GLYCOL DEHYDRATION UNIT

Removes Water Vapor from Natural Gas

Key Benefits

Complete glycol
dehydration unit with
regenerator and tower

Reliability
Lower loss of lean glycol with greater
exchange area in the glycol/gas exchanger to ensure a lower approach
temperature to the top tray
Reduction in fuel cost by using flash gas
separator to capture gas to fuel reboiler
Protection from scale, sludge, and
sediment with replaceable filter elements
Longer pump life due to better filtration
and a properly sized heat exchanger
Efficiency
Extend the life of the fire tube with lower
BTU flux rate
Reduce air emissions with BTEX option
with recovery of pump gas used as fuel
for the reboiler
On larger units a more efficient
combination vane/wire mesh mist
extractor
Flexibility
Better suited for ever-changing field
conditions by not using heat exchanger
duty in capacity rating
Reduced diameter and weight with
structured packed tower with 10:1
turndown and 10 tray equivalent capacity
High hat tray capacity can take the
full capacity of glycol in the tower during
shut down

OVERVIEW
The Exterran Production
SolutionsTM Glycol Dehydration Unit
is a complete water vapor removal
system used on natural gas well
streams to meet typical pipeline
and process specifications.
Exterrans unit provides you with
reliability, efficiency and flexibility in
a single package and a wide range
of options to meet your needs.

HOW IT WORKS
Wet gas enters the integral
scrubber at the bottom of the
absorber tower. The gas ascends through a mist extractor where fine
liquid particles are coalesced and removed. As the gas rises through the
absorber towers packing or bubble cap trays, lean glycol (water removed
through regeneration process) continually pumped to the top of the tower, is
distributed and descends while absorbing the water vapor from the gas. Dry
gas exits the top of the absorber tower and passes through the glycol/gas
heat exchanger to the gas outlet.
The rich glycol (wet with absorbed glycol) collects in the hat tray at the
bottom of the tower and flows to the power side of the glycol pump. From
the pump, the rich glycol flows through the reflux coil and then to the
glycol/glycol heat exchanger where it is heated and passed to the flash
gas separator. The flash gas separator separates gas and entrained
hydrocarbons from the glycol. The gas then flows to the fuel gas scrubber
and the lean glycol flows through a filter and into the reboiler.
As the reboiler drives off water vapor through the still column, the hot,
reconcentrated glycol flows from the reboiler to the sparger box to remove
additional water vapor. The lean glycol flows to the storage compartment
and then to the glycol/glycol heat exchanger for cooling. The cooled,
lean glycol then flows through a glycol sock filter before passing to the
glycol pump. Lean glycol and gas from the absorber together power the
glycol pump, which pumps the glycol through a glycol/gas heat exchanger
to minimize glycol loss and then to the absorber tower to continue the
dehydration process cycle.

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GLYCOL REGENERATOR
The glycol regenerator is an integral part of Exterrans dehydration unit
consisting mainly of a reboiler and still column. It is used to regenerate glycol
by removing water vapor. Regenerator lean glycol is used to dry natural gas.

Glycol Regenerator
Standard Features

Exterran manufactures a wide selection of regenerators with BTU ratings

from 125,000 MBTU/Hr to 2.5 MMBTU/Hr.

Designed for ethylene and triethylene

glycol (EG/TEG)
Energy-saving shell insulation with
aluminum jacket
Removable fire tube and stack
Thermostat with thermowell

Regenerator with still column

50-550 F thermometer with thermowell

High reboiler temperature fuel gas shut-off
with manual reset
Fuel gas regulator, scrubber and pressure gauges
Flame arrestor with burner and pilot assembly
Integral insulated storage compartment
Liquid level gauge assembly
Glycol sock filter with initial elements
High-pressure glycol strainer
External glycol/glycol heat exchanger
Pump bleeder valves
Energy exchange glycol pump (electric on 2 MMBTU/Hr unit and larger)
Heavy-duty welded structural steel skid with lifting lugs and pull bars
Packed still column with reflux coil (all units larger than 125 MBTU/Hr)

Complete piping for skid hookup, including absorber and reboiler isolating valves for units up to 500 MBTU/Hr
Environmentally sound bent tubing and socket weld glycol piping and valves for one inch and larger pipe sizes to prevent leaking

Regenerator Specifications
Firetube Rating
(MBTU/Hr)

Glycol Recharge
(Gallons)

Nominal Glycol Recirculation

Reboiler Size
(Gal/Hr)
OD (inches) x Length (feet)

125

54

40

20 x 6

3 x 10

200

103

90

20 x 9

3 x 14

300

225

180

24 x 10

5 x 19

500

304

250

36 x 10

5 x 19

750

628

400

36 x 15

6 x 28

1000

857

500

42 x 17

6.4 x 29

1500

1529

900

48 x 22.5

10.5 x 30

2000

2140

1440

60 x 28

12 x 38.5

2500

2640

1780

60 x 35.25

12 x 40

See the Options Checklist on the last page for available options.

Skid Size
Width x Length (feet)

ABSORBER TOWER

Standard Features

The absorber tower is another key component of Exterrans dehydration unit. The
tower is a pressure vessel with an integral scrubber and an absorber section.

Absorber (Both Types)

Glycol distributor
1440 psig design pressure
Stainless steel mist extractor
External glycol/gas heat exchanger
0-200 F dial thermometer with thermowell
Pressure gauge with isolating valve
Pneumatic liquid level controller
Thermal relief valve
Drain valve
Dump valve
Reflex gauge glass assembly with gauge cocks
Lifting lugs

The scrubber removes free liquids from the gas and the absorber section is
used to contact the gas with glycol to remove remaining water vapor. Absorbers
contain either bubble cap trays or stainless steel structured packing for glycol/
gas contact.

Trayed absorber tower

Packed absorber tower

Trayed Absorber
8 bubble cap trays
5:1 turndown
Diameter sizes from 16 to 72 inches
Random Packed Absorber
7:1 turndown
8 tray capacity equivalence
Diameter sizes from 6 to 16 inches
Structured Packed Absorber
Hotter gas handling capability
10:1 turndown
10 tray capacity equivalence
Diameter sizes from 24 to 60 inches

Trayed Absorber Specifications

Diameter (inches)
ID

Gas Capacity (MMscfd) at Flow Pressure (psig)

OD

400

600

800

1000

1200

16

3.1

3.7

4.1

4.6

20

4.6

5.8

6.6

7.2

7.9

24

6.8

8.2

9.5

10.4

11.3

30

14.3

17.5

20.6

23.2

25.5

36

16.8

20.6

24

26.9

29.9

42

23.4

28.7

33.5

37.7

42.5

36

20.1

24.6

28.6

32.4

35.7

42

25.5

31.2

36.4

41

48

34.4

42.1

49.2

54

43.6

53.5

60

53

66
72

Packed Absorber Specifications

Gas Capacity (MMscfd) at Flow Pressure (psig)

Diameter
(inches)

400

600

800

1000

1200

0.5

0.7

0.9

0.9

1.2

1.4

4.6

1.8

10

1.5

1.9

2.2

2.5

2.8

12

2.1

2.7

3.1

3.6

45.8

16

3.6

4.3

4.8

5.3

5.8

55.4

61

24

20

24.5

28.5

31.5

34.5

62.2

70.1

77.7

36

43

54

62

70

78

65.3

76

86.1

96

42

61

74

87

97

106.5

61.1

79.5

93

98.6

108.4

48

78

95

112

125

139

77.4

93.8

110.1

124.9

137.6

60

115

145

174

190

205

See the Options Checklist on the last page for available options.

Random
Pall Ring
Packing
OD

250-X
Structured
Packing
ID

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19ft

GLYCOL REGENERATOR and ABSORBER TOWER

Sizing and Options Form
Contact your local Exterran representative to submit sizing and options.

DIMENSIONS

29ft

Top View

Side View

7ft 7in

19ft

19ft

Dimensions shown here are for 500 MBTU/Hr unit, are approximate, and may vary. Precise measurements for freight should be confirmed prior to shipping.

General Options Checklist

Standard Available Services

o Burner safety low (BSL) for 125-500 MBTU/Hr unit

o Solar panels to power burner safety low detector
o Programmable logic controller (PLC) system
o Burner management system
29ft
o LSL/LSH connections
o Adherence to API 14C recommended practices

o Full setup service

o Glycol regeneration service
o Complete glycol unit cleaning service
o Trailer-mounted reclaiming service
o Easy field cleaning service

Regenerator Options Checklist

o Stack arrestor and down-draft diverter
o Environmental drip pan
o Pilot flame-out safety shut-down with manual reset
19ft
o Spare glycol pump and manifold for standby service
o Alternate gas or electric standby pump on 500 MBTU/Hr
and smaller units
o Glycol pump shut-down
o Glycol charcoal filter on 125 and 300 MBTU/Hr
(standard on larger units)
o Glycol metering
o Gas metering for sparger box
o Special paints and coatings

Absorber Options Checklist

o Additional packing or bubble cap trays
o Skid mounting
o Environmental drip pan

www.exterran.com

Corporate Office
16666 Northchase Drive
Houston, TX 77060

Absorber and Regenerator Sizing Requirements

Rate (MMscfd)

Gas Flow

Pressure (psig)
Temperature (F)
Specific Gravity
Yes / No

Sour Gas

CO2 (mol%)
H2S (ppm)

Outlet Water Content lb/MMscfd

Skid Mounted

Yes / No

Setup Assembly

Yes / No

Standard Paint

Yes / No

BTEX Option

Yes / No

This brochure is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as a
representation or warranty of any kind, or as a statement of any terms or conditions of sale.
The information herein is believed to be correct, but is not warranted for correctness or
completeness, or for applicability to any particular customer or situation.
Copyright 2012 Exterran Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

GLYCOL-PDS-08-04-EN-DE12-US