Shrinking-Core Model Integrating to the Fluid-Dynamic Analysis of Fixed-Bed Adsorption Towers for H2S Removal from Natural Gas

Natural gas sweetening is an essential process within hydrocarbon processing operations, enabling compliance with product quality specifications, avoiding corrosion problems, and environmental care. This aims to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide, or both contaminants. It can be carried out in fixed-bed adsorption towers, where iron oxide-based solid sorbent reacts the H2S produce sulfides. study set develop a fluid-dynamic model that allows calculating pressure drop towers novelty integrate reactivity aspects, through layer formation on particles’ external skin. As result of formation, changes particle diameter bed void fraction tend increase drop. The shrinking-core front variation time support development. Experimental data at laboratory scale industrial allowed validating proposed model. Moreover, estimates replacement frequency, i.e., required saturate fixed bed, requiring its regeneration. used design formulate new sorbents, analyze already installed, help maintenance-planning operations.