Process Simulation of MEG Regeneration Unit

Hydrate formation in natural gas pipelines can be inhibited by passing
thorough Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) in transportation pipelines. Absences of
MEG in transportation pipelines will reduce the hydrate formation and at the same
time will increase the quality of natural gas. MEG is most favorable because it is
reusable, increase corrosion protection, and non flammable. Furthermore, MEG has
high absorption efficiency, easy and economic regeneration. However, since MEG
can be reused, all salt contains has to be removed before recirculating MEG in subsea
pipelines. This is to avoid blockage of pipelines and to sustain the quality of MEG in
hydrate prevention. Thus, regeneration unit is vital in order to remove all impurities
in rich MEG and to avoid the saturation of contaminants in MEG. Current
regeneration plants will produce high purity which is up to 99% weight of lean MEG
for the subsea pipelines. However, this project will cover on producing 70% weight
of lean MEG as final product.
Furthermore, for this regeneration of MEG, reboiled absorber is chosen
instead of distillation column due to several reason. In regeneration unit, simply
boiling of rich MEG will result all contaminants consist of water formation salt,
corrosion scale and non-soluble salt to be deposited at the bottom of regeneration
unit. As consequence, regeneration unit will come to the extend it has to be shut
down often due to maintenance of column. In order to solve this problem,
reclamation unit is being installed together with regeneration unit as to remove all
salts contains. Reclamation unit consists of two types, which are full reclamation and
slip stream reclamation. Both will be discussed further along this project. As for
simulation of regeneration unit of MEG, Aspen HYSYS 2006 is being used instead
of ICON, and Peng Robinson fluid package is being chosen with several concrete
reason. In addition, this simulation will come with some graphs as to observe effect
of changes of any parameters available.