Odorisatie

Odorisatie, or odorization, is the process of adding an odorant to a gas, typically natural gas, to give it a distinctive, detectable smell. The main purpose is safety: to enable the quick detection of leaks by people and detectors, reducing the risk of fire or asphyxiation.

Odorants commonly used are sulfur-containing compounds such as tert-butyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, and tert-amyl mercaptan. These substances have low odor thresholds, meaning very small concentrations are detectable by smell. In some regions a blended odorant mixture is used, and occasionally additional odorants such as dimethyl sulfide may be present. The specific odorant choice and the target concentration are set by national or regional regulations and by pipeline operators to suit gas composition and operating conditions.

The odorization process is carried out with dedicated equipment at gas installation points or in odorization skids. These systems include storage tanks for odorant, metering pumps or flow-controlled injectors, and mixing arrangements to ensure uniform dispersion of odorant in the gas stream. Dosing can be proportional to gas flow, ensuring a stable odor level across different operating conditions.

Online monitoring devices and periodic odor tests verify that the odorant concentration remains within the approved range.

Regulatory and safety considerations address toxicity and handling of odorants, materials compatibility, and environmental impact. Odorization must balance adequate leak detectability with minimizing odor nuisance and avoiding odor fatigue.