration options, calibration and linearity checks, calculation procedures and reporting requirements; it does not address all safety aspects of sample handling or analysis.

Key topics and requirements

• Analytes and ranges: quantification of 23 refinery gas components (examples: H2, O2/Ar, N2, CO, CO2, H2S, CH4, C2–C5 hydrocarbons; heavier hydrocarbons reported as a C5+ sum fraction).
• Measurement principle: multi‑system gas chromatography combining Thermal Conductivity Detectors (TCD) and Flame Ionization Detectors (FID) as required.
• Analysis architecture: three complementary separation systems (non‑condensable permanent gases, C1–C5 hydrocarbons, and C5+ summed fraction) — may be implemented as separate instruments or an integrated multi‑channel GC system.
• Columns and carrier gases: guidance on column selection (molecular sieve, porous polymer, capillary columns) and use of high‑purity carrier gases (H2, He, N2, Ar where appropriate).
• Calibration and QA: use of certified reference gas mixtures, determination of absolute and relative response factors, detector linearity checks (normative annex), and acceptance/verification procedures.
• Calculations and reporting: procedures for non‑normalized and normalized mole fractions, verification of reference components, calculation of carbon content and lower calorific value (mass basis), and recommended reporting format.
• Performance: precision and reproducibility guidance and informative precision estimates for typical refinery gas compositions.
• Limitations and safety: method reports dry gas composition only (water not analysed) and users remain responsible for establishing appropriate safety and health practices.

Typical use and users

This standard is intended for routine laboratory and on‑line analyses in refinery and analytical service laboratories. Typical users include refinery analytical chemists, process and utility engineers (for burner and heating optimisation), quality control teams, third‑party testing laboratories, and regulatory/compliance personnel who require standardized composition data, carbon content for mass balances or emissions accounting, and reliable calorific value calculations for fuel management.

Related standards

Standards commonly used alongside EN 15984:2022 include the earlier EN 15984:2017 (superseded), the EN/ISO series on gas composition by gas chromatography (for example the EN/ISO 6974 series covering analysis of gaseous fuels/natural gas) and ISO 6976 (methods to calculate calorific values, density and Wobbe index from composition). Other national and international chromatographic gas analysis methods and calibration standards (e.g., standards for preparation and verification of calibration gas mixtures) are frequently referenced in conjunction with EN 15984.

Keywords

refinery heating gas; fuel gas composition; gas chromatography; GC; TCD; FID; calorific value; lower calorific value; carbon content; calibration gas; gaseous fuels; EN 15984:2022; BS EN 15984

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: BS EN 15984:2022 (adoption of EN 15984:2022) is a gas chromatographic method specification for determining the composition of refinery heating (fuel) gases and for calculating the carbon content and lower calorific value from that composition.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers instrument configuration and separation systems, detectors (TCD/FID), calibration using certified reference gas mixtures, response factor and linearity checks, calculation procedures for mole fractions, carbon content and lower calorific value, precision estimates, and recommended reporting. Water vapour is not analysed; results are reported on a dry basis.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Refinery analytical laboratories, process and utility engineers, QA/QC teams, third‑party testing labs and regulatory or emissions accounting personnel who need standardized composition and calorific data for refinery fuel gases.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2022 edition supersedes EN 15984:2017. As published in 2022 the 2022 edition is the current EN text; national adoption dates may vary but the 2022 edition is the active version that replaces the 2017 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a standalone EN method for refinery heating gases but is typically used alongside related EN/ISO methods for gaseous fuel analysis (such as the EN/ISO 6974 series) and calculation standards (ISO 6976) that address composition analysis and calorific value computations.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Refinery heating gas, gas chromatography, GC, calibration gas, carbon content, lower calorific value, TCD, FID, gaseous fuels, EN 15984, BS EN 15984:2022.