Glycol Dehydration Composition Reducing Solvent Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Glycol solvent loss during natural gas dehydration processes is significant due to vaporization, carryover, and mechanical losses, leading to increased costs and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A dehydration composition comprising 50-75 weight percent glycol and 25-50 weight percent glycerine, along with optional additives like alkanolamines, phosphate or borate compounds, is used in a vertically positioned dehydration column with a contact zone and demister to reduce solvent loss by controlling droplet size and properties such as viscosity and surface tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If glycol solvent is used for gas dehydration, then water vapor removal efficiency is improved, but solvent loss increases due to vaporization, carryover, and mechanical losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater vapor removal efficiencyVSAvoidglycol solvent loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the glycol solvent by adding contaminants such as corrosion products, thermal degradation products, and hydrocarbons. These parameter changes alter the solvent's vapor pressure, surface tension, and other properties to reduce vaporization losses and improve demister efficiency, thereby reducing carryover losses while maintaining dehydration performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite dehydration solvent by combining glycol with various contaminants including corrosion products (iron oxides, hydroxides), thermal degradation products (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids), and hydrocarbons (C2-C5). This composite material exhibits improved performance characteristics compared to pure glycol, specifically reduced vaporization and carryover losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If higher glycol concentration is used to improve dehydration performance, then water absorption capacity increases, but vaporization loss and carryover loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater absorption capacityVSAvoidvaporization loss and carryover loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By introducing contaminants into the glycol system, the patent changes the solvent's vapor pressure and surface tension parameters. This allows the use of higher glycol concentrations for improved water absorption while the modified vapor pressure reduces vaporization loss and altered surface tension improves liquid droplet coalescence in demisters, reducing carryover loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If glycol is heated for regeneration, then water removal from glycol is improved, but thermal degradation of glycol occurs increasing solvent loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal from glycolVSAvoidsolvent loss due to thermal degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful thermal degradation of glycol during regeneration into a beneficial effect. The thermal degradation products (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids) that would normally increase solvent loss are instead utilized as components of the composite solvent system, where they contribute to reduced vaporization and carryover losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The presence of thermal degradation products in the glycol system modifies the solvent's physical parameters including vapor pressure and surface tension. These parameter changes reduce vaporization losses during both contactor and still operations, and improve liquid droplet behavior in demisters, thereby converting thermal degradation from a harmful effect to a beneficial one

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Significantly reduces glycol solvent loss by optimizing demister efficiency, leading to improved recovery and reduced operational costs through enhanced particle entrainment management.

Implementation Method 1

Water vapor entrained within the gas stream is absorbed by the glycol desiccant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a demister located between the upper most bubble tray and the gas outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDemister separation: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

controlling droplet size and properties such as viscosity and surface tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity control:

Implementation Method 4

controlling droplet size and properties such as viscosity and surface tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12128353B2Gas dehydration composition and process to reduce solvent losses

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a dehydration composition and method of use thereof for drying gas streams, in particular natural gas streams, wherein the dehydration composition comprises a (a) glycol and (b) an additive selected so as to increase the viscosity, surface tension, and/or specific gravity of the dehydration composition. Said dehydration composition and method results in the reduction of solvent loss during the dehydration step in a gas dehydration unit.