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A Case Study of the Application of Aspen HYSYS to Optimise the Performance of an Existing Gas Sweetening Process Plant

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nasir Al-Lagtah

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Abstract

Amine gas sweetening process is widely used to remove acid gases (H₂S and CO₂) from natural gas, which is an energy intensive process due to the large requirements of heating and cooling. Reducing the process energy requirements by optimizing its operating parameters (amine circulation rate, temperature, or pressure) is limited. However, process modifications can make a considerable reduction in energy consumption and hence reducing the operating costs. This research reviews the current operation of the case plant (Lekhwair plant, Oman) considering the main operating parameters (lean amine circulation flow rate, temperature and concentration). The simulation and sensitivity analysis are carried out using Aspen HYSYS v7.3. The current process and the two proposed process modifications (side-draw and modified side-draw) are simulated and discussed. A comparison between them and the current process showed that the side-draw modification will save 50% of the current operating expenses with only around £175,000 increase in the capital investment, and a penalty of 1.0 ppm of H₂S concentration in the sweet gas, which is still well below the pipeline gas specification.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Al-Lagtah NMA

Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

Publication status: Published

Conference Name: 2015 Spring Meeting & 11th Global Congress on Process Safety

Year of Conference: 2015

Acceptance date: 16/01/2015

Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers

URL: https://aiche.confex.com/aiche/s15/webprogram/Paper401072.html

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