Gas Dehydration: Glycol and Molecular Sieve Systems

Overview

Water in natural gas causes hydrates, corrosion and freezing in pipelines and cryogenic plants, so almost every gas stream must be dried to a strict water dew point before transport or processing. The two main technologies are glycol absorption, usually with triethylene glycol, and adsorption on molecular sieves, which is needed when very low dew points are required upstream of NGL recovery or LNG units. This course covers both in depth. Participants learn how water content and hydrate formation are estimated, how glycol contactors and regeneration systems are designed and operated, and how to control glycol losses, foaming, degradation and emissions. For molecular sieve units, the course covers adsorbent selection, adsorption and regeneration cycles, bed life, and the causes of premature breakthrough. Throughout, the focus is on operating problems and their solutions in real gas plants.

Objectives

• Estimate the water content of natural gas and hydrate formation conditions
• Explain glycol dehydration and the variables that set dew point depression
• Operate glycol regeneration to achieve the required lean glycol purity
• Diagnose glycol losses, foaming, degradation and contamination
• Describe molecular sieve adsorption and regeneration cycles
• Troubleshoot molecular sieve breakthrough and short bed life
• Compare dehydration options for a given application

Who should attend

Training methodology

Participants use charts and simple calculations to estimate water content, hydrate temperatures and glycol circulation rates, and size a molecular sieve bed for a sample duty. Operating data from TEG and mole sieve units are analysed in groups to find the causes of poor dew points, high glycol losses and short cycle times. Videos and photographs of contactor internals, reboilers and sieve beds support the discussion. Each day closes with a troubleshooting case drawn from a real plant.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions