Improve amine unit efficiency by optimizing operating conditions

摘要

How can the efficiency of an amine gas sweetening unit be improved without additional capital investment? Operation at optimum conditions is the first key to enhance the performance of the unit, as revealed by a case study performed on a commercial gas plant using a kinetics-based simulation analysis. Lower amine temperature provides a significant reduction in solvent circulation rate, steam consumption rate, pumping duty and dehydration unit load while posing no risk of hydrocarbon condensation or hydrate formation. Also, higher amine strength is best suited for the unit under study, as it results in potential savings of operating costs without increasing the risks of corrosion and fouling. In recent years, there has been emphasis on improving amine gas sweetening plant efficiency due to the increased exploitation of highly sour gas fields. This triggers the development of several optimization techniques to maintain the profitability of gas plants. Schemes involving operational changes alone are most preferred, due to the simplicity and flexibility in restoring plant operations and for the low retrofitting costs attached to them.