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• Glycol system
Glycol Gas
Reflux Condenser Stripping Gas
Contactor
Fig 4. Glycol System
Several operating and design variables have an important effect on the
successful operation of a glycol dehydration system.
• Glycol Selection • Contactor Pressure
• Inlet Gas Temperature • Reconcentrator Pressure
• Lean Glycol Temperature • Contractor Pressure
• Glycol Reconcentrator Temperature • Glycol Concentration
• Temperature at the Top of the Still • Glycol Circulation Rate
Column • Number of Absorber Trays
• Ethylene glycol (EG) tends to have high
Ethylene Glycol (EG) vapor losses to gas when used in a
contactor.
• It is used as a hydrate inhibitor where it can
be recovered from the gas by separation at
• Diethylene
temperatures below
glycol 50 °F.reconcentrates at
(DEG)
Diethylene Glycol temperatures between 315 and 325 °F
(DEG) • Purity of 97.0%.
• It degrades at 328 °F.
• It cannot achieve the concentration
required for most applications.
• It reconcentrates at temperatures between
Triethylene Glycol 350 and 400 °F, which yields purity of
(TEG) 98.8%.
• It degrades at 404°F and tends to
• experience
It’s expensive.high vapor losses to gas at
• temperatures
It reconcentrates at temperatures
in excess of 120 °F.
Tetraethylene Glycol •• With
between 400 and
stripping gas,430 °F.
dew-point depressions
(TTEG) • up
It experiences
to 150 °F arelower vapor losses to gas at
possible.
high gas contactor temperatures
• It degrades at 460°F.
P = KTE • If the gas is saturated at the higher temperature, the
High Vol. of H20 if the glycol will have to remove about three times as much
water to meet the specifications.
temperature in the inlet
gas increases.
EXAMPLE: • Temperatures above 115 °F result in high glycol losses
and thus require TTEG.
Pressure of operation is
1000 psia.
• Temperatures below 60-70 °F can cause a stable
T1 : 80°F 34 lbs H20/
emulsion with liquid hydrocarbons in the gas and
MMSCF cause foaming in the contactor.
T2: 104°F 104 lbs H20/
MMSCF • > TEMPERATURE > VOL.GAS > DIAMETER OF
GLYCOL CONTACTOR.
Dry glycol temperatures
entering the top tray of the
contactor (approach
temperature) should be held
low (10-15) ° F above the inlet
gas temperature.
CONSIDER:
NOTES:
P= Kte
• The degradation of TEG is about
High % of Glycol could be recovered
404°F
of water vapor if, and only if
• When higher lean glycol
temperature increases
concentrations are required,
WARNING: stripping gas should be added to
Temperature of operation is about ( the reconcentrator and/or the
350 – 400 °F) reconcentrator and still column
% Purity of Glycol 98.5% or 98.9% should be operated in a vacuum.
depending of process.
99.3% 370°F
9.7 PSIA
98.6%
98.7% 330°F
370°F
9.7 PSIA
17.69 PSIA
97.4% 330°F
17.69 PSIA
Notes:
• The lower the pressure, the Rapid pressure changes translate into rapid
larger the contactor diameter velocity changes in the contactor, which breaks
required. the liquid seals between the downcomers and
• Optimum dehydration pressure the trays, allows the gas to channel up through
is often in the range of 550-1200 both the downcomer and bubble caps, and
psig. allows the glycol to be swept out with the gas.
Reducing the pressure in the reconcentrator at a constant temperature
results in higher glycol purity.
98.7% 330°F
9.7 PSIA
3. Contactor Diameter
1ൗ
𝑇𝑜 𝑍𝑄𝑔 𝜌𝑔 𝐶𝑑 2
2
𝑑 = 5040 ∗
𝑃 𝜌𝐿 ∗ 𝜌𝑔 𝑑𝑚
4. Tray Design
Bubble Cap Trays: Bubble cap trays are
the most commonly used tray
configuration in glycol contactors. They
are better than conventional packing
Number of Trays: Six to eight trays are used to meet normal dew-point
depressions. Twelve trays are typically required for high dew-point
depressions.
∆𝑊
∗ 𝑊𝑖 ∗ 𝑄𝑔
𝑊𝑖
𝐿=
24
Where,
• L= Glycol circulation rates, gal/h
∆𝑊
• = Circulation ratio, gal TEG/lb H2O
𝑊𝑖
• 𝑊𝑖 = Water content of inlet gas. Lb H2O/MMSCF
• ∆𝑊= 𝑊𝑖 − 𝑊𝑜
• 𝑊𝑜 = Desired outlet water content,
• 𝑄𝑔 = Gas flow rate, MMSCFD.
Fig.15. Fraction of water removed versus TEG circulation rate (n=1 theoretical trays, four actual trays)..
Fig.16. Fraction of water removed versus TEG circulation rate (n=1½theoretical trays, six actual trays)..
Fig.17. Fraction of water removed versus TEG circulation rate (n=2 theoretical trays, eight actual trays)..
6. Lean Glycol Concentration
Glycol purity can be increased by adding stripping gas, reducing the pressure in the
reconcentrator, and reducing the glycol circulation rate.
7. Glycol-Glycol Preheater
• Cool wet glycol from the contactor enters the preheater (heat exchanger) at 100 °F.
• Hot dry glycol from the glycol/glycol heat exchanger enters the preheater at 250 °F.
• The warm dry glycol leaves at 150 °F to the glycol pumps on the way to the contactor.
8. Glycol-Gas Cooler
The TEG entering the gas contactor is limited to 10-15 °F above the inlet gas
temperature.
• Hot dry glycol from the reconcentrator enters the heat exchanger at 390 ° F
and leaves at 250 °F to the glycol/glycol preheater.
• Warm wet glycol from the charcoal filter enters the heat exchanger at 200 °F
and the hot wet glycol leaves at 350 F to the still column.
10. Gas-Glycol-Condensate Separator
Liquid retention times between 20 and 30 min, depending on API gravity of the
condensate, are recommended. The operating pressure of 35-50 psig is
recommended.
11. Reconcentrator
Wet glycol inlet from the gas contactor enters at 115 °F and leaves at 125 °F
13. Heat Duty
𝑞𝑡 = 𝐿 ∗ 𝑄𝐿
Where
𝐵𝑡𝑢
• 𝑞𝑡 = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
ℎ
• L= Glycol circulation rate [gal/h]
𝐵𝑡𝑢
• 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 [ ]
𝑔𝑎𝑙
14. Stripping the Still Column
Fig.18. Still column with wet glycol entering above the ceramic saddle packing. Fig.19. Still column with wet glycol entering below the stainless steel pall rings.
Gas Qg= 98 MMSCFD at 0.67 SG saturated
with water at 1000 psig and 100 °F
Dehydrate to = 7 lb/MMSCF
Use TEG Determinate:
No stripping gas is available 1. Calculate contactor Diameter.
98.5% TEG concentration 2. Determinete Glycol circulation
CD (contactor)= 0.852 rate and estimate rebolier duty
T = 570 R; P = 1015 psia; 3. Size the still column
TC = 376 °R
PC = 669 psia
3. Design of still column
Use a 12-foot still column (standard packed arrangement)
dM = 125 mm; T=300 F = 760 R; P=1 psig