NOMENCLATURE

diameter, mm

Ls

length of packed bed saturation zone, mm

pressure drop, kPa

heat duty,

Cp

heat capacity, kJ/kgK

Css

saturation correction factor for sieve

CT

temperature correction factor

Ss

amount molecular sieve req'd in saturation zone, kg

Mrg

regeneration mass flowrate, kg/h

Qhl

regeneration heat loss duty, kJ

Qsi

duty required to heat mole sieve to regeneration temperature, kJ

Qst

duty required to heat vessel and piping to regeneration temperature, kJ

Qtr

total regeneration heat duty, kJ

Qw

desorption of water heat duty, kJ

Trg

regeneration gas temperature, oC

superficial vapor velocity, m/min

Wr

Water removed per cycle, kg

viscosity, mPa.s

density, kg/m3

Ms

Mass of steel (dehydrator material)

References:
1) Gas Processors Suppliers Association, Section 20
2) Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing by Arthur.J.Ridney & William.R.Parrish, Chapter 15

SOLID DESSICANT DEHYDRATION

Design:
The allowable superficial velocity through the bed is the first parameter that must be estimated. The pressure drop
through the bed is related to the superficial velocity by a modified Ergun equation:
P/L

BV + CV

..(Eqn1)

Constants for Eqn 1 are:

Particle Type

3mm bead

0.056

0.0000889

3mm extrudate

0.0722

0.000124

1.5mm bead

0.152

0.000136

1.5mm extrudate

0.238

0.00021

Once the allowable superficial velocity is estimated, calculate the bed diameter:
D =

(4q) 0.5
(60pV) 0.5

The next step is to choose a cycle time and calculate the mass of desiccant required. Eight to twelve hour cycles
are common. Cycles of greater than 12 hours may be justified especially if the feed gas is not water saturated.
Long cycles mean less regenerations and longer sieve life, but larger beds and additional capital investment.
Both water capacity and the rate at which solid desiccants adsorb water decline as the material ages. The object
of the design is to install enough desiccant such that after three (3) to five (5) years, the mass transfer zone will be at
the bottom of the bed at the end of the adsorption cycle.
In the saturation zone, molecular sieve is expected to hold approximately 13 kg of water per 100 kg of sieve.
New sieve will have an equilibrium capacity near 20%; 13% represents the approximate capacity of a 3-5 year old sieve.
This capacity needs to be adjusted when the gas is not water saturated or the temperature is above 24C.
See Fig. 1 and 2 to find the correction factors for molecular sieve.

Fig.1
Mole Sieve Capacity Correction for Unsaturated Inlet Gas

Fig.2
Mole Sieve Capacity Correction for Temperature

Comment(s):
1) The design pressure drop through the bed should be about 35 kPa. A design pressure drop higher than 55 kPa
is not recommended as the desiccant is fragile and can be crushed by the total bed weight and pressure drop
forces.

CALCULATIONS

Mass of dessicant
To determine the mass of desiccant required in the saturation zone, calculate the amount of water to be removed
during the cycle and divide by the effective capacity.
MASS OF DESSICANT

Input Parameters

Units

Value

kg

2487

lb

1129

(Value to be obtained
from Fig.1)

1.0

(Value to be obtained
from Fig.2)

0.875

yr(s)

Water removed per cycle

(Wr)

Css

CT

Life of Mole-sieves

Output Parameters
Ss

Units

Value

kg

14211

lb

31303

Units

Value

3.34

Assumptions:
1) The mole-sieves are new.
2)

LENGTH OF PACKED BED IN SATURATION ZONE

Input Parameters

Diameter of bed, D

Units

Value

2.7432

Output Parameters

LS

Assumptions:
1) The mole sieve bulk density is 720kg/m3
Ss

Bulk density

kg

14211

lb

31303

kg/m3

720

TOTAL REGENERATION HEAT DUTY

Input Parameters

Units

Value

Qw

kJ

1044540

QSi

kJ

3780240

QSt

kJ

9331639.1

Qhl

kJ

1415641.91

Trg

315

Ms

kg

70162.7

Ti

Output Parameters

Units

Value

kJ

38930152.53

Qtr

Assumptions:
1) The Specific heat of water is 420kJ/kg
2) The Cp of the molesieve is 1.0kJ/kgK
3) The Cp of steel (dehydrator material) is 0.5kJ/kgK
4) A maximum regeneration temp. of 315 oC (600oF) is used
5) A heat loss of 10% was assumed.

49
REGENERATION GAS RATE

Units

Value

Qtr

Input Parameters

kJ

38930152.53

Cp

kJ/kgK

2.539

Output Parameters

Mrg

Trg

315

Ti

49

Cycle period

hr(s)

Heating time

hr(s)

4.8

Units

Value

kg/h

12008.8254

Assumptions:
1) An 8hr adsorption cycle period is assumed.
2) The heating time is 60% of the total cycle period.