Process Simulation of MEG Regeneration Unit

• Main Author: Kamal, Nur Natasha
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS 2012
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6170/1/Nur%20Natasha%20Kamal%20%2812145%29.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6170/
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Petronas

Hydrate formation in natural gas pipelines can be inhibited by passing thorough Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) in transportation pipelines. Absences of MEG in transportation pipelines will reduce the hydrate formation and at the same time will increase the quality of natural gas. MEG is most favorable because it is reusable, increase corrosion protection, and non flammable. Furthermore, MEG has high absorption efficiency, easy and economic regeneration. However, since MEG can be reused, all salt contains has to be removed before recirculating MEG in subsea pipelines. This is to avoid blockage of pipelines and to sustain the quality of MEG in hydrate prevention. Thus, regeneration unit is vital in order to remove all impurities in rich MEG and to avoid the saturation of contaminants in MEG. Current regeneration plants will produce high purity which is up to 99% weight of lean MEG for the subsea pipelines. However, this project will cover on producing 70% weight of lean MEG as final product. Furthermore, for this regeneration of MEG, reboiled absorber is chosen instead of distillation column due to several reason. In regeneration unit, simply boiling of rich MEG will result all contaminants consist of water formation salt, corrosion scale and non-soluble salt to be deposited at the bottom of regeneration unit. As consequence, regeneration unit will come to the extend it has to be shut down often due to maintenance of column. In order to solve this problem, reclamation unit is being installed together with regeneration unit as to remove all salts contains. Reclamation unit consists of two types, which are full reclamation and slip stream reclamation. Both will be discussed further along this project. As for simulation of regeneration unit of MEG, Aspen HYSYS 2006 is being used instead of ICON, and Peng Robinson fluid package is being chosen with several concrete reason. In addition, this simulation will come with some graphs as to observe effect of changes of any parameters available.