Rate-Based Model of the

CO2 Capture Process by

DEA+MDEA Aqueous
Solution using Aspen
HYSYS

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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................2
1 Components .........................................................................................................3
2 Physical Properties ...............................................................................................4
4 Reactions ...........................................................................................................16
5 Simulation Approach ..........................................................................................20
6 Simulation Results .............................................................................................24
References ............................................................................................................25

Contents

Introduction

The supplied HYSYS case CO2+H2S Capture Using DEA+MDEA.hsc

illustrates the use of rigorous rate-based distillation to accurately model CO2
capture by a mixed DEA and MDEA aqueous solution from a gas mixture of
CO2, CH4, C2H6, C3H8, n-C4H10, i-C4H10, n-C5H12 and N2. The actual field
performance data for an operating column from Weiland (2001)[1] were used
to specify feed conditions and specifications for the absorber.
Key features of this rigorous simulation include electrolyte thermodynamics
and solution chemistry, reaction kinetics for the liquid phase reactions,
rigorous transport property modeling, rate-based multi-stage simulation with
Aspen Rate-Based Distillation which incorporates heat and mass transfer
correlations accounting for columns specifics and hydraulics.
The model is meant to be used as a guide for modeling the CO 2 capture
process with DEA+MDEA. It may be used as a starting point for more
sophisticated models for process development, debottlenecking, plant and
equipment design, among others.

Introduction

1 Components

The following components represent the chemical species present in the

process:

Table 1. Components Used in the Model

1 Components

ID

Type

Name

Formula

DEA

Conventional

DIETHANOLAMINE

C4H11NO2-1

H2O

Conventional

WATER

H2O

CO2

Conventional

CARBON-DIOXIDE

CO2

H2S

Conventional

HYDROGEN-SULFIDE

H2S

H3O+

Conventional

H3O+

H3O+

OH-

Conventional

OH-

OH-

HCO3-

Conventional

HCO3-

HCO3-

CO3-2

Conventional

CO3--

CO3-2

DEAH+

Conventional

DEA+

C4H12NO2+

DEACOO-

Conventional

DEACOO-

C5H10NO4-

HS-

Conventional

HS-

HS-

S-2

Conventional

S--

S-2

MDEA

Conventional

METHYL-DIETHANOLAMINE

C5H13NO2

MDEAH+

Conventional

MDEA+

C5H14NO2+

CH4

Conventional

METHANE

CH4

C2H6

Conventional

ETHANE

C2H6

C3H8

Conventional

PROPANE

C3H8

C4H10-01

Conventional

N-BUTANE

C4H10-1

C4H10-02

Conventional

ISOBUTANE

C4H10-2

C5H12-01

Conventional

N-PENTANE

C5H12-1

N2

Conventional

NITROGEN

N2

O2

Conventional

OXYGEN

O2

CO

Conventional

CARBON-MONOXIDE

CO

H2

Conventional

HYDROGEN

H2

2 Physical Properties

The physical properties for the simulation were configured using Aspen
Properties. A pre-configured Aspen Properties file (DEA+MDEA
Properties.aprbkp) has been provided. The details of the physical properties
configuration are provided below.
The electrolyte NRTL method is used for liquid and RK equation of state is
used for the vapor. The NRTL parameters were regressed against

CO2 solubility data in aqueous DEA solutions from Maddox et al. (1987,
1989)[6,7] for the sub-system CO2-DEA-H2O

CO2 solubility data in aqueous MDEA solutions from Jou et al. (1982,
1993)[8,9,10], Kuranov et al. (1996)[11] and Kamps et al. (2001)[12] for the
sub-system CO2-MDEA-H2O

CO2 solubility data in aqueous DEA+MDEA solutions from Benamor and

Aroua (2005)[13] for the mixed amine system CO2-DEA-MDEA-H2O system
on the basis of the NRTL parameters for the sub-systems CO2-DEA-H2O
and CO2-MDEA-H2O

H2S solubility data in aqueous DEA solutions from Barreau et al. (2006)[14]
and from Lawson and Garst (1976)[15] for the sub-system H2S-DEA-H2O

H2S solubility data in aqueous MDEA solutions from Kuranov et al.

(1996)[11] and Kamps et al. (2001)[12] for the sub-system H2S-MDEA-H2O

CO2, CH4, C2H6, C3H8, n-C4H10, i-C4H10, n-C5H12, N2, O2, CO and H2 are
selected as Henry-components to which Henrys law is applied. The Henrys
constants are retrieved from Aspen Properties databanks for these
components with water, except for those for n-C5H12 with H2O, which are
taken from NIST web database. For solvents MEA and MDEA, the Henrys
constants are obtained as follows:

For CO2 with DEA, regressed from CO2 solubility data[6,7] in aqueous DEA
solutions

For CO2 with MDEA, regressed from CO2 solubility data[8-12] in aqueous
MDEA solutions

For H2S with DEA, regressed from H2S solubility data[14,15] in aqueous DEA
solutions

For H2S with MDEA, regressed from H2S solubility data[11,12] in aqueous
MDEA solutions

However, we do not have any information to identify the Henrys constants

for the hydrocarbon species with DEA or MDEA. In the reactions calculations,

2 Physical Properties

the activity coefficient basis for the Henrys components (solutes) is chosen to
be Aqueous. Therefore, in calculating the unsymmetric activity coefficients
(GAMUS) of the solutes, the infinite dilution activity coefficients are calculated
based on infinite-dilution condition in pure water, instead of in mixed
solvents.
The liquid molar volume model and transport property models have been
validated for the sub-systems CO2-DEA-H2O and CO2-MDEA-H2O and model
parameters are regressed from literature experimental data[16-26] for these
two sub-systems. However, no data are found for the mixed amine system
loaded with CO2. And we did not check these properties of the DEA and/or
MDEA systems loaded with H2S. Specifications of the transport property
models include:

For liquid molar volume, the Clarke model, called VAQCLK in Aspen
Properties, is used with option code 1 to use the quadratic mixing rule for
solvents.
The interaction parameter VLQKIJ for the quadratic mixing rule between
DEA and H2O is regressed against experimental DEA-H2O density data
from Maham et al. (1994)[16], and VLQKIJ between MDEA and H2O is
regressed against experimental MDEA-H2O density data from BernalGarcia et al. (2003)[17].
The Clarke model parameter VLCLK/1 is also regressed for main

electrolytes (DEAH+, HCO 3 ), (DEAH+, DEACOO ) and (DEAH+, CO 3 )

against experimental density data of the CO2-DEA-H2O system from

Weiland (1998)[18] and for (MDEAH+, HCO 3 ) and (MDEAH+, CO 3 ) against

experimental density data of the CO2-MDEA-H2O system from Weiland
(1998)[18]

For liquid viscosity, the Jones-Dole electrolyte correction model, called

MUL2JONS in Aspen Properties, is used with the mass fraction based
ASPEN liquid mixture viscosity model for the solvent. There are three
models for electrolyte correction and the DEA+MDEA model always uses
the Jones-Dole correction model. The three option codes for MUL2JONS
are set to 1 (mixture viscosity weighted by mass fraction), 1 (always use
Jones and Dole equation when the parameters are available), and 2
(ASPEN liquid mixture viscosity model), respectively.
The interaction parameters between DEA and H2O in the ASPEN liquid
mixture viscosity model, MUKIJ and MULIJ, are regressed against
experimental DEA-H2O viscosity data from Oyevaar(1989)[19], Rinker et al.
(1994)[20], Hsu and Li (1997)[21], Weiland (1998)[18], and Mandal et al.
(2003)[22]. MUKIJ and MULIJ between MDEA and H2O are regressed
against experimental viscosity data of the MDEA-H2O system from Teng et
al. (1994)[23].
The Jones-Dole model parameters, IONMUB, for DEAH+ and DEACOO- are
regressed against CO2-DEA-H2O viscosity data from Weiland (1998)[18];
for MDEAH+, is regressed against CO2-MDEA-H2O viscosity data from
2

Weiland (1998)[18]; for CO 3 , is regressed against K2CO3-H2O viscosity

data from Pac et al. (1984)[24]; and for HCO3-, is regressed against KHCO3H2O viscosity data from Palaty (1992)[25].

For liquid surface tension, the Onsager-Samaras model, called SIG2ONSG

in Aspen Properties, is used with its option codes being -9 (exponent in

2 Physical Properties

mixing rule) and 1 (electrolyte system), respectively. Predictions for the

sub-systems CO2-DEA-H2O and CO2-MDEA-H2O are within the range of the
experimental data from Weiland (1996)[26].

For thermal conductivity, the Riedel electrolyte correction model, called

KL2RDL in Aspen Properties, is used.

For binary diffusivity, the Nernst-Hartley model, called DL0NST in Aspen

Plus, is used with option code of 1 (mixture viscosity weighted by mass
fraction).

In addition to the updates with the above transport properties, heat capacity
at infinite dilution (CPAQ0) for MDEAH+, DEAH+ and DEACOO- are adjusted to
fit to heat capacity data from Weiland (1996)[26].
The aqueous phase heat of formation at infinite dilution and 25C (DHAQFM)
for DEAH+ and DEACOO- are adjusted to fit to the literature heat of solution
data from Carson et al. (2000)[27] of the sub-system CO2-DEA-H2O. For
MDEAH+, the databank value for DHAQFM is -5.0471 x108J/kmol, which
results in heat of solution predictions for the sub-system CO2-MDEA-H2O as
shown in Figure 6b-1 together with the data from Carson et al. (2000)[27].
However, to match the temperature profile data of an plant absorber for CO 2
capture by aqueous MDEA solutions[28], its found that a value of -5.0
x108J/kmol for DHAQFM of MDEAH+ is better. This value is used in the
current simulation and results in heat of solution predictions as shown in
Figure 6b-2.
The estimation results of various transport and thermal properties are
summarized in Figures 1-8:

1200

EXP DEA
EXP DEA
EXP DEA
EXP DEA
EST DEA
EST DEA
EST DEA
EST DEA

1150

10w t%
20w t%
30w t%
40w t%
10w t%
20w t%
30w t%
40w t%

Density, kg/m3

1100

1050

1000

950

900
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

CO2 Loading, m ol/m ol

Figure 1a. Liquid Density of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1998)[18]

2 Physical Properties

1200

Density, kg/m3

1150
1100
1050
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA

1000
950

30w t%
40w t%
50w t%
60w t%
30w t%
40w t%
50w t%
60w t%

900
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

CO2 Loading, m ol/m ol

Figure 1b. Liquid Density of MDEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1998)[18]

Viscosity, mPaS

10

EXP DEA
EXP DEA
EXP DEA
EST DEA
EST DEA
EST DEA

20w t%
30w t%
40w t%
20w t%
30w t%
40w t%

0.1
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

CO2 Loading, m ol/m ol

Figure 2a. Liquid Viscosity of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1998)[18]

2 Physical Properties

Log(Viscosity, mPaS)

1000.00

EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA

100.00

30w t%
30w t%
40w t%
40w t%
50w t%
50w t%
60w t%
60w t%

10.00

1.00
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

CO2 Loading

Figure 2b. Liquid Viscosity of MDEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1998)[18]

100
90

Surface Tension, mN/m

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.00

EXP DEA
EST DEA
EXP DEA
EST DEA
EXP DEA
EST DEA
EXP DEA
EST DEA
0.10

10w t%
10w t%
20w t%
20w t%
30w t%
30w t%
40w t%
40w t%
0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

CO2 Loading, m ol/m ol

Figure 3a. Surface tension of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1996)[26]

2 Physical Properties

0.08

EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA

Surface Tension, N/m

0.07

30w t%
30w t%
40w t%
40w t%
50w t%
50w t%
60w t%
60w t%

0.06

0.05

0.04

0.03
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

CO2 Loading

Figure 3b. Surface tension of MDEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Weiland (1996)[26]

Thermal Conductivity, Watt/m-K

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2
DEA
DEA
DEA
DEA

0.1

10w t%
20w t%
30w t%
40w t%

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

CO2 Loading, mol/mol

Figure 4a. Liquid Thermal Conductivity of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K

2 Physical Properties

Thermal Conductivity, Watt/mK

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA

0.1
0.05

30w t%
40w t%
40w t%
60w t%

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

CO2 Loading, m ol/m ol

Figure 4b. Liquid Thermal Conductivity of MDEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K

Figure 5a. Liquid Heat Capacity of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental

data from Weiland (1996)[26]

10

2 Physical Properties

160

Heat Capacity, J/mol-K

140
120
100
80
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EXP MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA
EST MDEA

60
40
20

30w t%
40w t%
50w t%
60w t%
30w t%
40w t%
50w t%
60w t%

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

CO2 Loading

Figure 5b. Liquid Heat Capacity of MDEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental

data from Weiland (1996)[26]

Figure 6a. Heat of Solution of DEA-CO2-H2O at 298.15K, experimental data

from Carson et al. (2000)[27]

2 Physical Properties

11

Figure 6b-1. Heat of Solution of CO2 in MDEA-H2O using ASPEN databank

DHAQFM(MDEAH+) value (-5.0471E8J/kmol), experimental data from Carson
et al. (2000)[27]

Figure 6b-2. Heat of Solution of CO2 in MDEA-H2O using DHAQFM(MDEAH+)=5.0E8J/kmol, experimental data from Carson et al. (2000)[27]

12

2 Physical Properties

Figure 7a. CO2 partial pressure of DEA-CO2-H2O (DEA mass fraction = 0.20),
experimental data from Maddox et al. (1989)[7]

10000

CO2 Pressure, KPa

1000

100

EXP 310.9K
EST 310.9K
EXP 338.7K
EST 338.7K
EXP 388.7K
EST 388.7K

10

1
0.1

10

CO2 Loading

Figure 7b. CO2 Partial Pressure of MDEA-CO2-H2O (MDEA mass fraction =

0.20), experimental data from Maddox et al. (1987)[6]

2 Physical Properties

13

1000

CO2 Pressure, kPa

100

EXP 303K
EST 303K
EXP 313K
EST 313K
EXP 323K
EST 323K

10

0.1
0.01

0.1

CO2 Loading

Figure 7c. CO2 Partial Pressure of DEA-MDEA-CO2-H2O (MDEA 1m and DEA

1m), experimental data from Benamor and Aroua (2005)[13]

100000
10000

H2S Pressure, mmHg

1000
100
10
EXP 100F
EST 100F
EXP 150F
EST 150F
EXP 200F
EST 200F
EXP 250F
EST 250F

1
0.1
0.01
0.001
0.001

0.01

0.1

10

H2S Loading

Figure 8a. H2S partial pressure of DEA-H2S-H2O (DEA mass fraction = 0.25),
experimental data from Lawson and Garst (1976)[15].

14

2 Physical Properties

H2S Pressure, MPa

10

EXP 313.15K
EST 313.15K
EXP 333.15K
EST 333.15K
EXP 373.15K
EST 373.15K
EXP 393.15K
EST 393.15K
EXP 413.15K
EST 413.15K

0.1
1

10
m _H2S, m ol/kg

Figure 8b. H2S Partial Pressure of MDEA-H2S-H2O (MDEA molality = 4),

experimental data from Kuranov et al. (1996)[11]

2 Physical Properties

15

4 Reactions

DEA is a secondary ethanolamine, as shown in Figure 9. It can associate with

H+ to form an ion DEAH+, and can also react with CO2 to form a carbamate
ion DEACOO-.

Figure 9. DEA Molecular Structure

MDEA is a tertiary ethanolamine, as shown below in Figure 10. It can

associate with H+ to form MDEAH+ but can not react with CO2 to produce
carbamate as is the case for primary or secondary ethanolamines.

Figure 10. MDEA Molecular Structure

The electrolyte solution chemistry has been modeled in Aspen Properties (see
DEA+MDEA Properties.aprbkp) using the CHEMISTRY model DEAMDEA.
Chemical equilibrium is assumed with all the ionic reactions in the CHEMISTRY
DEAMDEA. Since the kinetics of CO2 absorption play an important role in
determining the extent of CO2 capture in the absorber, the assumption of
chemical equilibrium made in the Chemistry model is insufficient. A Reaction
Set called RDEAMDEA has been created in HYSYS to accurately model the
kinetics. In RDEAMDEA, all reactions are assumed to be in chemical
equilibrium except those of CO2 with OH-, CO2 with DEA and CO2 with MDEA.

A. Chemistry : DEAMDEA (Configured in Aspen Properties)

1

16

Equilibrium

2H 2 O H 3 O OH

4 Reactions

Equilibrium

CO 2 2H 2 O H 3 O HCO 3

Equilibrium

HCO 3 H 2 O H 3 O CO 32

Equilibrium

DEAH H 2 O DEA H 3 O

Equilibrium

DEACOO H 2 O DEA HCO 3

Equilibrium

H 2 O H 2S HS H 3 O

Equilibrium

H 2 O HS S2 H 3 O

Equilibrium

MDEAH H 2 O MDEA H 3 O

B. Reaction ID: RDEAMDEA (Configured in Aspen HYSYS)

R1 Equilibrium

DEAH H 2 O DEA H 3 O

R2 Equilibrium

2H 2 O H 3 O OH

R3 Equilibrium

HCO 3 H 2 O CO 32 H 3 O

R4 Equilibrium

MDEAH H 2 O MDEA H 3 O

R5 Equilibrium

H 2 O H 2S HS H 3 O

R6 Equilibrium

H 2 O HS S2 H 3 O

R7 Kinetic

CO 2 OH HCO 3

R8 Kinetic

HCO 3 CO 2 OH

R9 Kinetic

DEA CO 2 H 2 O DEACOO - H 3 O

R10 Kinetic

DEACOO - H 3 O DEA H 2 O CO 2

R11 Kinetic

MDEA CO 2 H 2 O MDEAH HCO 3-

R12 Kinetic

MDEAH HCO 3- MDEA CO 2 H 2 O

The equilibrium expressions for the reactions are taken from the work of
Austgen et al. (1988, 1991)[29,30] and Jou et al. (1982, 1993)[8,9, 10]. The
power law expressions (T0 not specified) are used for the rate-controlled
reactions (reactions R7-R12 in RDEAMDEA):

r kT n exp (

E N
a
) C i i
RT i 1

(1)

Where:
r = Rate of reaction;
k = Pre-exponential factor;
T = Absolute temperature;
n = Temperature exponent;

4 Reactions

17

E = Activation energy;
R = Universal gas constant;
N = Number of components in the reaction;
Ci = Concentration of component i;
ai = The stoichiometric coefficient of component i in the reaction equation.
In equation (1), the concentration basis is Molarity, the factor
and E are given in Table 2.

n is zero, k

Zhang (2002)[31] assumed that free DEA can transfer CO2 to MDEA and
regenerate by itself simultaneously:
(A)

DEA CO 2 DEA CO 2

(B)

DEA CO 2 MDEA MDEA CO 2 DEA

(C)

MDEA CO 2 H 2 O MDEAH HCO 3-

We combine these three reactions and obtain the following reaction:

(D)

MDEA CO 2 H 2 O MDEAH HCO 3-

Reaction (D) is used to represent the chemical equilibrium between MDEA and
CO2, and the following rate expression is used to represent the catalytic effect
of DEA on reaction (D):

r kT n exp (

E
)C MDEAC DEACCO2
RT

(2)

To implement the catalytic effect of DEA on reaction (D), we set the

stoichiometric coefficient of DEA to 0 and the concentration exponent of DEA
to 1 when we edit reactions R11 and R12 (Figure 11).

Figure 11a. Specifications of Reaction 11

18

4 Reactions

Figure 11b. Specifications of Reaction 12

The kinetic parameters for reactions R7, R9 and R11 in Table 2 are derived
from the work of Rinker et al. (1996)[3], Pinsent et al. (1956)[4], and
Ramachandran et al. (2006)[5]. The kinetic parameters for the corresponding
reversible reactions R8, R10 and R12 are calculated by using the kinetic
parameters and the equilibrium constants of the forward reactions R7, R9 and
R11.

Table 2. Parameters k and E in Equation (1)

4 Reactions

Reaction

E , cal/mol

R7

4.32e+13

13249

R8

2.38e+17

29451

R9

6.48e+6

5072

R10

1.34e+17

11497

R11

3.12e+8

7432

R12

1.26e+12

15334

19

5 Simulation Approach

The HYSYS flowsheet used to model the removal of CO2 using DEA and
MDEA is shown below:

Figure 12. Rate-Based DEA+MDEA Simulation Flowsheet in Aspen HYSYS

The actual field performance data for an operating column from Weiland
(2001)[1] were used to specify feed conditions and specifications for the
absorber.

20

5 Simulation Approach

Unit Operations - Major unit operations used in this flowsheet are described
in Table 3

Table 3. HYSYS Unit Operation Blocks Used in the RateBased DEA+MDEA Model
Unit Operation

HYSYS Block

Comments / Specifications

ABSORB

RateBased Column

Purpose: Models amine/sour gas contactor/absorber

ER

1. Calculation type: Rate-Based

2. 22 Stages
3. Top Pressure: 900psig
4. Reaction condition factor: 0.5
5. Film discretization ratio: 2
6. Heater Cooler: Heat loss is ignored for the absorber
7. Reaction: Reaction ID is RDEAMDEA for all stages
8. Tray Type: Sieve
9. Tray Diameter: 5ft
10 Sieve hole area to active area fraction: 0.08
11. Mass transfer coefficient method: Chan and fair (1984)
12. Interfacial area method: Zuiderweg (1982)
13. Interfacial area factor: 1
14. Heat transfer coefficient method: Chilton and Colburn
15. Holdup correlation: Bennett et al. (1983)
16. Film resistance: Discrxn for liquid film; Film for vapor
film
17. Additional discretization points for liquid film: 5
18. Flow model: Mixed
19. Estimates: provide temperature estimates for all stages.
These estimates are intended to aid convergence
Note:
1. The ABSORBER RateBased Column uses the True
simulation approach because the reaction rate
expression requires the composition of individual ions.
2. A True to Apparent transition is used to compute the
apparent composition of the RICH AMINE stream to
ensure consistent calculations in the downstream blocks

VLV-100

Valve

Purpose : Reduces RICH AMINE pressure to 90 psi

FLASH TK

Separator

Flash Tank

L/R HX

Heat Exchanger

Purpose: Lean/Rich heat exchanger

Tube-side outlet temperature:200F

REGENERATOR

RateBased Column

Purpose: Models the stripper/regenerator

1. Calculation type: Equilibrium
2. 20 Stages including Condenser and Reboiler
3. Top Pressure: 21 psi

5 Simulation Approach

21

Unit Operation

HYSYS Block

Comments / Specifications
4. Distillate Mass Flow Rate : 5000 lb/hr
5. Mass Reflux Ratio : 1
Note:
1. The REGENERATOR RateBased Column uses the True
simulation approach because the reaction rate
expression requires the composition of individual ions.
2. A True to Apparent transition is used to compute the
apparent composition of the REGEN BTTMS stream to
ensure consistent calculations in the downstream blocks

TANK

Mixer

Purpose : Models tank holding DEA+MDEA solution

Computes MAKEUP H2O flow from specified recirculation rate

22

COOLER

Cooler

Purpose : Cools lean amine solution to 118F

P-100

Pump

Purpose : Raises pressure of lean amine to 900 psig

5 Simulation Approach

Streams - Feeds to the absorber are SOUR GAS containing N2, CH4, C2H6,
C3H8, n-C4H10, i-C4H10, n-C5H12 and CO2 and AMINE TO CONTACTOR
containing aqueous DEA and MDEA solution loaded with some CO2. Feed
conditions are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4. Feed specifications

Stream ID

SOUR GAS

AMINE TO CONTACTOR

Temperature: F

80

118

Pressure: psig

910

910

Total flow

106351.7 lb/hr

7.548e4 lb/hr

Composition

Mole-Frac

Mass-Frac

H2O

0.564

CO2

0.0199

0.006

DEA

0.15

MDEA

0.28

CH4

0.8544

C2H6

0.066

C3H8

0.0236

C4H10-01

0.0077

C4H10-02

0.0089

C5H12-01

0.017

N2

0.0019

5 Simulation Approach

23

6 Simulation Results

The simulation was performed using Aspen HYSYS V7.3. Key simulation
results are presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Key Simulation Results

24

CO2 mole fraction in SWEET GAS

1082 ppm

Loading of Rich Amine, Moles Acid Gas/Moles Amine

0.3902

Loading of Lean Amine, Moles Acid Gas/Moles Amine

0.036

6 Simulation Results

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27