Optimal Energy Integration and Off-Design Analysis of an Amine-Based Natural Gas Sweetening Unit

The present paper focuses on the efficiency enhancement of energy-intensive natural gas (NG) sweetening process in context upstream production. A bi-level heat integration scheme is proposed including direct recycling available high-temperature waste and harnessing excess low-temperature an optimized organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for power energy performance whole model was studied under a range possible reservoir conditions. particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm adopted to simultaneously optimize parameters recovery network as well ORC parameters. Finally, order account impact perturbations source sink, off-design analysis conducted using real-time data from industrial plant. methodology found be effective across most conditions covered this study. At optimal integration, reduction 40% up 100% heating requirements amine reported, net electricity production 30% 190% electrical demand background process. use propane (R290) working fluid resulted highest output, whereas higher carbon number fluids allowed better energy/working pressure trade-off. quantification operational fluctuations performance. Energy savings resulting were 68% 103% expected design value, output respective R290, R600a, R601a 60% 132%, 47% 142%, 52% 135%.