Glycol Dehydration Systems

(Liquid Dessicant)
Commonly using TEG
Liquid dessicant is more economically viable
Reduce water content level to 10 pmmv
Liquid Dessicant more simple to operate and maintain
Can be used for sour gases but requires precaution due to solubility of acid gases in dessicant solu
High pressure and high gas content, glycol can be soluble in gas
Dew point depression ranged 60-120 F
Inlet gas scrubber required to prevent contaminant into glycol contactor

Solid Dessicant dehydration

Requires two or more towers to be able to regenerate dessicant
Reuse dried gas/ residue gas produced as for regeneration and cooling
Cost more to buy and operate compared to glycol units
Can be used for high H2S content gas and very low water dew points requirement
Oxygen containing gases and simultaneous control of water and hydrocarbon dew points
Solid desscicant dehydration is preferred where cyrogenic temperature are required to prevent hyd
It also can be used to drying and dweetening of NGL liquid
Three types
Gel
Manufactured silica gel that conditioned to have an affinity for water
Used for gas and liquid dehydration and hydrocarbon recovery from natural gas
In Hydrocarbon recovery it is called HRUs (Hydrocarbon Recovery Units) or SCUs (Short Cycle Units
Outlet dewpoints of -60F for dehyration
Alumina
Natural form of aluminiom oxide that is activated by heating
Dehydrated form of alumina oxide
Outlet dewpoints of -90F for dehyration
Used for gas and liquid dehydration
Less heat reqyured to regenerate alumina and silica gel compared to molecular sieve
Low regeneration temperature compared to molecular sieves
Molecular Sieves Manufacturing of naturally occurred alumino silicate have a degree of selectiv
lowest outlet water dewpoints
Simultaneously sweeten and dry gas and liquids
More expensive
Water capacity less depend on adsorption temp and relative humidity
Usually used in a plant that want to recover ethane due to operating in very cold temperature and
Dehydration up to -150 F is possible with special design and srict operating parameters

Contious process of solid dessicant requires two or more vessel with one online and the otherone re
On-line bed is generaly active for 8-24 hours
Water removal at 375-600 F depend on dessicant used and perfomance spec 375 F for silica and 60
Regeneration usualy using dry process gas or waste heat from engine and turbines
Gas flow during adsorption is a downflow to give higher gas velocities and smaller tower diamter to
Regeneration gas flow usially upflow during heating period so residual water left on the dessicant a
this also help to strip contaminant from the top of the bed and extending the dessicant life
in cooling period the gas flow upflow if the gas is completely free of water if cooling gas contain wa
In the sarturation zone, molecular sieve is expected to hold 13 pounds of water per 100 pounds of
The capacity need to be adjusted when the gas is not water sarturated and temperature is above 7

Calcium Chloride
can be used as consumable dessicante do dehydrate natural gas

Conversion
http://www.cheresources.com/invision/topic/15350-dewpoint-spec-and-water-moisture/
http://www.phymetrix.com/Software.htm
http://www.cheresources.com/invision/topic/10541-water-content-of-natural-gas/

gases in dessicant solution

n dew points
equired to prevent hydrate and ice formation

nity for water

Manufactured from sulfuric acid and sodium silicate and pure silicon dioxide SiO2

CUs (Short Cycle Units)

ve a degree of selectivity based on crystalline sturcture in their adsiorbton of natural gas

cold temperature and dry feed gas to prevent hydrates

arameters

ne and the otherone regenerated

375 F for silica and 600 for molc sieve alumina and activated alumina in between

maller tower diamter to avoid bed fluidization

left on the dessicant are in the top of the bed and not effect the effluent dewpont when adsiption is resumed
dessicant life
cooling gas contain water cooling flow should be downflow to avoid preloading the dessicant at the bottom o
er per 100 pounds of sieve. New sieve will have an equilibrium capacity near 20% and 13% for the the sieve
emperature is above 75F

moisture/

n dioxide SiO2

n adsiption is resumed

icant at the bottom of the bed with water

13% for the the sieve which 3-5 years old

Dehydration Technology

Advantages
More economically viable compared to Solid
Dessicant

Glycol Dehydration System

Solid Dessicant

Simpler to maintain and operate

Reused Dry gas for regeneration and cooling

process
Can be used for High Acid Gas and oxygen
containing gas
Can produce very low dewpoint
Control water and hydrocarbon dewpoint
Preferred when cyrogenic temperature is used
Can be used to sweeten the Natural Gas
Liquid

Disadvantages
Require precaution for Sour Gas due to solubility of acid gas in
dessicant solution or vice versa (High acid gas and High Pressure)

Batch process, require two or more column to be operated in

sequence

Specification
Dew point depression ranged 60120 F
Reduce water content to 10 ppmv
Inlet gas scrubber required to
prevent contaminant into glycol
contactor
TEG is common used of Liquid
Dessicant

To Do list
Convert Dew Point to PPMV