Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Process Systems Engineering (PSE ASIA) 25 - 27 June 2013, Kuala Lumpur.

A Performance Study for Representative Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Recovery Processes Under Various Feed Conditions
G. Mesfin , M. Shuhaimi , L. Moonyong * Chemical Engineering Department, Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, MALAYSIA. Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 712-749, Republic of Korea
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Abstract
In this work, the different process schemes used for known NGL recovery methods have been studied with various feed compositions. The original turbo-expander process scheme (ISS) was considered as a base case. The GSP, CRR, RSV and RSVE process schemes focused on improvement at the top of the demethanizer column. The IPSI-1 and IPSI-2 schemes focused on improvement at the bottom of the demethanizer column. All the process schemes have initially been built using ASPEN HYSYS with a common set of operating criteria. Numerous simulation runs have been made later by taking various typical feed compositions classified as lean or rich. Regardless of the common operating conditions set to each process schemes, there existed different performance results obtained from the simulation runs. Accordingly, the reboiler duty requirement for the GSP, CRR and RSV was high due to the need for external refrigeration. However, the IPSI-1 simulation result shows relatively lower reboiler duty compared to the GSP, CRR and RSV due to self-refrigeration system applied to the systems. On the other hand, the RSV process scheme showed exceptionally higher salesgas compression power due to a larger recycle stream applied for high ethane recovery. Keywords: Turbo-expander, feed composition, GSP, CRR, RSV, IPSI. References Aspen technology, 2009. A user guide manual for Aspen physical property V7.1 . Campbell, R.E., Wilkinson, J.D., 1981, Hydrocarbon gas processing. U.S. Patent 4,278,457. Campbell, R.E., Wilkinson, J.D., Hudson, H.M., 1989. Hydrocarbon gas processing. U.S.Patent 4,889,545. Campbell, R.E., Wilkinson, J.D., Hudson, H.M.,1996, Hydrocarbon gas processing. U.S. Patent 5,568,737. Fleshman, J., Alderton, P., Bahnassi, E., Khori, A.R.,2005, Achieving Product Specifications for Ethane through to Pentane Plus from NGL Fractionation Plants. Presented on AIChE annual meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Jibril, K.L., Al-Humaizi, A.L., Idriss, A.A., Ibrahim, A.A.,2006, Simulation study determines optimum turboexpander process for NGL recovery. Oil and Gas Journal, 104, 58-62. Lee, R.J., Yao, J., Elliot, D., 1999, Flexibility, efficiency to characterize gas-processing technologies in the next century. Oil & Gas journal, 97, 90-94. Lee, R.J., Zhang, Y., Yao, J., Chen, J.J and Elliot, D.G.,2007, Internal refrigeration for enhanced NGL recovery. U.S. Patent 7,257,966. Lynch, J.T., Cairo, C., Hudson, H.M., Wilkinson, J.D., 2002, Unique design challenges in the Aux Sable NGL recovery plant. Presented at the 81st annual convention of the gas processors association, Dallas, TX . Rahaman, A.A., Yusof, A.A., Wilkinson, J.D., Tyler, L.D.,2004, Improving ethane extraction at the PETRONAS gas GPP-A facilities in Malaysia. Presented at the 83rd annual convention of the gas processors association New Orleans, Louisiana.

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Process Systems Engineering (PSE ASIA) 25 - 27 June 2013, Kuala Lumpur.

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