Glycol De-hydrator design

K.SARKODIE

 Triethylene glycol dehydrators using tray or

packed-column contactors may be sized from
standard models by using the following
procedures and associated graphs and tables
(Sivalls).

Required gas stream data

The following information must be available on
the gas stream to be dehydrated:
Gas flow rate, MMscfd.
Specific gravity of gas.
Operating pressure, psig.
Maximum working pressure of contact, psig.
Gas inlet temperature, oF.
Outlet gas water content required, Ibm/MMscf.

Design criteria
Having the above information, it is then necessary to
select two points of design criteria:
Glycol to water circulation rate based on water
removed.
A value of 2 to 6 gal TEG/IgH2O removed is adequate
for most glycol dehydration requirements. Use 2.5 to 4
gal TEG/Ib H2O for most field dehydrators.
Lean TEG concentration from re-concentrator. 99.0 to
99.9% lean TEG is available from most glycol reconcentrators.
A value of 99.5% lean TEG is adequate for most design
considerations.

Inlet scrubber
The required diameter of a vertical inlet
scrubber may be selected using Fig. below,
based on the operating pressure of the unit
and gas capacity required. Two-phase inlet
scrubbers are generally constructed with 7
1/2-ft shell heights.
Additional data on typical standard vertical
inlet scrubbers are contained in Tables A.14
and A.15 in the Appendix.

Glycol gas contactor

Selection based on
Operating pressure
Required gas capacity

qo = gas capacity of contactor at operating

conditions, MMscfd
qs = gas capacity of contactor at standard conditions
(0.7 specific gravity
and 100oF) based on
operating pressure, MMsfcd
Ct = correction factor for operating pressure, MMscf
Cg = correction factor for gas specific gravity

Gas capacity for trayed glycol gas contactors based on 0.7 specific gravity, at 100oF.
(After Sivalls.)

Gas capacity for packed glycol gas contactors based on 0.7 specific gravity, at
100oF. (After Sivalls.)

 The temperature and gas specific gravity

correction factors for trayed glycol contactors
are contained in Tables 4.1 and 4.2,
respectively.
The temperature and specific gravity factors
for packed glycol contactors are contained in
Tables 4.3 and 4.4, respectively.

Dew point depression and water

removed from the unit
The outlet dew point temperature can be
found on the water vapour content graph
using the outlet gas water content required
and the operating pressure.
The water content of the inlet gas can be
determined from the same water vapour
content graph using the inlet gas temperature
and the operating pressure.

Dew point depression

oF = inlet gas temp. oF outlet dew point temp. oF

Where
Wr = water removed, Ibm/hr
Wi = water content of inlet gas, Ib H2O/MMcf
Wo = water content of outled gas, Ib H2O/MMcf
q = gas flow rate, MMscfd

Effects of acid gases

Since both carbon dioxide and hydrogen
sulphide absorb considerably more water
vapour than natural gas, they appreciably
increase the total water content and
dehydration requirements of the gas stream.

Trayed and packed Contactors

To determine the number of trays
Use the required dew point depression and the selected
glycol to water circulation rate

Glycol Re-concentrator
Calculate the required glycol circulation rate

Where
L = glycol circulation rate, gas/hr
Lw = glycol to water circulation rate, gal TEG/Ib
H2O
Wt = water content of inlet gas, Ib H2O/MMscf
q = gas flow rate, MMscfd

Re-boiler
The required heat load for the re-boiler can be
estimated from the following equation:
Where
Ht = Total heat load on re-boiler, Btu/h
L = Glycol circulation rate, gph
The above formula for determining the required reboiler heat load is an approximation, which is accurate
enough for most high-pressure glycol dehydrator sizing.
A more detailed determination of the required reboiler heat load may be made from the following
procedure

Where
Ht = sensible heat required for glycol, Btuh
Hw= heat of vaporization required for water, Btuh
Hr= heat to vaporize reflux water in still, Btuh
Hh = heat loss from reboiler and stripping still, Btuh
Ht = total reboiler heat load, Btuh
L = glycol circulation rate, gph
i = glycol density at average temperature in reboiler, Ibm/gal = (spgr)(8.34)
C = glycol specific heat at average temperature in reboiler, Btu/IbmoF
T2= glycol outlet temperature,oF
T1 = glycol inlet temperature, oF
970.3 = heat of vaporization of water at 212oF 14.7 psia, Btu/Ibm
Wi = water content of inlet gas Ib H2O/MMscf
Wo = water content of outlet gas Ib H2O/MMscf
q = gas flow rate, MMscfd

Glycol Circulating Pump

The required size of the pump can readily be
determined using the glycol circulation rate and
the maximum operating of the contactor.
This pump uses the rich glycol from the bottom
of the contactor to power the pump and pump
the lean glycol to the top of the contactor.
Sizing data is contained in table A.21 BELOW

Glycol Flash Separator

Stripping Still

Stripping still size for glycol dehydrators

Number of trays needed