Acid Gas Dehydration Using Joule-Thomson Recycle Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dehydration processes for acid gas streams are inefficient and costly, leading to significant glycol losses, corrosion, and high carbon footprints, as they require external refrigeration and result in the formation of gas hydrates and corrosion due to residual water content.

Innovation Solution

The method employs the Joule-Thomson effect to auto-refrigerate acid gas streams by isenthalpic expansion, recycling a cooled slipstream to reduce water content, thereby minimizing hydrate formation and corrosion, using a combination of compression, cooling, and expansion stages without external work extraction, and incorporating a low temperature separator or heat exchanger to control temperature and hydrate inhibitor usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional dehydration processes using external refrigeration are used, then water content can be reduced, but glycol losses increase and corrosion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater contentVSAvoidglycol losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the acid gas stream itself to provide the cooling effect through Joule-Thomson expansion, eliminating the need for external refrigeration and glycol-based dehydration systems. The expanded gas stream automatically cools the feed stream, achieving dehydration without glycol losses or external refrigeration requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the temperature and pressure parameters of a portion of the acid gas stream through Joule-Thomson expansion, creating a cold stream that is then mixed with the feed stream to achieve cooling and condensation of water without requiring external refrigeration or glycol absorption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If conventional dehydration processes are used, then water content can be reduced, but corrosion and hydrate formation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater contentVSAvoidcorrosion and hydrate formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The acid gas stream dehydrates itself through the Joule-Thomson effect, where expansion of a portion of the stream creates automatic refrigeration that cools and condenses water from the feed stream, eliminating conditions that lead to corrosion and hydrate formation without requiring external chemical or mechanical intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of water from vapor to liquid through Joule-Thomson cooling, where the temperature reduction caused by gas expansion condenses water vapor in the acid gas stream, removing it as liquid that can then be separated, thereby preventing corrosion and hydrate formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Temperature

If external refrigeration is used for dehydration, then cooling can be achieved, but carbon footprint and operational expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcarbon footprint and operational expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves self-refrigeration by utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect on a portion of the acid gas stream itself, eliminating the need for external refrigeration plants, compressors, and associated energy consumption, thereby reducing carbon footprint and operational expenses while achieving the required cooling effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces mechanical refrigeration systems with a thermodynamic process (Joule-Thomson expansion) that achieves cooling without mechanical work input, substituting an energy-intensive mechanical refrigeration system with a passive thermodynamic expansion process that reduces energy consumption and carbon footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces water content and hydrate formation temperatures effectively, minimizing corrosion and equipment costs, while reducing the carbon footprint and operational expenses by leveraging the thermodynamic properties of acid gases, achieving efficient dehydration without the need for external refrigeration or costly dehydration equipment.

Implementation Method 1

a stream of the acid gas is expanded isenthalpically through a Joule-Thomson valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule-Thomson effect: Joule-Thomson Effect

Implementation Method 2

The stream is then introduced into a separator where the condensed water and acid gas are separated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS8702843B2Process for removing condensable components from a fluid

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 GAS LIQUIDS ENG LTD

AI summary

A protocol for removing condensables from a fluid. The fluid, as an example an acid gas stream captured for EOR or CCS purposes, is initially treated to condense liquids with removal to form a gas stream. The latter is then compressed and cooled. At least a portion of this is then expanded, to form a cooled low pressure stream, and mixed with the initial fluid stream to augment cooling and condensation of condensable components.