Authors: Elena B. FEDOROVA graduated from Gubkin Moscow Institute of Petrochemical and Gas Industry in 1984. She is Candidate of Technical Sciences, associate professor of the Department of Oil and Gas Processing Equipment of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. She is specialist in the field of processes and apparatus of oil and gas processing, and of LNG production. She author of more than 20 scientific publications.
E-mail: fedorova.e@gubkin.ru
Vyacheslav B. MEL’NIKOV graduated from Gubkin Moscow Institute of Petrochemical and Gas Industry in 1970. He is Doctor of Chemical Sciences, professor of the Department of Oil and Gas Processing Equipment of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. He is specialist in the field of collection and preparation of gas and gas condensate. He is author of more than 170 scientific publications.
E-mail: v.mel@mail.ru
Abstract: Before natural gas enters the liquefaction unit at the LNG plant it should be prepared to meet the requirements for the content of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercaptans, mercury, water, and other impurities. For this purpose input slug catchers, acid gas removal units, dehydration units and mercury removal units are placed in the train. The article gives an overview of Russian and foreign publications on new technologies of gas purification and dehydration for LNG production. The classification and short description of processes for acid gases removal from natural gas, including absorption, adsorption and membrane processes are presented. Absorption processes include chemical absorption with amine solutions, physical absorption, and mixed solvents absorption. Characteristics of various types of molecular sieves for dehydration units are given. The existing and prospective technologies of mercury removal process by chemical adsorption are described. Particular attention is paid to the gas pre-treatment technologies for small-scale LNG production
Index UDK: УДК 661.91-404
Keywords: liquefaction of natural gas, LNG, acid gas removal, gas dehydration, mercury removal, small-scale LNG production
Bibliography:
1. Mokhatab S., Mak J.Y., Valappil J.V., Wood D.A. Handbook of Liquefied Natural Gas. Oxford: Elsevier Inc., 2014, 624 p.
2. Fedorova Е.B. State-of-the-art and development of the Global LNG Industry: technologies and equipment. М.: Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 2011, 159 p. (in Russian).
3. Klinkenbijl J.M., Dillon M.L., Heyman E.C. Gas Pre-Treatment and their Impact on Liquefaction Processes//Proceedings of the 78th Annual Gas Processors Association (GPA) Con-vention, 1999. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publications (Accessed 05.06.2015).
4. Kalat Jari H.R., Khomarloo P., Assa K. A new approach for sizing finger-type (multiple-pipe) slug catchers//Gas Processing, 2015, no. 05/06, p. 53-60.
5. Waldmann I.B., Haylock T. Removal Requirements//LNG Industry, 2014, no. 10, p. 59-62.
6. Lapidus A.L., Golubeva I.A., Zhagfarov F.G. Gazohimiya. (Gas Chemistry). М.: Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 2013, 405 p. (in Russian).
7. Tehnologija pererabotki prirodnogo gaza i gazokondensata: Spravochnik: v 2 ch. (Natural Gas and Gas Condensate Processing Tecnology. Handbook in 2 parts). M.: Nedra-Biznescentr, 2002, ch. I, 517 p. (in Russian).
8. Ortiz-Vega D., Dowdle J., Cristancho D., Badhwar A. Accurate rate-based modelling of acid gas and mercaptan removal using hybrid solvents. Hydrocarbon Processing, 2015, no. 6, p. 53-56.
9. Burr B, Lyddon L. A comparison of physical solvents for acid gas removal. Proceedings of the 87th Annual GPA Convention. Grapevine, Texas, 2008. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publications (Accessed 05.09.2015).
10. Golubeva I.A., Bakanev I.A. Zavod po proizvodstvu SPG proekta Sahalin-2 („Sahalin EHnerdzhi Investment Kompani Ltd”). Neftepererabotka i neftekhimiya, 2015, no. 6, p. 27-37.
11. Kidnay A.J., Parrish W.R., McCartney D.G. Fundamentals of natural gas processing. 2nd edition. London, New York: CRC Press. Taylor&Francis Group, 2011, 464 p.
12. Mak J., Graham C. Coping under pressure//LNG Industry, 2015, no.7/8, p. 39-44.
13. Kohl A., Nielsen R. Gas Purification. 5th edition. Houston, TX, USA.: Gulf Publishing Company, 1997. 1395 p.
14. Blachman M., McHuge T. Sour gas dehydration technology and alternatives. LRGCC 2000: conference proceedings: 50 Laurance Reid Gas Conditioning Conference. Norman, Okla.: The University, 2000.
15. Molecular Sieve Desiccant Dehydrator For Natural Gas. www2.emersonprocess.com. 06.2013. URL: http://www2.emersonprocess.com/siteadmincenter/PM%20Valve%20Automation%20 Documents/Bettis/Brochure/MolecularSieve.pdf. (Accessed 16.09.2015).
16. Farag Hassan A.A., Ezzat M.M., Amer H., Nashed A.W. Natural gas dehydration by desiccant materials. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 2011, v. 50, p. 431-439.
17. Qualls W.R., Watkins J., Radtke D. A Tale of Two Sieves. Proceedings of the International Conference GASTECH, 2011.
18. Terrigeol A. Molecular sieves in gas processing: Effects and consequences by contaminants. www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com. URL: http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/Article/3137897/ Gas-Processing-or-LNG-Amines/Molecular-sieves-in-gas-processing-Effects-and-consequences-by-co-ntaminants.html. (Accessed 18.07.2015).
19. Northrop S., Sundaram N. Modified cycles, adsorbents improve gas treatment, increase mol-sieve life//Oil and Gas Journal. 08/24/2008. URL: http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-106/issue-29/processing/modified-cycles-adsorbents-improve-gas-treatment-increase-mol-sieve-life.html (Acces- sed 18.07.2015).
20. Abbott J., Oppenshaw P. Mercury Removal Technology and Its Applications// Proceedings of the 81st Annual GPA Convention, Dallas, TX, USA, 2002. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publi-cations (Accessed 05.09.2015).
21. Eckersley N. Advanced mercury removal technologies. www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com. URL: http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/Article/2594500/Search/Advanced-mercury-removal-technologies.html?Keywords=mercury+removal&PageMove=1. (Accessed 10.09.2015).
22. Carnell P.J.H, Row V.A. Quelling quicksilver// LNG Industry, 2014, no. 5, р. 63-67.
23. Markovs J., Clarc K. Optimized Mercury Removal in Gas Plants//Proceedings of the 84th Annual GPA Convention, San-Antonio, 2005. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publications (Accessed 05.09.2015).
24. Stiltner J. Mercury Removal From Natural Gas and Liquid Streams//Proceedings of the 81st Annual GPA Convention, Dallas, TX, USA, 2002. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publications (Accessed 08.09.2015).
25. Ruddy T., Pennybaker K. State Of Mercury Removal Technology// Procedings of the 86th Annual GPA Convention, San-Antonio, TX, USA, 2007. URL: https://www.gpaglobal.org/publications (Accessed 05.09.2015).
26. Alper H. Disengagement of Aerosol Mercury from LNG. LNG Industry, 2014, no. 10, р. 55-58.
27. Alper H. Coalescing mercury contaminants. LNG Industry, 2015, no. 4, р. 49-52.
28. Goodghild J., Lind T., Melville A. Pretreatment System Modifications for Improving CO2 Removal in the Feedgas for 3 Gas Utility Peak-Shaving Plants. Proceedings of the International Conference LNG-17, Houston, TX, USA, 2013. URL: http://www.gastechnology.org/Training/Pages/ LNG17-conference/LNG-17-Conference.aspx (Accessed 10.09.2015).
29. Small Scale LNG. 2012-2015 Triennium Work Report// Paris : International Gas Union, June 2015, 84 p. URL: http://www.igu.org/sites/default/files/node-page-field_file/SmallScaleLNG.pdf (Ac-cessed 10.07.2015 г.).
30. Shirokova G.S., Elistratov M.V. Tehnologicheskie zadachi kompleksnoj ochistki prirodnogo gaza dlja poluchenija SPG (Technology aspects of natural gas treatment for liquefaction). Gazovaja promyshlennost’, 2011, Specvypusk „Proizvodstvo, transportirovka, hranenie i ispol’zovanie szhizhennogo prirodnogo gaza”, p. 11-15 (in Russian).
31. Zhou J., Meyer H., Leppin D. Hibrid Membrane/Absorbtion Process For Acid Gas Removal in FLNG Applications//Proceedings of the International Conference LNG-17, Houston, TX, USA, 2013. URL: http://www.gastechnology.org/Training/Pages/LNG17-conference/LNG-17-Conference. aspx (Accessed 10.09.2015).
32. Lin W., Xiong X., Gu A. Natural Gas Pressurized Process Adopting MR Refrigeration and CO2 Removal by Anti-sublimation. Proceedings of the International Conference LNG-17, Houston, TX, USA, 2013. URL: http://www.gastechnology.org/Training/Pages/LNG17-conference/LNG-17-Conference.aspx (Accessed 10.09.2015).