Reduced Energy Requirements in Gas Treating Using Formulated Solvents

Monoethanolamine (MEA) is a broadly used alkanolamine solvent for acid gas treating applications, especially for refinery gas streams. Its use entails high operating and capital costs, due to relatively higher regeneration energy requirements and higher thermal degradation and corrosion propensities. With specially formulated solvents, these problems can be alleviated, causing significant cost savings to producers. Using an in-house plant simulator, we demonstrate reduced energy requirements with a formulated solvent for a typical gas treating requirement, compared to MEA. Additionally, solvent fill requirements are reduced, arising from lower solvent losses, owing to a lower volatility and higher thermal degradation resistance of the formulated solvent. For the case studied here, cost savings from reduced regeneration energy requirements alone is close to 50%, in comparison to MEA.