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Dew Point Optimization

The document discusses hydrocarbon recovery processes used to condense liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas (NG) after separation, highlighting the importance of minimizing oil and water content to prevent hydrate blockage. It details three main units for hydrocarbon recovery: Joule Thomson units, Turbo Expander units, and Refrigeration packages, each with specific operational mechanisms. The goal of these systems is to efficiently separate valuable natural gas liquids (NGLs) and manage gas temperature for compliance with sales specifications.

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yeeprieto
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5 views12 pages

Dew Point Optimization

The document discusses hydrocarbon recovery processes used to condense liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas (NG) after separation, highlighting the importance of minimizing oil and water content to prevent hydrate blockage. It details three main units for hydrocarbon recovery: Joule Thomson units, Turbo Expander units, and Refrigeration packages, each with specific operational mechanisms. The goal of these systems is to efficiently separate valuable natural gas liquids (NGLs) and manage gas temperature for compliance with sales specifications.

Uploaded by

yeeprieto
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Hydrocarbon dew point optimization

Hydrocarbon recovery
 Hydrocarbon recovery is a process to
condense the remaining liquid hydrocarbons
from NG after separation process

 The natural gas travels through long pipe


lines in very low temperatures in some
places.

 The oil & water content in natural gas should


be minimum as the condensation of these
liquids in the pipelines may cause hydrate
blockage.

 Variable specs applied according to each


area.
Hydrocarbon recovery
 Hydrocarbon recovery process is applied by
one of three units :

1. Joule Thompson units.

2. Refrigeration packages.

3. Turbo Expander units.


Joule Thompson units.

 The Joule Thomson system, or JTS for short, simultaneously reduces the water

dewpoint of gas, recovers valuable hydrocarbon liquids and lowers the BTU (British

Thermal Unit) of the gas stream to sales contract specifications or levels suited for

high-speed engines.
 Gas enters the Joule Thomson System and travels through a series of heat exchangers that

pre-cool the gas. The gas then passes through the Joule Thomson valve, which is a high-

pressure motor valve, taking a pressure drop and cooling further. Liquids accumulate in

the cold separator and are then sent to storage tanks. The cold gas then travels back

through the heat exchanger and exits the Joule Thomson System.
 The end goal in a JTS is to efficiently separate and capture the valuable natural gas

liquids (NGLs) and reduce the temperature of the gas. These NGLs are butane, pentane,

hexane, and all other gas heavies that can be separated and sold as their own product.
Turbo expander units.
 A turbo expander, also referred to as
an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or
axial-flow turbine, through which a high-
pressure gas is expanded to produce work
that is often used to drive
a compressor or generator.

 Turboexpanders are widely used as sources


of refrigeration in industrial processes such as
the extraction of ethane and NG
liquids (NGLs) from natural gas,
the liquefaction of gases (such
as oxygen, nitrogen, helium, argon and
other low-temperature processes.
Thermal Barrier Bearing Housing

Expander Wheel Compressor Wheel

Oil Bearing Unit Shaft Seal


Rotating Assembly
Turbo expander PFD
Turbo Expander process

 Gas enters an inlet scrubber to ensure full separation

of liquids.

 Then the gas is directed to the inlet expander fans

where the pressure is dropped.

 Kinetic energy lost by the gas operates the shaft

 Gas then enters a 2 phase separator to catch the

liquids condensated by cooling.

 Outlet gas Is headed to the compressor which is

operated by the shaft to be compressed and

directed to the rest of the process area.


Refrigeration packages.
 Refrigeration packages are closed cooling cycles

used for hydrocarbon recovery from NGs.

 Refrigeration packages can use Propane or Freon

as a cooling medium.

 The package acts as a Shell-Tube heat

exchanger where there is no direct contact

between gas and cooling medium.

 Can reach very low temperatures down to -25 C.

 Can be used as advanced JT units or in

cryogenic plants.
Refrigeration packages PFD.

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