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D5287-08 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
🎯 Scope and Application of D5287‑08
ASTM D5287‑08 (Reapproved 2015) establishes a comprehensive practice for the automatic sampling of gaseous fuels and their synthetic equivalents. This standard is essential for ensuring representative sample collection for custody transfer, quality control, and process monitoring. The practice strictly applies to single‑phase gas mixtures and explicitly does not address two‑phase streams. Users must look to other specific standards, such as Test Method D1945 for analysis by gas chromatography, to determine sample composition.
⚙️ Key Components and System Selection Factors
The automatic sampler is defined as a mechanical system comprising several critical components outlined in Section 3:
| 🟦 Component | 📏 Primary Function |
|---|---|
| Sample Probe | Extracts a representative stream from the pipeline |
| Sample Loop | Circulates fresh, representative gas to the extractor |
| Sample Extractor | Isolates a specific volume from the loop |
| Sample Vessel | Stores the collected sample under pressure |
| Logic Controller | Manages sampling intervals and system timing |
The selection of the specific sampling system is dependent on several interrelated factors. For clean, dry gas sources with steady source dynamics, the system can be very simple. As source dynamics become more complex and the potential for liquids increases, the complexity must increase.
| 📐 Factor | ⚡ Operating Condition | 🎯 Recommended System Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Source Dynamics | Steady flow / Complex flow | Simple periodic sampling / Flow‑proportional sampling |
| Gas Condition | Clean and Dry / Wet or Dirty | Basic filtration / Coalescing filters, heaters, scrubbers |
| Hazardous Components | None present / H₂S present | Standard materials / Compliance with NACE MR‑01‑75 |
📋 Referenced Standards and Safety Frameworks
This practice operates within a robust ecosystem of industry standards. Key references include API 14.1 for general sampling and handling, GPA Standard 2166 for manual sampling methods, and ISO‑10715 for overall natural gas sampling guidelines. For material safety in sour environments, NACE Standard MR‑01‑75 provides requirements for sulfide stress cracking resistance.
⚠️ Safety and Compliance Alert: Section 1.7 states this standard does not address all safety concerns. Users must establish appropriate safety practices. Furthermore, transport of collected gas samples is governed by CFR 49 (Title 49, 173.34(e)). Hazardous components like H₂S dramatically increase system complexity.
💡 Critical Application Note: This practice is strictly limited to single‑phase gas mixtures. Attempting to sample a two‑phase stream without proper conditioning (phase separation, heating) will introduce significant composition bias, rendering the sample unrepresentative and the analytical results invalid.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What stream types are explicitly excluded from D5287‑08?
The standard explicitly states it does not address two‑phase streams. It applies only to single‑phase gas mixtures.
💡 Which ASTM standard is referenced for analyzing the sample collected under D5287?
Test Method D1945 (Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography) is the primary standard referenced for sample analysis, alongside D5504 for sulfur compounds.
⚡ When must NACE MR‑01‑75 be consulted for an automatic sampling system?
NACE MR‑01‑75, covering sulfide stress cracking resistant materials for oilfield equipment, must be followed when trace hazardous components, particularly H₂S, are present in the gaseous fuel stream.
📌 What are the defined components of an automatic sample system?
Section