Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
2das Jornadas Tcnicas Sobre Acondicionamiento del Gas Natural 30 de Septiembre al 3 de Octubre de 2008 El Calafate, Argentina
Topics of Presentation
General history and overview of fundamental models
refer to paper and references in papers for more details
Case Studies
Important considerations or ideas for designing or optimizing an amine plant
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Improved simulation model are developed as solvent technologies evolve and amine plant become more complex.
MEA DEA Specialty Amine
TEA
DGA
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
MDEA
DIPA
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Syngas
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Definitions
Vapor Liquid Equilibrium (VLE)
Defines the solution chemistry / chemical species present model determines the maximum limit of H2S and CO2 absorbed
Reaction Rates
Defines how quickly H2S and CO2 are absorbed H2S react instantaneously with amines and CO2 react at various rates depending on type of amine.
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H2S + Amine
AmH + + HS -
AmH + + HCO3
Note: Heat is generated by the reaction of the acid gas with the amine. Conversely, heat is required to free the acid gas from solution.
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(eq. 2)
(eq. 3)
(eq. 4)
(eq. 5)
(eq. 6)
(eq. 7)
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The equations governing chemical equilibria for equations 1 to 7 may be written as: K = 4i (xi Ki )Ri (eq. 8)
where, K is the equilibrium constant xi is the mole fraction of species i Ki is the activity coefficient of species i Ri is the stoichiometric coefficient
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(eq 8)
NI = transfer rate Ei = enhancement factor (accounts for chemical reaction) ki,L = Mass transfer coefficient a = interfacial area yi interface= acid gas conc. at interface (from Henrys law) yi bulk = acid gas conc. in bulk (from VLE)
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Mass Transfer Rate-based simulation has been used and refined over the last 20+ years by the GAS/SPEC group Available in certain simulators such as
GAS/SPEC APS Simulator (proprietary simulation program) Commercially available ProTreat Simulator (Optimized Gas Treating Inc.)
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Tray Efficiency
Properties
Mass Transfer (Tower internals) Reaction Kinetics Simulation Material Balance Phase Equilibrium Properties
ProTreat Actual
Temperature (F)
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Difficult to locate exact temperature and composition of feeds and side draws
Stage 1
Feed
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Feed
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Case Studies
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Case Study 1
High pressure coal bed methane gas
requires CO2 removal only plant have ability to treat a portion of the natural gas and blend to meet 3 mol% CO2 spec
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TREATED GAS REFLUX CONDENSER LEAN AMINE REFLUX ACCUMULATOR REGEN ABSORBER FILTER TRAIN FEED AMINE COOLER REBOILER RICH AMINE LEAN /RICH CROSS-EXCHANGER
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227 40 48
186 43 48
227 39 48
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Solvent Rate (m3/h) Gas Rate (Nm3/h) Treated Gas Measured CO2 (mol%) Predicted CO2 (mol%) Lean Amine Actual mol/mol Predicted mol/mol Rich Amine Predicted mol/mol
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Solvent Rate (m3/h) Gas Rate (Nm3/h) Treated Gas Measured CO2 (mol%) Predicted CO2 (mol%) Lean Amine Actual mol/mol Predicted mol/mol Rich Amine Predicted mol/mol
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Test 2 - Absorber
21 19 17 15 Tray Number 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 38
Test 3 - Absorber
21 19 17 15 13 Tray Number 11 9 7 5 3 1 38
49 60 71 Temperature (C)
82
49 60 Temperature (C)
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GAS/SPEC technical service engineers use these temperature scans of towers to troubleshoot amine plant. This is a method to monitor performance
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Pipeline Max
500000 Gas Flow, Nm3/h 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 Inlet CO2, mol%
Treated Bypassed Combined
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Pipeline Max
Combined
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Flow to Absorber (Nm3/h) Inlet CO2, mol% Outlet CO2, mol% Amine Flow, Nm3/h Max Total Gas Capacity (Nm3/h)
\ Currently
446400
502200 \
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Conclusions - Case 1
Demonstrates use of simulation tool to
accurately predict temperature and CO2 in the column. identify opportunities for optimization of existing plant make decision on how to best utilize assets for present and future treating conditions
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Case Study 2
Offshore natural gas application
H2S and CO2 removal
Simulations used to
design original plant modify plant to adapt to changing process conditions
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TREATED GAS REFLUX CONDENSER LEAN AMINE REFLUX ACCUMULATOR REGEN ABSORBER FILTER TRAIN FEED AMINE COOLER REBOILER RICH AMINE LEAN /RICH CROSS-EXCHANGER
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Gas Flow (Nm3/h) Feed Tray from Top MDEA Conc. (wt% ) Circulation Rate (m3/h) Treated Gas CO2 (mol%) H2S (ppmv)
Lean Loadings / Rich Loadings H2S (mol/mol) 0.0002 / 0.13 CO2 (mol/mol) 0.005 / 0.23
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Scenario 1
30 trays 279000 Nm3/h 340 m3/h of 50wt% MDEA Reboiler Duty = 0.57 X CO2 Out = 0.59 mol% 19 trays 279000 Nm3/h 340 m3/h of 50 wt% MDEA Reboiler Duty = 0.57X CO2 Out = 0.99 mol%
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Alternative Cases
Design Rate 502200 30 50% 545 0.92 < 1 ppm 0.0002 0.005 0.13 0.23 X Simulation Scenario 1 279000 30 50% 341 0.59 <1 ppm 0.0002 0.005 0.11 0.23 0.57 X Simulation Scenario 2 279000 19 50% 341 0.99 < 1 ppm 0.0002 0.005 0.11 0.20 0.57 X
Gas Flow (Nm3/h) Feed Tray from Top MDEA Conc. (wt% ) Lean Amine (m3/h) Treated Gas CO2 (mol%) H2S (ppmv) Lean Loadings H2S (mol/mol) CO2 (mol/mol) Rich Loadings H2S (mol/mol) CO2 (mol/mol) Reboiler Duty
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Outcome of Simulations
Feed points added to trays 30, 24, 19 to allow for flexibility under changing conditions
Tray 30 ABSORBER Tray 24 Tray 19 Feed
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Prior to Startup
Plant needed lower CO2 level
Minimize corrosion in downstream pipeline Old spec 1% CO2 ; New spec 1000 ppmv CO2
Customer decide to proceed startup with MDEA and then upgrade to a specialty solvent.
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After Startup
After startup, the plant experienced foaming Plant had difficulty treating at high capacity Not making the 1% CO2 spec with MDEA Problem was caused by
Hydrocarbon coming into the plant High amine flow and high tray count required by MDEA seem to worsen foaming problem
operate with only 19 trays over-circulate to keep the CO2 level down
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Conclusions - Case 2
Ideally want to design a plant with fewer trays and higher rich loadings
to reduce capital cost to minimize hydrocarbon absorption
Simulation used to determined alternative feed points to improve plant flexibility Simulations helped adapt plant to new treating requirements with a specialty solvent
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Case Study 3
Natural gas plant plant faced with rising CO2 composition
Originally 7.8 mol% CO2 is now over 10%
Plant operation was unstable because high outlet CO2 caused coldbox to freeze Goal is to increase capacity and stabilize plant operations
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82 48 50
79 to 81 81
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82 48 50
79 to 81 81
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10
100
1000
10000
100000
0.00
1 3 5 7 Tray # (Top down) 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
36800 Nm3/h 35700 Nm3/h 34600 Nm3/h
0.45
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Outcome - Case 3
Plant personnel confirmed maximum rate of 34600 Nm3/h Client considering upgrading pumps and exchangers in order to increase/maintain capacity as inlet CO2 rises
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Conclusions - Case 3
MT Rate based simulation gave insight on effect of gas rate on treat and temperature profile Allows plant to make informed decisions for future
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Conclusions
Discussed the advantages of Mass Transfer Rate Based Simulation over other simulation methods Case studies have shown
accuracy of column temperature/composition prediction effect of mass transfer (tray count) on performance how to use simulator to design/modify in changing conditions the importance in considering temperature effects
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Acknowledgement
Ulises Cruz - INEOS Andy Sargent - INEOS Ralph Weiland - Optimized Gas Treating, Inc.
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QUESTIONS?
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