Natural gas sweetening by Monoethanolamine process

Presented by:
Muhammad Ayaz Mazari (M08-PG 04) Fazal Mehmood (M08-PG-18)

Muhammad Waleed (M08-PG-07)

Contents
Natural gas sweetening

Background
Basic chemistry Selection criteria

MEA sweetening process

Process difficulties

Natural gas sweetening

Removal of unwanted and hazardous acid gases( CO2

and H2S) from raw natural gas is known as natural gas sweetening. Methods commercially used for sweetening. Amine treating Benfield process PSA process Selexol process Sulfinol process

Background (Amine Treating)

1st ever alkanolamine developed was

triethanolamine(TEA) by R. R. Bottoms in 1930. Replacement of TEA by other amines Low capacity Low reactivity Relatively poor stability

Background(Amine treating)
The relative development of different amines used in gas treating with the passage of time: Monoethanolamine (MEA)
Diethanolamine (DEA) Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) Diisopropylamine (DIPA) Aminoethoxyethanol (diglycolamine) (DGA)

Background (Amine Treating)

The recent development in this context is Sterically

hindered amines, which are replacing older amine technology..

Basic chemistry
Principal reactions
Ionization of water: H2O = H

+ + OH Ionization of dissolved H2S: + H2S = H + HS

Hydrolysis and ionization of dissolved CO2: CO2+ H2O = HCO3 + H

Protonation of alkanolamine: RNH2 + H

+ = RNH3+

Carbamate formation: RNH2 + CO2 = RNHCOO + H

Selection criteria of MEA

Following are the important factors for which MEA

is used. When raw gas contains low concentration of acid gases (H2S and CO2). when minor contaminants such as COS and CS2 are present. When raw gas is treated at low pressure. Due to its high alkalinity. Due to its easy reclamation from contaminate.

Selection criteria of MEA

Following are the factors which forbid the use of

MEA. When raw gas contains high concentration of acid gases (H2S and CO2). When raw gas is treated at high pressure. Irreversible reaction products with COS and CS2 are formed when COS and CS2 are in excess

Selection criteria of MEA

More corrosive

High heat of reaction with CO2 and H2S which leads

to high energy requirements for stripping. Relatively high vapor pressure of MEA causes significant vaporization losses. particularly in lowpressure operations.

MEA Sweetening Process

Inlet gas knockout

Absorber
Three phase flash tank Lean/rich amine heat exchanger

Regenerator
Filtration

Inlet gas knockout

Raw natural gas is first subjected to inlet gas

knockout drum Entrained droplets and liquid are removed Baffles remove most of the liquid and mist eliminator pads at the top remove the rest of it .

Absorber
Sour gas is introduced at the bottom

Lean amine solvent is introduced at the top.

Either packed or tray columns may be used. Packing and trays are basically used to increase

contact time and area. Mist eliminators are installed at the top of column.

Three phase flash tank

Rich amine from bottom is subjected to three phase

flash tank Which separates rich amine into three phases. Lightest HCs into gaseous, heavier HCs and amine form two liquid layers. Aqueous amine is freed from hydrocarbons. It controls amine solution and amine sweetening system conditions.

Lean/rich amine exchanger

Rich amine is pre-heated before entering into the

stripper. This is done with lean amine coming from stripper bottom. Usually shell and tube heat exchanger is used This reduces heat duty for reboiler.

Regenerator
Stripper is used for regeneration of amine.

Stripper can be of tray type or packed column.

It works like a distillation column.

Filtration
Mechanical or activated column filters

Filters remove particulate solids, HCs and surface

active compounds from amine. This reduces plugging and corrosion/erosion rate.

Flow diagram

Process difficulties
Foaming

Solvent losses
Corrosion Failure to meet gas specification

Thank you