PREVENTION OF GAS HYDRATE FORMATION IN GAS TRANSPORT PIPELINES

摘要

1,131,003. Gas dehydration. SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V. 24 Feb., 1967, No. 8862/67. Heading B1L. Gas from underwater wells is dehydrated by bringing it into contact with a water absorbing liquid (e.g. an alcohol or a polyhydric alcohol) in a section of pipe line, the liquid being changed at least intermittently. This may be accomplished by running two pipes external to the said pipeline one for supply and the other for return whereby the returned water absorbing liquid is regenerated (e.g. by heating) and used to further dry the gas, on shore, before being returned to the pipeline. Another method of returning the water absorbing liquid is by driving it along in front of a solid body that fits the pipeline and is carried along with the gas stream. The section of pipeline used to contain the water-absorbing liquid must be bounded by means to prevent the liquid from extending beyond this section, e.g., by locating the section between two parts of the pipeline that have an upward slope. The gas may merely pass over the liquid in the pipeline, or it may bubble therethrough, or other means, e.g. trays, baffles or atomisers, may be provided for promoting gas-liquid contact.