Amine Filtration

Gas Sweetening or Gas treatment is a term used to describe the various processes for removal of
contaminants, primarily Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from natural gas or hydrocarbon
liquids.

Amine solvents are widely used to remove Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S). These are
called “acid gases” because when absorbed in water, they form an acidic solution.Therefore, much is
demanded from sweetening units in the refinery process and it is essential that the washing system is free
from problem causers. Removing arisen contaminants from the Amine is an effective method for securing the
unit’s capacity, also in protecting the system and downstream equipment against corrosion, erosion, wearing,
plugging, etc.

Twin Process Filtration focuses on the removal of the problem causers:

 Solids 
 Liquid Hydrocarbons 

 Heat Stable Salts

·     PROCESS DESCRIPTION         

 After passing through an inlet separator and/or gas-liquid coalescer to remove the majority
of hydrocarbons and solids, the sour gas is introduced at the bottom of the absorber.
 Sour gas flows through the absorber tower and is contacted counter-currently with the
aqueous amine solution absorbing the acid gas in the amine.
 Purified gas leaves at the top of the absorber.
 Rich amine solution leaves the absorber and flows to a flash tank.
 From the flash tank, the Rich amine flows to the top portion of the regenerator/stripper
after passing a Lean/Rich cross exchanger.
 The Rich amine is further heated in the regeneration column. The steam rising through the
regeneration column, regenerates the amine.
 Steam and acid gases separated from the Rich amine are condensed and cooled.
 The stripped acid gas typically flows to a Claus sulfur plant for further processing.
 The condensed water is separated in the reflux accumulator and returned to the still.
 The hot Lean amine from the reboiler is circulated back to the absorber after passing
through the Lean / Rich cross exchanger, a lean solution cooler and a filter system