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    LNG Dehydration

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    mctimlim
    Natural gas is commonly dehydrated using one of three main methods: absorption, adsorption, or refrigeration. Absorption uses glycols like TEG or MEG to absorb water in a countercurrent contact tower. Adsorption uses desiccants like silica gel, molecular sieves, or activated alumina to adsorb water vapor from the gas stream onto a solid surface. Refrigeration condenses water out of the gas by cooling it below the water vapor dew point using refrigerants like propane or ammonia. Each method has advantages and limitations depending on the required outlet water content and applications like pipeline transport or LNG production.

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    LNG Dehydration

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    mctimlim
    548 views17 pages
    Natural gas is commonly dehydrated using one of three main methods: absorption, adsorption, or refrigeration. Absorption uses glycols like TEG or MEG to absorb water in a countercurrent contact tower. Adsorption uses desiccants like silica gel, molecular sieves, or activated alumina to adsorb water vapor from the gas stream onto a solid surface. Refrigeration condenses water out of the gas by cooling it below the water vapor dew point using refrigerants like propane or ammonia. Each method has advantages and limitations depending on the required outlet water content and applications like pipeline transport or LNG production.

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    Natural gas is commonly dehydrated using one of three main methods: absorption, adsorption, or refrigeration. Absorption uses glycols like TEG or MEG to absorb water in a countercurrent contact tower. Adsorption uses desiccants like silica gel, molecular sieves, or activated alumina to adsorb water vapor from the gas stream onto a solid surface. Refrigeration condenses water out of the gas by cooling it below the water vapor dew point using refrigerants like propane or ammonia. Each method has advantages and limitations depending on the required outlet water content and applications like pipeline transport or LNG production.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    548 views17 pages

    LNG Dehydration

    Uploaded by

    mctimlim
    Natural gas is commonly dehydrated using one of three main methods: absorption, adsorption, or refrigeration. Absorption uses glycols like TEG or MEG to absorb water in a countercurrent contact tower. Adsorption uses desiccants like silica gel, molecular sieves, or activated alumina to adsorb water vapor from the gas stream onto a solid surface. Refrigeration condenses water out of the gas by cooling it below the water vapor dew point using refrigerants like propane or ammonia. Each method has advantages and limitations depending on the required outlet water content and applications like pipeline transport or LNG production.

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    of 17

    LNG Dehydration(Drying of Natural Gas)

    Absorption and refrigeration with hydrate inhibition is the most common dehydration process used to meet pipeline sales specifications. TEG i most common i absorption systems is t in b ti t MEG is most common in glycol injection systems Adsorption processes are used to obtain very low water contents required in low temperature processes, for example LNG

    Natural gas is commercially dehydrated in one of three ways; 1. Ab 1 Absorption (Gl ti (Glycol d h d ti ) l dehydration) 2. Adsorption (Molecular Sieve, Silica Gel, or Activated Alumina) 3. Condensation (cooling) (Refrigeration with Glycol or Methanol injection)

    Application Guideline MAP


    General process application selection is outlined on the map below The below. axes are water content in the wet gas, in lb/MMSCF and dry gas dew point, in F.

    Absorption Dehydration by Glycol


    Natural N t l gas i d i d b absorption, often i a countercurrent is dried by b ti ft in t t scrubbing unit. A liquid having a strong affinity for water is used as an absorbent. A good absorbent should have; 1. Strong affinity for water 2. Low cost 3. 3 Non corrosive 4. Low affinity for hydrocarbons and acid gases 5. Thermal stability 6. 6 Easy regeneration 7. Low viscosity 8. Low vapor pressure at the contact temperature 9. Low tendency to foam Four glycols are used for dehydration and/or inhibition; 1. 2. 3. 4. 4 Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) also called ethylene glycol (EG) Diethylene glycol (DEG) Triethylene glycol (TEG) Tetraetylhene glycol (T4EG) T t t lh l l

    Basic glycol dehydration unit

    Simplified flow diagram for a glycol dehydration unit. from the GPSA Engineering Data Book, 12th ed.

    The glycol dehydration unit Wet gas ( g (no liquid water) enter bottom of absorber and flows countercurrent q ) to the glycol. Lean glycol enters at the top

    Absorber internal Tray Bubble cap Valve Sieve Packing Berl Saddle, Raschig Ring Reactor One, two pass trays Bubble Cap Bearl Saddle Valve tray Sieve tray Bubble Cap tray

    Glycol Absorption Unit


    Pros P
    Low initial cost Low pressure drop across absorption towers Recharging of towers present no problems Materials that would cause fouling of some solid adsorbents can be tolerated in the contactor

    Cons Suspended matter, such as dirt, scale, and iron oxide may contaminate glycol solutions Overheating of solutions may produce both low and high boiling decomposition products The resultant sludge may collect on heating surfaces, causing some loss in efficiency, or, in severe cases, complete flow stoppage When both oxygen and hydrogen sulfide is present, corrosion may become a h b h dh d lfid i i b problem because of the formation of acid material in the glycol solution Liquids such as water, light hydrocarbons or lubrication oils in inlet gas may require installation of an efficient separator ahead of the absorber Highly mineralized water absorber. entering the system with inlet gas may, over long periods crystallize and fill the reboiler with solid salts Foaming of solution may occur with a resultant carry-over of liquid. The addition of a small quantity of antifoam compound usually remedies this problem ll i f if d ll di hi bl

    Dehydration by Adsorption
    Adsorption describes any process where gas molecules are held on the surface of a solid by surface forces. Adsorbents may be divided into two classes. Species is adsorbed due to physisorption and capillary condensation p p y p p y Species is adsorbed due to chemisorption (not much used in natural gas processing) A sorbent must have the following properties; 1. High adsorption capacity at equilibrium 2. A microporous structure which affords a very large specific surface. 3. Easily and economically regenerated 4. F 4 Fast adsorption kinetics d i ki i 5. Low pressure drop 6. High cyclic stability (kinetic and capacity) 7. N i ifi 7 No significant volume change t l h (swelling shrinking)

    Adsorption of water by a solid desiccant


    Adsorption i purely a surface Ad ti is l f phenomenon molecules from the gas are held on the surface of a solid by surface forces function of operating temperature (as T) and pressure ( as P) In NG industry a solid desiccant is used to remove water vapor f d from a gas stream

    The commercial available sorbents can be divided into three broad categories: Silica Sili gel (G l t l (Gel type) : )
    Outlet gas water content down to 10 ppm (v/v) and dew point -60 oC can be achieved. Regenerated between 120 and 200 oC. It adsorbs hydrocarbons, which are desorbed during regeneration. Silica gel is destroyed by free water which causes the granules to burst, and react with bases.
    A granular amorphous solid (silica gel (SiO2)) l h lid ili l SiO

    drying off part of the hydrated water adsorbed on the surface. Outlet gas water content <1 ppm (v/v) outlet dew point -73 C can be achieved. (v/v), 73 achieved Heavy hydrocarbons are adsorbed but can not be desorbed during regeneration.

    Activated alumina Al2O3 : Hydrated form of aluminum oxide Al2O3, activated by

    to natural clays. Outlet gas water content down to 0.03 ppm (v/v) , outlet dew point -100 oC. Water is adsorbed in a micro porous structure. The presence of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS2) should be avoided. avoided The adsorbent must be replaced frequently (about every three year). The water content in the feed must be low.

    Molecular sieves (Zeolites) : Alkali metal crystalline aluminosilicates, very similar

    Typical types of adsorbents

    An Open Cycle Molecular Sieve Dehydration System

    Flow sheet of a basic two tower adsorption system with regeneration

    Desiccant Dehydrator Schematic


    Filler Hatch Maximum Desiccant Level Minimum Desiccant Level Drying Bed Support Grid
    Brine
    Dry Sales Gas

    Desiccant Tablets

    Inlet Wet Gas

    Drain Valve

    Dehydration by Adsorption
    Advantages of Molecular Sieves:
    Very low dew point and water content can be obtained Best it d for large volumes of gas under very hi h pressure B t suited f l l f d high Dehydration of very small quantities of natural gas at low cost Insensitive to moderate changes in gas temperature, flow rate, and p pressure. They are relatively free from problems of corrosion, foaming, etc. Some types can be used for simultaneous dehydration and sweetening The most expansive adsorbents The regeneration temperature is very high (operating cost). g p y g p g Pressure drop is too high High space and weight required Mechanical breaking and contamination of liquid, oil and glycol are possible

    Disadvantages of Molecular Sieves

    Dehydration by cooling(Refrigeration system)


    A refrigeration system lowers the temperature of a fluid or gas below that possible when using air or water at ambient conditions. Refrigeration systems are used for Removing of water Chilling natural gas for NGL extraction Chilling natural gas for hydrocarbon dew-point control LPG product storage Natural gas liquefaction (LNG) Refrigeration processes: g Mechanical refrigeration Compression (uses energy in form of work to pump heat) Absorption (use energy in form of heat to pump heat, ammonia systems) Expansion refrigeration Valve expansion (Joule Thompson) Turbine expansion (Turbo expander)

    Natural gas liquid fractions as a function of temperature at atmospheric pressure

    Compression refrigeration
    Compression refrigerating is the most common mechanical refrigeration process. It has a wide range of applications in the gas process industry: Drying of natural gas Chilling natural gas for NGL extraction Chilling natural gas for h d Chilli l f hydrocarbon d b dewpoint control i l Chilling the LPG product storage Natural gas liquefaction Refrigerant The ideal refrigerant: Is nontoxic, noncorrosive Has physical properties compatible with system needs h i l i ibl ih d (vaporize and condense at system achievable temperatures and pressures) High latent heat of vaporization Chiller t Chill temperatures >-40 C propane, ammonia or R-22 are typical t 40 i R 22 t i l choices At cryogenic conditions, ethylene, nitrogen and methane might be used Typical operating problems: Loss of refrigerant g g properties) Contamination of refrigerant (change of p p Fouling on heat transfer surfaces

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