3

trl

40
ContactorTemperature,oC

100

60
i,il
60
iiLi
tEu
-/< i

Concentration,

LL 40
wl1" -t-
1:::G'-
-f
;c
20
si.o-
-1 F 7-'--'
--
3
o
ne.o"'*
4<
+4{r i
F
I
U
gg.of
.E L ; I
-1
:= -zv
9s.s;;=
ilt
-1
. -:-
-40
l. -'- l

-ou
eg.s'
'
l-- <
ooO( i-
..i-
I i I
-80 sg.st<
'>)|,
99.99 -
Iiil
-100
100 11 0 120
ContactorTernperature,,oF

FigureiE.4 at VariousTEGConcentrations
vs. Temperature
HrO Dewpoint
Equilibrium

2: THEEQUIPMENT
VOLUME MCDULES
 IliINi&iUM
LEANTiG CONCENTHATIOT{

.:i
0.90

rit
vl 0.85
tl
o

E 0.80
o
ff

U./J

't

o
TL 0.70

zr JU 35 40
TEGCirculation
Rate,litersTEG/kgH2O

Figure18'5 WaterRemovalvs. TEG Circulation

Ratefor SeveralContactor
TheoreiicalStagei
(99.0wt%TEG)

Most designsuse a circulationrate of l5-40 liters TEC&g H2o absorbed

absorbed]' This is near the economicoptiinum. Higher circulation [2-5 US galllb H2o
ratesresult in a largerregeneration
system' higher energy consumption,and higher coabsorptionof aromatic
hydrocarbons. Lower rates
require a taller contactorand may result in poor tray/pacfing hydraulics.

- The relationsilip betu'eencirculatiln rate and the number of contactscan be quantified

by use
of the Kremser-Brownequation(seeChapter17),a shortcutabsorber
calculation.

E"=14=oll',-o
YN*r -Yo -l
(18.1)
AN*l
Where: Eu = efficiency of absorption
YN*r mols of water in entering (wet) gas per mol of gas entering
Yt mols of water in leavin_s(dry) gas per mol of gas entering
Yo = mols of rvater in equilibrium with the incoming lean glycol per
mol of gas
entering
A : absorptionfactoq A: L,{/K
L : glycol circulationrate,mols/unittime
V : gas flow rate, mols/unit time
K = vapor liquid equilibrium ratio (y/x) for water in a water-gas-TEG
system
* N : number of theoreticalcontactsin absorber

CHAPTER
18
343
 MINiMUfoi
L€ANTEGCoNCEI,ITRATIoN

_ro
i ,t t=,
:I T
zl 2
=tB
tl

UJ

10 12
.L"
A=+
V"., K

Figure '18.6 Efficiencyof Absorption,E" vs. AbsorptionFactor,A

calculation of Lean TEG Rate for a Given Absorption Efficiency and N -

l. Calculareys (or Ws)

2. Determine absorptioneffrciency
3. Use Equation 18.2or Figure 18.6 to find absorptionfactor A fbr a given value of
N
4- Knowing Vp*1 and K, solve A for L6, the JeanTEG circulation rate
"
calculation of N for a Given Lean TEG Rate and AbsoqptionEfficiency -

l. Calculateys (or W6)

2. Determine absorptionefliciency
3. Calculateabsorptionfactor A
4. DetermineN from Equationlg.2 or Figure lg.6

It is usual to repeatthe calculationto obtain three lean glycols rate/absorbercontact values

that
satisfy the required absorptionefliciency. The final choice is basedon economic considerations.
This
usually involves selection of standarddesiens.

This calculation should be made at the lowest pressureand highest,temperafureanticipated for

the entering wet gas' to obtain the maximum water loaaing. Unfortunately,the iendency
is to choosea
design temperaturelower than that actually incurred.

CHAPTER
18 345
 The overalltray efficiencyin a weil-designed TEG unit wili vary from 254A%. It is recom-
mendedthat25o/obe usedfor mostapplications.This providesan affordablesaf'ery factorto helpcom-
pensatefor the inherenferrorsin the designspecifications.

[quilibrium
Relotionships
Various studies have been made of the equilibrium behavior of water in the TEG-water syr
rcnI.(|g't'18'3-t8'6)Al1 provide rather consistentdata. The use of an activity coettcient (y) is a conve-
nient and reliable method for calculatingK. Using this relationship

K=(y*Xyr=lYU (l 8.3) 'I

Were: K :
equilibrium constantfor water in a TEG-water system j.a

y*= mol fr. water in the gas at saturation over 100% liquid water (from
regular water al
contentconelation) i

y : activiry coefficient for water in the TEG-water systemas found from Figure 18.7
W : water content on a mass per volume basis,at safuration,as found from a regular :{
water content correlation
B = 761000 when W: kg/106std m3 4i 400 when W = lbm/lvlN{scf t+
:i
.i

ii
:ti
+
::"
!
)1

!
50'c [1 ;
:_.
.t
40.c [104.F]
Fi-trr+
r:-rTr.
.T
I
ii
i5
30"c [86.F]- g
C
.c) :{
:*
.() V.'U i!
E
20Q :;
a1
ra
i_4
= ':!
:,ii
ij u.b5 .';
i
'a

i
.1.
:

I
I o.so
I 90 91 92 94 95 96
t,
o,t-'> 6,6)s\a( , , r g TEG Concentration,
wt %
lt';nn
d1 i,=ure 18.7 ActivityCoeffic;ent
for H2OConcentrationat VariousT€mpsy31s1ss(rs.r)
,i

346 VOLUME
2: THEEQUIPMENT
MODULES

:r
 .tiirvr'fl{""rt
LEAfi aiG COilCiNTfrATION

Not.icethat y (and thus K) varies with rEG concentration,

which
ich in
i turn changesacross the ab-
sorber. So, a mean of: avs'agc
averagef\K cannof
cannorbe determlnpd
determinBCuntjl
until the cirqulation
ci rate is fixed. Thi_"invclves
a trial and error calcuiation.
rdlru*. ur
In mosr
most casesboth
botn L and K are determinedat ar top
fon trey
frawconditions,
nonrriti^-. ;i.e.
^ ,,-^
use
the lean TEG concentrationand lean TEG circulation
rate. As stated previously,
nreviorrslv fhe
the increase i-
inn.oooo tr
in K
::l*hlyproportional
i": Ji.,J:T:j"",:'""1^Il9_,T totn"incr"u."
; i^/,';";il;;rilff;"#r;
(A : L/vK) remain: relatrveryuncharrgedthrcughout the
absorber.
ln ihe absorptionefficiency term,

yo =Kxo and Ws =(WXyXx6)

{18.4)
xs : mol fr water in the lean TEG entering the absorber

This may be calcuiatedf.oT **1, the weightpercentTEG in

the leansolurionenteringthe ab-
sorber.This mustbe not lessthantheriinimum valuerequired
from Figure1g.4.
1 0 0 _X e r
18
^0 - ll'^ --=------*;-
r vv - z\gl ^rt
(18.5)
*
18 150
xs = mol tr of H2O
Xer = wt%6TEG in lean glycol

Equation 18.5 is shown graphically in Figure lg.g.

x n?rj
r'\
'l-N

c
=O
(g
L 0.20

e4 95 96
TEG Concentration (Xn1),wt%

Figure 18.8 Mol FragtionHrO,xo,vs. TEGConcentration,

Xo1

CHAPTER
18
 u- i vvL ,cr'l J tJfi}ii til,l!.a

The aboveprocedureusing the Kremser-Browr approach

gives resultscomparableto computer
simulation.

The use of other equilibrium K valueswill havesome

effect on contactordesign. The required
lean glycol concentrationsmay differ but the difference
is normally lessthan the randomerror in pro-
cessspecificationsand is statisticallyinsignificant.

Example18'3: calculatethe circulationrate of 98.7 fi% leanTEG

neededto dry 106std m3/d
p5.'4 MMscfdlof gas 7.0Mpa [1000psia]and40oc
I
(1.5theor-stages) [l04"FJin a six trayaul
::t9"r to achieve
an gu, watercontent oritz tgliotriai,
"*it is il00 keioe-il;t'rr""*".0
[7 lbm/]vIMscfJ.The inlet watercontent
[68.5lbm/IvlMscf]. *"rl
1. FromEquation18.5,x6 : 0.099
2" From Figure 18.7,y = 0.66
3' w is the water contentof saturated gasat 7.0 Mpa and 40oc or 1100kg/106'sto
this case. m3 in
4. FromEquation18.4,W6= (1100X0.66X0.09:
9) 719 kg/106stdm3
5. The left-handsideof Figurelg.5 is:
(1100- 111)!(ti00_ 71.9): 983/1048 = 0.956
6. FromFigure18.6,for N = 1.5,A : 7.3
7. Ls = (AXKXVN*r)
(11.q0X0-'96)
FromEquation18.3,K- =0.000954
761000
Y :1762 kmoVh
So,Le : e.3)(9.54 x tOr;itZO2) = 12.3kmollh
8. MW leanglycol: (0.099X18) + (0.901X150)
: 137kg/kmol
9. kg TEGAr: (12.3X137):l68S
10. Densityof TEG : I.l2kgfliter
Circulationrateis 16g1ll.l2 = ll}4literlh
In onehour (l l0O- ll7)/24 otr4I.Ikg H2Ois absorbed
circulationratio is 1504i4r= 36.7riterTEGrkg
Hzo absorbed
In FPSunits the calculationfollows the sameformat.
1 & 2. The same
3. W:68.5 lbm/TvlMscf
4. W6 : (0.66X68.5X0.099) : 4.48lbm/LlMscf
s. (68.5- 7X68.5- 4.48): 0.960
6. A: 7.5

j
348
THEEQUIPMENT
MODULES
-

. , , , , i :. , 4 . i - '

..: r'.;:':ji;r:rt:
:r .
(onlaCor
Dismeter
As statedearlier, the diameter of a glycol contactor is determined,alrnost exclusively by the
gas rate. If a contactoris operatingnear flood, changesin the giycol rate can have a noticeableeffect
on the glycol carryover,but for design purposesthe liquid rate i: rypically not a factor in absorbersiz-
ing.

The calculation of diameter can proceed two ways. The first method employs the Souders
Brown equation(Equation11.11),frequently used to size separators.
t
-. ( pr-pn )o
v=Ksi -i (18.7)
\Pg )
FPS
v = allowablegasvelocify m/s ff/sec
Il = sizingparameter:bubblecaps 0.055m/s 0.18fi/sec
structuredpacking 0.09-0.105m/s 0.30-0.34ft/sec
= $asdensilY kil^t lbm/ft3
Pg
p. = liquiddensity kg/m3 lbm/ft3
p, = for TEG systems 1120kg/m3 69.9lbm/ftr

The calculationof the diameterfollows

4Qu
(18.8)
7lv

FPS
d = contactordiameter m ft
qu = actual gas flowrate m3/s ft3/sec

The ac!-:algas flowrate can be calculated from either the mass flowrate or the stanciardvclu-
metric rate.

IIT

9a =- ( 1 8.e)
o-

SI FPS
m : mass flowrate \ts/
l-- I^
) lbnr,/sec
:
Pg $as densitY kg/m3 lbm./rt'

o"=,mt+)[*)' ( 18 . 10 )

FPS
Ystd gas flowrate in standard volumes std m3/d scflday
p-
'std standardpressure kPa psia
p= actual flowing pressure kPa psia
T OR
La acfual flowing temperafure 1\

T^ : standardtemperature OR
std K
gas compressibility factor at flowing conditions

CHAPTER
18 351
 lilliiriiiUrli LcAii I ELr lyuiivcN t ilAlivN

Example18-5(Cont?):

= 0 . 7 1m
(0.3ex3.14)

FPSSolution: 1) Calculatethe gas densitv

(PXMw) ( 1 0 1 5 ) ( 1 e )= 3 . 7 5 1 0 m / t 3
Yg_ (0.8s)(10.73) (s64)
ZF.T

2) Calculate aiiowable velocity, v

=0.r8(*#)o' =0'756ft/sec
Bubbrecaps,v = K, [a-l'
\.Pg)

3) Calculate the actual volumetric rate, qa

^ =-
q. esd (u'l[f-'],r:r,=11]l'
f#+lf*' 8s)
*;fi6l' ,^ roa 400
86 h'lsJl'520J(0
,,\ /
= 5.47 ftl /sec

4) Calculatecontactordiameier,d
(,4)ls'47)
," = l o o u - l =3.oft
1 7Iv (o.zs6xl.t+)
1i

5 ) For structured
Packing
F- 2.5 =1.3
\-=-- =-Z- ftlsec
J P-* 4 3'7s
^aL
= L.J LL

Height
[ontoctor
equilibrium contactsrequired and effi-
The contactor height is determinedby the number of
conversi'onfrom equilibrium stages to actual
ciency of the mass transflr. For trayed contactorsthe
tray effrciency is measureof the approachto
trays is accomplishedby using a tray efficiency. The
or liquid phasecompositions'
equilibrium and can be calculaiedfrom either vapor phase

The overall tray efficiency is defined as follows:

F ,.=
(18.12)
" overill
No. of Actual TraYs

For glycol contactorsusing bubblecaptrays Eoverall typically ranges ftom 25-30Yo. (This is
45-50%)' For most engineeringcalcula-
equivalent to arUurptree plate effrciency of approximately
results'
tions an overallttray efficiency of 25% will yield satisfactory

18
CHAPTER
 A secondsizing equationusesan F, value which is related to the kinetic energyof the gas
1pv2). tiris is the more popuiarmethodfor sizingpackedtowers.
F"
( 1 8 .1 )
f;-
!rg

lf/here: allowable gas superficial velocity

F. : sizing parameter

The sizing parameter, F' depends on the lvpe of packing and the packing density, but for most struc-
tured packings,F, : 3.0 in Si units [2.5 in FPS units].

It should be noted that for contactorscontaining structured packing the gas handling capacity
may be limited by the mist extractor,not the packing. This is particularly true when the glycol viscos-
ity exceedsl5-20 cp. This is the approximateviscosityrangeof TEG at 32-38"C [90-100'F].

In an actual design it is sound engineering practice to size the contactor for a gas rate 20-30%
higher than the expected rate. This contingency provides contactor capaciry for changes in flow rate
and pressureand for pessimisticreseryoirengineers.

Example18.5: A glycol contactoris to be designedto handle1 x 106std m3 135.4MMscfdl of

gasat 40"C and70 bar [015 psia]. The gascompressibilityfactoris 0.85andthe
' MW : 19.0. Sizethe contactorfor bothbubblecaps packing.
andstructured

SI Solution: 1) Calculatethe gasdensity

(PXMw) (7000)(le)
= 6o kg/m3
Pg
zRT (0.85)(8.314X313)

2) Calculate allowable velocity, v

z r0.5
Bubblecaps,v=*,IP',-P')"'
'[ = 0.z3mfs
=0.055f!1?g:!q']ot
PE J \ 6 0 )
3) Calculate the actual volumetric rate, qa

o^ - e,,o
'" = f&*l[]e_],r:'86
99o,99oflg)f.)ro85r
86400 p. T,,o
[ 400 zooo][288/t"
JI /'-' t
= 0 . 1 5 4m 3/ s

d
4) Calculaiecontactordiameter,

5) For structuredpacking

'= -L = jg = 0.39m/s
JP' J60 $
;r:l

2: THEEQUIPMENT
VOLUME MODULES
 MINIMUM
LEANTEGCONCENTRATION

Example18-5(Cont?):

(4X0.1s4)
=0.71
(0.3ex3.14) m
FPSSolution: 1) Calculatethe gas density

n _ (PXMW)_ (101s)(le)
=3.75
(0.85)(10.73Xs64) wmfn3
rg
zRr
2) Calculateaiiowablevelocity, v

- e,
B u b b l e ca ps,v=K.
' - r lsI Ip' ]05= 0.181eq' q- :.is1o5
=o' 756ftl s ec
P' - .J \ 3' 7s )
3) Calculatethe actualvolumetric rate, qa
'),-.,_
= Qstd t" 35.4xrc6 (14] )f s64\
Q. ff"tI
p "
8 6 4 0 0 t J [ r ; * J t " : 8 6 4 o 0[ t * ] [ r r J ( 0 . 8 s )
= 5.47ft3/sec

4) Calculatecontactordiameier.d

d-

5) For strucfured
packing
F. 2.5
\'- -- = l..j ftisec
J Pe l3:s
4qu
d- =2.3fr.
TV

[ontsclor
Height
The contactor height -e
is svLwr.r'rvu
determinedbyuJ the number .,r
rr.s 'urrl'sr of equilibrrum
cquluDnum contacts requred
contacts required and gfli_
and effi-
For trayed^_contactors
^ vr!.sJvv wvrrrovrulD the conversion
Lu\' u ultv€Islun from equilibrium stagesro acrual
l1tt -ou:tftr..
:-t"".T1^"^f^:ht_
trays is accomplished
Irom e qultl
by using a loay efficiency. The tray efliciency is rneas,
ure of the approach to
equilibrium and can be calculatedfrom either vapor phase
or liquid phasecompositions.
The overall tray efficiency is defined as follows:

c - No' of Equilibrium stages

Loverarl
No. of Actual Trays
(18.12)

For glycol contactorsusing bubblecap.traysEoveraltypically

rangesfrom
25-30Yo. (This is
e.quivalent
to a Muqrhreeplateefficiencyof approximlliiy is-sova. For most engineering
tions an overall tray efficiency of 25%o
calcula-
will yield satisfactoryresults.

CHAPTER
18