Natural Gas Sweetening (Amine Plant) animation | Amine plant

Summary

This video explains the amine treatment process used to purify sour natural gas. It covers the key components of the plant, including the amine regeneration skids and amine contactor tower. The process begins with sour gas passing through separators and filters to remove liquids and particulates. In the amine contactor tower, the gas is treated with a solution that absorbs harmful H2S and CO2. The lean amine is regenerated through a steam process and recycled back into the system. The final product is sweet, purified gas that meets customer requirements.

Takeaways

• 😀 The amine treatment plant has two main components: amine regeneration skids and gas treatment equipment.
• 😀 The amine regeneration skids process rich amine into lean amine by removing H2S and CO2.
• 😀 Sour natural gas enters a two-phase separator to remove liquids before continuing to a filter separator for particulates removal.
• 😀 The gas treatment process involves a fine filter separator, further removal of particulates, and then it enters the amine contactor tower.
• 😀 In the amine contactor tower, sour gas contacts a counter-flowing solution of amine and water to remove H2S and CO2 in an exothermic reaction.
• 😀 The sweet natural gas, after treatment in the contactor tower, passes through an after scrubber to drop any remaining liquids.
• 😀 If necessary, a dehydration system using triethylene glycol removes water from the saturated gas before it meets customer requirements.
• 😀 Amine regeneration skids process the rich amine solution, which contains H2S and CO2, by first reducing pressure and flashing off light hydrocarbons.
• 😀 The rich amine solution is filtered through three filters: a rich amine filter for particulates, a charcoal filter for hydrocarbons, and a charcoal after filter.
• 😀 In the still column, the rich amine solution contacts counter-flowing steam to strip it of H2S and CO2, producing lean amine at the column's bottom.
• 😀 The lean amine solution is heated in the reboiler, and the steam generated is used to separate acid gas, which can be disposed of or sent to a thermal oxidizer.

Q & A

What are the two main components of a typical amine treatment plant?

The two main components of a typical amine treatment plant are the amine regeneration skids and the amine contactor tower.

What is the purpose of the two-phase separator in the amine treatment process?

The two-phase separator removes liquids from the sour natural gas before it proceeds further in the treatment process.

How does the amine contactor tower function in the treatment process?

The amine contactor tower allows sour gas to flow upwards while counter-flowing amine and water solution removes H2S and CO2 from the gas in an exothermic reaction.

What happens after the gas leaves the amine contactor tower?

After leaving the amine contactor tower, the gas flows through an after scrubber where any liquid picked up by the gas is removed.

What role does the gas cooler and dehydration system play in the process?

The gas cooler cools the gas when necessary, while the dehydration system, using triethylene glycol, removes any water from the saturated gas.

What is the function of the amine regeneration skids?

The amine regeneration skids process the rich amine solution, stripping it of H2S and CO2 to regenerate lean amine for reuse in the contactor tower.

How is the rich amine solution treated during the regeneration process?

The rich amine solution is filtered through three filters, preheated by a plate-frame heat exchanger, and then entered into the still column where it is stripped of H2S and CO2 by counter-flowing steam.

What is the role of the direct fired reboiler in the regeneration process?

The direct fired reboiler heats the lean amine solution, producing steam that enters the still column to strip the rich amine solution of acid gases.

What happens to the acid gas and water in the system after they are separated?

The acid gas can be sent to a thermal oxidizer or disposed of, while the water is recycled back into the system and pumped into the rich amine solution.

How is the lean amine solution processed after leaving the reboiler?

The lean amine solution flows over a weir into the surge side of the reboiler, is cooled, and then pumped through a lean amine cooler before being pressurized and returned to the top of the amine contactor tower for reuse.