Amine Treating Unit

SPM-3100 Amine Treating Unit

Process Description

The Amine Treating Unit removes CO2 and H2S from

sour gas and hydrocarbon streams in the Amine
Contactor. The Amine (MDEA) is regenerated in the
Amine Regenerator, and recycled to the Amine
Contactor.

The sour gas streams enter the bottom of the Amine

Contactor. The cooled lean amine is trim cooled and
enters the top of the contactor column. The sour
gas flows upward counter-current to the lean amine
solution. An acid-gas-rich-amine solution leaves the
bottom of the column at an elevated temperature,
due to the exothermic absorption reaction. The
sweet gas, after absorption of H2S by the amine
solution, flows overhead from the Amine Contactor.

The Rich Amine Surge Drum allows separation of
hydrocarbon from the amine solution. Condensed
hydrocarbons flow over a weir and are pumped to
the drain. The rich amine from the surge drum is
pumped to the Lean/Rich Amine Exchanger.
Click here to view the schematic display A
Click here to view the schematic display B
Click here to view the schematic display C

The stripping of H2S and CO2 in the Amine

Regenerator regenerates the rich amine solution.
The Amine Regenerator Reboiler supplies the
necessary heat to strip H2S and CO2 from the rich
amine, using steam as the heating medium.

Acid gas, primarily H2S and water vapor from the

regenerator is cooled in the Amine Regenerator
Overhead Condenser. The mixture of gas and
condensed liquid is collected in the Amine
Regenerator Overhead Accumulator. The
uncondensed gas is sent to Sulfur Recovery.

The Amine Regenerator Reflux Pump, pumps the

condensate in the Regenerator Accumulator, mainly
water, to the top tray of the Amine Regenerator A Best matches for h2s absorption
portion of the pump discharge is sent to the sour
The cooler the lean amine temperature, the better the H2S
water tank.
absorption. However, lowering the MDEA solution temperature
below the gas inlet temperature can... Jump to text »
Lean amine solution from the Amine Regenerator is
cooled in the Lean/Rich Exchanger. A slipstream of
rich amine solution passes through a filter to remove
particulates and hydrocarbons, and is returned to
the suction of the pump. The lean amine is further
cooled in the Lean Amine Air Cooler, before entering
the Amine Contactor.
Product Specifications

The Amine Treating Unit removes CO2 and H2S from sour gas and hydrocarbon streams totaling 14.5
MMSCFD. The acid contaminants are absorbed by counter flowing amine solution (MDEA). The stripped
gas is removed overhead, and the amine is sent to the regenerator. In the regenerator, the acidic
components are stripped by heat and reboiling action and disposed of, and the amine is recycled.

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Amine Treating Unit

Equipment Specifications

The amine contactor is 5 feet in diameter by 65 feet tangent to tangent with 22 trays. The Rich Amine
Surge drum, D-101, provides approximately 30 minutes of residence time which allow separation of the
hydrocarbon from the amine solution. The Amine Regenerator is 8 feet in diameter by 70 feet tangent to
tangent with 22 trays. The Regenerator Reboiler, E-202, uses 60 psig steam as heating medium which
provides the heat for regeneration of the amine solution.
Instrumentation

The sour gas stream, 14.5 MMSCFD, enters the bottom of the Amine Contactor at 95 degrees F and 140
psig. The cooled lean amine is trim cooled in exchanger E-103 and enters the top of the absorber column
at 105 deg F. The lean amine solution temperature is 10 degrees higher than the feed gas to prevent any
hydrocarbon condensation and foaming problems. This temperature differential is maintained by TDIC-
103, which allows bypassing of lean amine around the Lean Amine Trim Cooler E-103.

The sour gas flows upward counter-current to the lean amine solution in T-101. An acid-gas-rich-amine
solution leaves the bottom of the column at an elevated temperature, 135 deg F, due to the exothermic
absorption reaction. The rich MDEA solution temperature is monitored by TI-105. Rich amine leaves the
bottom of the column on level control LIC-101 to the Rich Amine Surge Drum D-101.

The sweet gas, after absorption of H2S by the MDEA solution, flows overhead from T-101 under pressure
control PIC-101, monitored by the H2S and CO2 analyzers, AI-102 and AI-103. The temperature and flow
rate of the gas are monitored with TI-104 and FI-101.

The Rich Amine Surge Drum D-101 allows the amine solution 30 minutes of residence time, which allows
separation of hydrocarbon from the amine solution. The drum pressure is maintained by a backpressure
controller, PIC-102, at 5 psig. Condensed hydrocarbons flow over a weir and are pumped to the drain
system using P-102.

The rich amine from the surge drum is pumped by P-101 to the Lean/Rich Amine Exchanger E-101. The
rich amine enters the tube side at 135 deg F, where it is heated to 226 deg F by the hot lean amine
solution from the regenerator bottoms. The hot lean amine solution enters the Lean/Rich Exchanger on
the shell side at 265 deg F.

The stripping of H2S and CO2 in the Amine Regenerator, T-201, regenerates the rich amine solution. The
Amine Regenerator Reboiler supplies the necessary heat to strip H2S from the rich amine, using 60-psig
steam as the heating medium.

Acid gas, primarily H2S and water vapor from the regenerator is cooled to 120 deg F in the Amine
Regenerator Overhead Condenser. The temperature of the overhead gas is monitored by TI-202 The
mixture of gas and condensed liquid is collected in the Amine Regenerator Overhead Accumulator. The
pressure is maintained at 16 psig with PIC-201 controlling the acid gas from the Regenerator
Accumulator, D-20, to Sulfur Recovery.

The condensate in the Regenerator Accumulator D-201, mainly water, is pumped by the Amine
Regenerator Reflux Pump, P-202, to the top tray of the Amine Regenerator. The reflux flow is regulated
by level controller LIC-201 and is monitored by FI-203. A part of the pump discharge is sent to the sour
water tank.

Lean amine solution from the Amine Regenerator is cooled from 265 degrees F to 189 degrees F in the
Lean/Rich Exchanger. A slipstream of rich amine solution is controlled by PDIC-202 through a filter F-201
to remove particulates and hydrocarbons, and returned to the suction of P-201. The lean amine is further
cooled in the Lean Amine Air Cooler, E-102, to 130 degrees F.
Advanced Controls

The cooler the lean amine temperature, the better the H2S absorption. However, lowering the MDEA
solution temperature below the gas inlet temperature can cause hydrocarbons to condense with resulting
foaming. The lean amine solution temperature is maintained 10 degrees higher than the feed gas to the
Amine Contactor. TDIC-103 allows bypassing of lean amine around the Lean Amine Trim Cooler, E-103,

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Amine Treating Unit

to maintain this 10 degree difference.

Faults

All faults can be failed high or low to any degree with any of 8 fault function generators (step change,
square wave, staircase, stairs, ramp, saw tooth, slope, or sine wave). Faults can be programmed to start
and/or stop at various times during a simulation exercise.

Fault 1: P-101 Motor Fault 16: HIC-201 Valve

Fault 2: P-102 Motor Fault 17: HIC-202 Valve
Fault 3: HS-103 Motor Fault 18: LIC-101 Valve
Fault 4: P-201 Motor Fault 19: LIC-201 Valve
Fault 5: P-202 Motor Fault 20: PDIC-202 Valve
Fault 6: HS-203 Motor Fault 21: PIC-101 Valve
Fault 7: E-101 Hex Fault 22: PIC-102 Valve
Fault 8: E-102 Hex Fault 23: PIC-201 Valve
Fault 9: E-103 Hex Fault 24: TIC-102 Valve
Fault 10: E-201 Hex Fault 25: TIC-102 Transmitter
Fault 11: E-202 Hex Fault 26: TDIC-103 Transmitter
Fault 12: FIC-102 Valve Fault 27: LIC-203 Transmitter
Fault 13: FIC-201 Valve Fault 28: PIC-101 Transmitter
Fault 14: FIC-203 Valve Fault 29: PIC-102 Transmitter
Fault 15: HIC-101 Valve Fault 30: PIC-201 Transmitter

Training Exercises

You may create a virtually unlimited number of scenarios and training exercises by programming the
faults described in the previous section. You can then establish performance standards for each one of
those exercises. Simtronics provides a number of exercises with established performance standards for
each process simulation. The objective, time to complete the exercise, cause, effect, solution, and
procedure for each exercise is documented. You may modify these procedures to more closely reflect your
particular process plant operating procedures.

Exercise 1: Design
Exercise 2: Cold Start
Exercise 3: TDIC-103 Reads Low

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