A Novel Deethanizer Design at Elevated Operating Pressure without Dehydration

摘要

In order to produce high purity ethane and to prevent potential hydrate formation from a wet natural gas liquid (NGL) feed, an effective high pressure deethanizer design has been developed. Gas hydrates, which are crystalline solids composed of water and light hydrocarbon molecules, often result in safety and operational issues. If a high purity ethane is to be produced, the deethanizer condenser and the top tray temperatures may be lower than the hydrate point. This condition may cause gas hydrates to form at these locations if the wet NGL is not dehydrated.