NGL FRACTIONATION TRAIN HYSYS SIMULATION REPORT

1.0 Objective
The purpose of this simulation is to create an NGL Plant model consisting of 3 columns (De-
Methanizer, De-Ethanizer and De-Propanizer). The NGL recovery process aims to produce
transportable gas that meets sales gas specification and maximize liquids recovery
2.0 Design Basis:
Composition of the 2 Feed Streams into the NGL Fractionation trains are defined below in Fig. 1.0

Fig 1.0: Component Fractions for Feed 1 and 2

Table 1.0: Inlet Feed Conditions

Parameters Feed 1 Feed 2

Pressure (kPa) -95 -85
Temperature (oC) 2275 2290
Flowrate (kgmole/h) 1620 215

Fluid Packages Used: Peng-Robinson EOS

The various column types are as follows:
i. De-Methanizer Column – Reboiled Absorber
ii. De-Ethanizer – Distilation Column
iii. De-Methanizer – Distillation Column
3.0 Simulation Environment
The final simulation environment is shown below in Fig. 2.0

Fig. 2.0: NGL Fractionation Train Simulation

De-Methanizer Column
The following Specifications were used for the De-Methanizer Column
Table 2.0: De-Methanizer Column Parameters

Parameters Value
No of trays 10
Top Stage Pressure (kPa) 2275
Reboiler Pressure (kPa) 2310
Reboiler Pressure Drop (kPa) -88.00
Optional Top Stage Temperature Estimate (oC) 27.00
Optional Temperature Estimate (oC) 0.00
Overhead Product Rate (kgmole/h) 1338

Figure 2.0 shows the Column Spec Monitor Window

 Fig 3.0: DC1 Column Specifications
Exercise 1
What is the Mole Fraction of Methane in DC1 Ovhd? 0.9686. See breakdown in Fig. 4.0

Fig 4.0: DC1 Overheads Component Fractions

Specifying Column Component Fraction for DC1
For this case, instead of specifying the Molar Flowrate of the Overheads Product, the Mole fraction
of C1 was specified and made ACTIVE. The Molar flowrate of the Overhead product was made
INACTIVE
The New flowrate for DC1 Overhead = 1350 kgmole/hr

Fig. 5.0 DC1 Overhead Stream Conditions.

De-Ethanizer Column
The bottoms from the De-Methanizer was routed to a De-Ethanizer via a Pump. The DC2 Feed
Pressure was specified as 2790 kPa
Table 3.0: De-Ethanizer Column Specifications

Parameters Value
No of Trays 14
Condenser Pressure (kPa) 2725
Condenser Delta (kPa) 35
Reboiler Pressure (kPa) 2792
Condenser °C -4
Reboiler °C 95
Overhead Vapour Rate (kgmole/h) 320
Distillate Rate (kgmole/h) 0
Reflux Ratio (Molar) 2.5
 Fig. 6.0: De-Ethanizer Column Specification Window

Exercise 2
Molar Flow of C2 and C3 in DC2 Btms are 0.6649 kgmole/hr and 106.1356 kgmole/hr respectively.
Ratio of C2/C3 in DC2 Btms = 0.006:1

Fig 7.0: DC2 Bottoms Stream Molar Flow by Components

Using Column Component Ratio as De-Ethanizer Specification
The C2/C3 ratio OF (0.01 Mole basis) was used as specification for the DC2 Overhead and made
ACTIVE while the Overhead Vapor rate (320 kgmole/h) preciously specified was made inactive.
The resulting flowrate of DC2 Ovhd = 306.9 kgmole/h

De-Propanizer Column
The DC2 Btms was routed to the De-Propanizer column after drop the pressure from 2792 kPa to
1690 kPa using a valve. The Specifications used for the Propanizer are shown below. See Fig for
the Column Design page
Table 4.0: De-Propanizer Column Specifications

Parameters Value
No of Trays 24
Condenser Pressure (kPa) 1585
Condenser Delta (kPa) 35
Reboiler Pressure (kPa) 1655
Condenser °C 38
Reboiler °C 120
Liquid Rate (kgmole/h) 110
Reflux Ratio (Molar) 2.5

The Mole Fraction of C3 in Overhead and Bottoms Streams are 0.9207 and 0.2548 respectively.

Fig 8.0: DC3 Distillate and Bottoms Composition

Using Butane (i-C4 and n-C4) in Distillate and C3 in Reboiler Liquid Specifications for Depropanizer
The Specifications for Butane in Distillate was used as 0.015 (Mole Fraction). For C3, a mole
fraction of 0.02 was specified.
The New Liquid flow rate = 120kgmole/hr