Episode 2
GAS TREATMENT
Natural gas extracted from the well is mainly composed of methane but may also contain impurities such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons and even water. H2S and CO2, commonly known as sour gases, have a corrosive effect on gas pipelines and processing equipment, as well as being toxic to humans.
They can also freeze during the liquefaction process, forming solid particles that will clog the pipes and process equipment. For the same reason, water must also be removed.
Unwanted substances extracted from natural gas provide valuable components for other industries.
Even if these components are unwanted in the further processing of natural gas, they provide a value to other industries. The following listing represents in examples, how components of raw gas can be used:
NITROGEN
Refrigerant
Inert Gas
PROPANE
Fuel
Refrigerant
HELIUM
Welding
Medical Applications
CHLORINE
Sanitation
Disinfection
CARBON DIOXIDE
Food & Beverages
Inert Gas
ETHANE
Plastics
Anti-Freeze
HYDROGEN SULFIDE
Fertilizers
(Converted to sulphur)
BUTANE
Fuel Canisters
Lighters
METHAN ETHIOL
Animal Feed
Pesticides
METHANE
Natural Gas
GAS SWEETENING
Sour gases are removed first from natural gas to make it suitable for transport and sale. Called gas sweetening, the process involves extracting the gases with aqueous solutions called amines.
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Monoethanolamine (MEA) are the most commonly used. Gas sweetening is a three-step process: absorption, regeneration and recycling.
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Flash Drum and Reflux Drum
A flash drum is a vapor liquid separator which is used to reduce the pressure before the rich amine is fed into the regenerator/stripper. The pressure drop – or flash – causes some of the components to evaporate.
Note: This diagram illustrates the principles of the sweetening process only. Plants usually consist of several absorbers connected to one large stripper
WHITEPAPER: REIMAGINING
THE REBOILER
A reboiler is a heat exchanger located at the bottom of a distillation column, stripping column or reactor. It provides heat (in the form of vapour) to the column. Liquid from the bottom of the column flows over the reboiler, taking up heat from the heating medium, such as steam, which is flowing on the other side of the reboiler. The liquid from the column will be partially or completely vaporised and returned to the column. The reboiler is most often heated by steam, but commercial heat transfer fluids or recirculated process streams are also used.
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DEHYDRATION
Sweetened natural gas has to be dehydrated to extract water and other hydrocarbons which would otherwise lead to corrosion of the pipes and other equipment. The method depends on the way the gas will be transported.
If it is to be liquefied, the temperature swing adsorption process is used as this process can bring down the hydrate content to less than 1 ppm. Gas sent by pipeline is dehydrated by the triethylene glycol process.
Temperature Swing Adsorption
Dry Gas
Adsorber
Hydrocarbon & Water
Sweet Gas from AGRU
Shell & Tube Process
K°Bond
K°Bond
Air Fin Cooler
This is a two-step process of dehydration and adsorber dehydration.
Triethylene Glycol Process
Glycol Contactor
Glycol Regenerator
Wet Feed Gas
Flash Gas
Flash Drum
Skim Oil
Rich Glycol
Glycol Pump
Water Vapor
Acid Gas
Lean Glycol
Dry Gas
Water / Sea Water
K°Bloc
GPHE
Air Cooler
Lean Cooler
K°Bloc
Reboiler
K°Bloc
Lean | Rich
Interchanger
K°Bloc
Condenser
Most natural gas producers use triethylene glycol (TEG) to remove water from the gas stream to comply with pipeline quality standards.
OUR SOLUTIONS FOR GAS TREATMENT
K°Bloc | Welded Plate
Heat Exchanger
K°Bond | Diffusion Bonded Heat Exchanger
Shell & Tube
Process
Air
Fin Cooler
Service
