Glycol Regeneration Function of the Re-boiler

The rich glycol leaving the absorber must be regenerated to a high purity so that it can be
recirculated to the absorber to continue its dehydration function. The regeneration is
accomplished in the reboiler and the still column above the reboiler.
The rich glycol is preheated through heat exchange with the regenerated glycol and enters the top
of the still at atmospheric pressure. By heating the glycol in the still and reboiler to near its
boiling point, the glycol releases virtually all of the absorbed water and any other compounds
and is then cooled for reuse. The heat is usually supplied through a fire tube in the reboiler in
which natural gas is burned. The fire tube is always submerged in the glycol by having the glycol
flowing from the reboiler over a weir or pipe, which is higher than the top of the fire tube.