User Manual GasCalc

GasCalc 2.7
October 2023

SmartSim GmbH
www.smartsim.energy
info@gascalc.com
User Manual GasCalc

Contents
1 Installation 1
1.1 Minimum Hardware Requirements ........................................................................... 1
1.2 Setup .......................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Licensing ..................................................................................................................... 2

2 The GasCalc Program 3

2.1 The User Interface at a Glance ................................................................................... 3
2.2 Menu Gas Analyses .................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Performing Calculations ............................................................................................. 3
2.4 Reporting .................................................................................................................... 6

3 GasCalc Excel-Add-In 8
3.1 Activating the Excel Add-In ........................................................................................ 8
3.1.1 Overview of Functions ................................................................................... 9
3.2 Excel Excample Files ................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Explanations of the Examples .................................................................................... 9
3.4 Auxiliary Form .......................................................................................................... 10

4 Further Information 13

5 List of Excel Examples 14

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1 Installation
The current GasCalc version can be downloaded from the www.gascalc.com website.

1.1 Minimum Hardware Requirements

- Windows 7 or newer
- Microsoft DotNet Framework 4.0 or newer
- Microsoft Excel 2007 or newer (optional)

1.2 Setup
You must accept the license agreements to activate the "Install" button. Click on "Install".

Figure 1: License agreement

After the installation is complete, you will receive a corresponding message:

Figure 2: Click on "Finish" to finish the installation.

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1.3 Licensing
Demo Mode

After the installation you are in demo mode. In this mode, you can test all calculations with
the supplied gas analyses and execute reports. Own gas analyses cannot be entered and cal-
culated in demo mode.

Information about GasCalc 2.7, the possibilities of licensing as well as a license offer can be
obtained via the mail address info@gascalc.com

After receipt of your binding order, the version can then be activated by e-mail using a license
key generated by us. We will be happy to provide you with an offer in this regard.

License status and activation of the software

Under the menu item "Help -> License" you get an overview of your current license status as
well as an overview of the available modules.

In order to license GasCalc, you need to perform the following steps:

a. Generate a request by clicking on "Generate request" and send the “license.lfr” file
to info@gascalc.com after it has been created (you may temporarily save the “li-
cense.lfr” file on your desktop“.

b. by e-mail you will receive the license.slf, which you insert under "Set key".

Figure 3: License status display

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2 The GasCalc Program

2.1 The User Interface at a Glance

After the program start, the start screen appears in a three-part view for selecting or entering
the gas analysis.

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Figure 4: Home screen

1. Menu Explorer - Here you can open individual categories under the menu items
"Gas analysis" and "Edit". Depending on the selected category, the screen layout
may change.
2. List of stored gas analyses - In this area the overview list of the gas analyses is
shown. The active analysis is highlighted.
3. Main view - Depending on the selection in the menu Explorer (window 1), either
general data on gas analyses or calculation results are displayed here. The infor-
mation is given depending on the situation. The main view can be divided into sev-
eral further fields.
4. Menu bar – Via the menu bar basic settings of the program can be changed, such
as licensing, selection of the display language, selection of the unit system.
5. Information line - On the left the gas name of the selected analysis is displayed, on
the right the file name of the analysis file.

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2.2 Menu Gas Analyses

The functions of the Gas Analysis menu can be accessed either via the "Menu Explorer" (Figure
5) or via the "Gas Analysis" menu bar (Figure 6). The menu bar can also be used to open and
save gas analyses in XML format.

Figure 5: Menu Explorer

Figure 6: Menu bar

After selecting Edit, Edit or Copy, a window for entering the gas analysis opens. Depending on
the selection, the analysis fields are filled with zero values or the previously selected data.

The analysis can only be entered in mol %. The sum of all gas components is displayed in the
lower part of the window.

Figure 7: Input gas composition

To accept the gas analysis, click "Next" and then "Save".

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If the sum of the gas analyses is not equal to 100%, a window opens, and you can optionally
perform a standardization.

Figure 8: Confirmation of gas standardization

If the menu item "Open file" is selected, gas analyses in XML format can be imported.

Figure 9: Example XML file for importing a gas analysis

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2.3 Performing Calculations

The currently implemented calculation modules are available in the menu Explorer under "Cal-
culation". The basic structure of the screen views remains the same in all modules. For exam-
ple, select the Gas Parameters module and you will see the following view:

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3

Figure 10: Screen layout using the Gas Parameters module as an example

The main view has changed compared to the home screen.

 Display of the calculation method used (ISO 6976 / 2016)

 Input parameters for the calculation method
 Effective gas analysis with which the calculation method works
 calculation results

In the modules Combustion (Figure 11), GERG 2008 (Figure 12) and Gerg Water, area 4 is sub-
divided so that the calculation results can be presented as matrices or as a diagram. The dis-
play as diagram can be switched on and off with a checkbox. It is also possible to display the
results in a separate window.

In addition to module-specific input parameters, the application area of the formulas can also
be selected in field 2. You can select "restricted range" (higher accuracy), "extended range"
and "no check". The application areas and associated accuracies of the calculation specifica-
tions are listed in the document "3_Application_range_DE.pdf". This can be found under the
menu item "Help -> Help -> Application area".

The components from the gas analysis are entered in field 3. If components were analysed for
which there is no input field, they must be assigned to other components. Information on the
correct assignment can be found in the document "4_Assignment_gas_components_EN.pdf",

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which can be found in the menu under Help -> Help -> Assignment Gas Components. The Excel
example "12 Conversion of gas analyses" (see also chapter 3) also helps with the assignment.

Figure 11: Calling the help file

Figure 12: Calling up the Excel example file 12-Conversion of Gas Analyses

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Figure 13: Results of the combustion calculation

Figure 14: Result of the GERG 2008 with phase diagram

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2.4 Reporting
First select the calculation method and then click on "Report -> Print". The report is generated
and can either be printed or saved as a file (pdf and xls). The reports differ depending on the
selected calculation method.

Figure 15: Generate report / Call via menu bar

Figure 16: Print Preview Report, Print and Save Selection

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To generate a report with results from different methods, select "Extended calculation" in
the Explorer menu (see also p. 6).

Figure 17: Calculation results from different modules with "Extended Calculation

Then the following selection window appears under the menu item "Report -> Print":

Figure 18: Configuration for printing from several modules

Here you can configure the structure of the report. The "To report" button takes you to your
report.
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3 GasCalc Excel-Add-In

3.1 Activating the Excel Add-In

In order to use the calculation modules of GasCalc in Excel, you must activate the Excel add-
in.

Figure 19: Activating the Excel Add-In

The additional entry GasCalc now appears in the Excel menu item "Add-Ins". This means that
more than 100 new functions are now available in Excel.

Figure 20: GasCalc functions in Excel

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3.1.1 Overview of Functions

A list of all functions available in Excel is given in Chapter 5. The list can also be called up in
GasCalc under the menu item "Help -> Help -> Function overview".

The function names x_y generally consist of a module identifier x (e.g. gas for gas properties)
and a function identifier y (e.g. M for molar mass).

The Gas_M function has a gas analysis array of 58 components as input variable. You can as-
sign the input components in Excel as usual by editing the function line.

3.2 Excel Excample Files

GasCalc comes with numerous prepared Excel files with fully editable calculation examples.
You can access the Excel examples via "Excel" on the menu bar (Figure 17) or directly from the
GasCalc installation directory (C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Programs\GasCalc2.7\Exam-
ples\DE\).

3.3 Explanations of the Examples

To facilitate the use of GasCalc in Excel, examples have been created for all calculations. The
file "Example 01 Gas properties.xlsx" (Figure 19) explains how it works.

The file "Example 01 Gas properties.xlsx" (1)is opened with the sheet "Gas properties 2016
(T25_T0)" (2).

Details on the applied standard and reference conditions can be found in the top left-hand
corner (3).In this case the calculations are based on DIN EN ISO 6976 (edition 2016) and refer
to reference conditions of 25 °C for combustion (calorific value, calorific value, Wobbe) and 0
°C for volume.

The input variables can be edited in the upper section of the table (). In this case it is the gas
analysis, indicated with 21 components. The data are prefilled with orientation values for nat-
ural gases from the DVGW worksheet G260. Input data are always blue in the example files.

The calculation results are displayed in the lower part of the sheet ().

All functions of the "Gas properties" module are shown in the file sheets.

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1

Figure 21: Excel File: "Beispiel 01 Gaskennwerte.xslx"

3.4 Auxiliary Form

As an alternative to direct input in the function line, you can use the GasCalc form.

This form can be accessed via the menu Add-Ins -> GasCalc -> Calculations:

Figure 22: Menu bar

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The form is filled with the functions of the respective calculation method after the desired
function has been selected:

Figure 23: Select GasCalc function

A cell in the Excel worksheet that is already filled with a calculation function can also be ac-
cessed via the menu "Add-Ins -> GasCalc -> Calculations".

This is particularly useful for complex functions with several input parameters.

2 3 4 5

Figure 24: Function arguments

Explanations:
 function name
 The parameters belonging to the function selected under 1 are listed below each other.
They can be filled with values, cell references or a combination of cell reference and
subsequent conversion.
 You have the following input options in the input fields under 3:
- Values: (22,6)

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- Cell references: ($D$4)

- Cell reference + simple conversion: ($D$4) / 10.
 Select a cell Range

Figure 25: Select cell range

 The result of the parameter calculation defined under 3 is displayed here.

Note: The option to combine cell reference with conversion can be used advantageously if a
calculation parameter is available in a unit other than the required unit. In this way, the re-
quired conversion can be carried out directly.

You must first select the cell reference (see below) and then complete the conversion in the
input field under 3. The following example shows the pressure P in [bar] and the temperature
T in [°C].

Figure 26: Cell reference with conversion

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4 Further Information
File name Where to find Description
1_User_manual_EN.pdf Help -> Help -> User manual this document
2_Functional_survey_EN.pdf Help -> Help -> Functional All function names (Excel)
survey with reference to the source
(see literature)
3_Application_range_EN.pdf Help -> Help -> Application Scope and accuracy for any
range size (by module)
4_Assignment_gas_compo- Help -> Help-> Allocation of Mandatory assignment of
nents_EN.pdf gas components components that are no in-
put variable.
Literature Help/Literature

List of the standards and

publications on which the
calculations are based.
Change of Units Units „MPa / K“ or „bar / °C)

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5 List of Excel Examples

File Sheets Name Note
Example 01 Gas Gas properties Gas properties according to ISO Reference conditions: (Combustion: 298,15K / Volume: 273,15K)
Properties (T293_T273) 6976 (2016)
Gas properties Gas properties 2016 Reference conditions: (Combustion: 288,15K / Volume: 288,15K)
(T288_T288) (T288_T288)
Gas properties Gas properties according to ISO Reference conditions: (variable temperatures and pressure)
(T_var) 6976 (2016)
Example 02 Com- Combustion Combustion
bustion
Example 03 CO2 CO2(simplified) CO2 emission factor Calculation based on gas quality properties
Emission factor CO2(composition) CO2 emission factor Calculation based on gas analysis
Example 04 Me- MN (EN 16726) Methane Number Calculated according to EN 16726
thane Number
Example 05 SGERG SGERG (simplified) SGERG equation ISO 12213-3 /(Symplified analysis)
SGERG (full analy- SGERG equation ISO 12213-3 / (full analysis, input properties for SGERG are calculated according
sis) to ISO6976)
Example 06 AGA8 AGA8 AGA8-Gleichung ISO 12213-2 / ISO 20765-1
Example 07 homogeneous Thermodynamic properties ac- Homogeneous phase (gas or liquid) / ISO 20765-2
GERG2008 phase cording to GERG2008-Glei-
chung
2-Phase region Thermodynamic properties ac- 2 Phase region (flash calculation) / ISO 20765-3
(flash) cording to GERG2008-Glei-
chung

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phase boundary Thermodynamic properties ac- Phase boundary / ISO 20765-3

cording to GERG2008-Glei-
chung
Example 08 GWater(1) Calculation of H2O concentra- ISO 18453
GWater tion and water dew point ac-
cording to GERG Water
GWater(2) Calculation of H2O concentra- ISO 18453
tion according to GERG Water
GWater(3) Calculation of dew point tem- ISO 18453
perature according to GERG
Water
Example 09 Transport Proper- Transport Properties
Transport Proper- ties
ties
Example 10 Com- Compress A Compressor calculation - case A AGA8 equation ISO 20765-1
pressor (measurement)
Compress B Compressor calculation - case B AGA8 equation ISO 20765-1
(planning)
Compress C Compressor calculation - case C AGA8 equation ISO 20765-1
(control)
Example 11 Heater Heater Calculation of natural gas fired AGA8 equation ISO 20765-1
pre-heater (before pressure re-
duction)
Example 12 Con- Assignment from Conversion of gas analyses (ISO Assignment from 58 to 21 components
version of Gas Anal- 58 to 21 comp. 6976/ISO 14912)
yses Conversion from Conversion of gas analyses (ISO Conversion from mol% to further units
mol% 6976/ISO 14912)

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Conversion from Conversion of gas analyses (ISO Conversion from vol% to mol%
vol% 6976/ISO 14912)
Conversion from Conversion of gas analyses (ISO Conversion from mas% to vol%
mas% 6976/ISO 14912)
Example 13 K factor K factor correctionCorrection of gas law deviation On the basis of monthly gas quality properties
correction(G486) (month) factor according to DVGW code
G486
K factor correction Correction of gas law deviation On the basis of daily gas quality properties
(day) factor according to DVGW code
G486
SGERG vs AGA8 Comparison of gas law devia- ISO 12213-2 / ISO 12213-3
tion factor, SGERG vs AGA8
Example 14 Mixing Mixing of 2 Gases Mixing of 2 Gases
of 2 Gases
Example 15 Orifice Orifice Volume measurement with ori- ISO 5169 / ISO 20765-1
Plate fice plates
Example 16 LNG LNG Transport LNG Transportation ISO 20765-2/3
Transport

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