Plant-wide assessment of high-pressure membrane contactors in natural gas sweetening – Part II: Process analysis

Abstract This paper presents a model-based assessment of natural gas sweetening process combining high-pressure membrane contactor with conventional amine regeneration. The analysis builds on mathematical model the developed in companion paper, which is capable quantitative predictions CO2 and hydrocarbon absorption solvent evaporative losses to treated gas. predictive capability plant-wide tested against data from pilot plant operated under industrially relevant conditions at processing facility Malaysia, showing close agreement outlet purity energy consumption various loading solvent. enables operational decisions recovery rich amine. A new semi-lean configuration that replaces energy-intensive stripper column by simple flash separator shown reduce overall significantly while still meeting sales specification. forms basis for scale-up commercial process, shows high intensification potential terms volume footprint duty compared treating plants.