Reduce amine plant solvent losses; Part 1

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)

OSTI ID:7024236

Stewart, E J; Lanning, R A ^[1]

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1. Dow Chemical Co., Freeport, TX (United States)

A systematic approach to amine plant solvent-loss reduction begins with an accurate measurement of current plant loss rates. To do this, look at long-term inventory and alkanolamine solvent purchases and calculate amine losses on a daily or hourly basis versus plant production. An approximation should be made for losses due to vaporization, solubility, entrainment and degradation. The difference between estimated losses and actual current plant loss rates is attributed to mechanical losses. Individual mechanical losses are identified by a thorough plant inspection and review of operating procedures. The five categories of losses should then be ranked from highest to lowest loss area. This ranking establishes order of importance for equipment and operational changes. The most common ranking of loss categories from highest to lowest in a gas treating plant is mechanical, entrainment, vaporization and degradation. However, when a liquid treater is part of the process, the ranking becomes mechanical, liquid entrainment and solubility as high-loss areas. Part 1 discusses amine losses and mitigation techniques for losses due to vaporization, solubility, and entrainment in gas treaters. Part 2 (next month) will discuss how to identify and prevent losses caused by entrainment in liquid treaters, degradation, and mechanical leaks.

• OSTI ID: 7024236
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States) Vol. 73:5; ISSN HYPRAX; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
AMINES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESULFURIZATION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENTRAINMENT
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LEAKS
LOSSES
MITIGATION
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS