Amine Gas Sweetening Systems

Field proven gas sweetening system

Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide,
mercaptans and other contaminants are
often found in natural gas streams. H2S is a
highly toxic gas that is corrosive to carbon
steels. CO2 is also corrosive to equipment
and reduces the Btu value of gas.
Gas sweetening processes remove these
contaminants so the gas is suitable for
transportation and use.
NATCO designs and manufactures a
variety of gas sweetening systems,
including amine systems. NATCO offers a
number of amine solvents, that remove the
contaminants by chemical reaction.
Custom and standard designs are available
to meet any gas sweetening challenge,
and lease/purchase options are available.

Amine Sweetening Process

NATCO amine sweetening systems are based
on proven gas sweetening technology.
The systems are efficient and effective.
The following step-by-step explanation refers
to Figure 1.
1 Sour gas enters the contactor tower and
rises through the descending amine
solution.
2 Purified gas flows from the top of the
tower.
3 The amine solution, carrying absorbed acid
gases, leaves the tower for the heat
exchanger or optional flash tank.
4 Rich amine is heated by hot regenerated
lean amine in the heat exchanger.
5 Rich amine is further heated in the regener- Figure 1 Typical Amine Systems flow diagram
ation still column, by heat supplied from
the reboiler. The steam rising through the
still liberates H22 and CO2 regenerating the
amine.
6 Steam and acid gases separated from the
rich amine are condensed and cooled,
respectively, in the reflux condenser.
7 Condensed steam is separated in the reflux
accumulator and returned to the still.
Acid gases may be vented, incinerated or
directed to a sulfur recovery system.
8 Hot regenerated lean amine is cooled in a
solvent aerial cooler and circulated to the
contactor tower, completing the cycle.
9 A variety of heat sources may be used for
the still reboiler: direct-fired, waste heat,
hot oil and steam systems.
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 Amine Gas Sweetening Systems
Custom-designed gas sweetening Standardized Amine plants The standard plants are shop-fabricated
plants modular packages. They are skid-mounted
Standardized plants save you time and include all piping and controls.
Systems engineered to suit and money The plants are designed to use a variety of
your needs By standardising the gas sweetening solvents, as well as MEA, DEA, MDEA, DGA
NATCO custom designs and manufactures design, we are able to provide fast and Sulfinol.
amine sweetening plants for any particu- delivery and a saving in engineering cost.
lar application. Our specially engineered Equipment included in each plant:
systems adapt the basic amine process to Six complete gas sweetening • Amine contactor tower
your gas flow rates, stream composition, packages • Reboiler/surge tank
desired outlet quality and more. NATCO’s standardized plant is designed • Reflux condenser/solution cooler in a
The amine plant may stand alone or work in six sizes for the most frequently common aerial cooler package
as part of an integrated processing instal- required solvent circulation rates. • Reflux accumulator
lation, offshore or onshore. Sizes range • Reflux pump(s)
from 125 gpm to 2000 gpm and higher, • Main solvent pump(s)
with contaminants in any concentration. Size 0 1 to 3 gpm • Solvent booster pump(s)
Below 125 gpm circulation rates, NATCO Size 1 3 to 10 gpm • Full flow filter for rich solvent
offers six standardized designs. Size 2 10 to 20 gpm • Charcoal filter
Size 3 20 to 40 gpm • Control panel/motor starters
Size 4 40 to 80 gpm The 1-3gpm unit has the reflux system integral with the still column.
This unit does not require reflux pumps or booster pumps.
Size 5 80 to 120 gpm
Except for the gas contact tower the 1-3
gpm, 3-10 gpm and 10-20 gpm plants are
Standard Amine plants complete on one skid. The reboiler and
aerial cooler are mounted off-skid on the
1-3 3-10 10-20 20-40 40-80 80-120
gpm gpm gpm gpm gpm gpm 20-40 gpm plant. The reboiler, still, and
Contractor tower
solvent aerial cooler are off-skid on the
O.D. (in) 12.75 18 18 24 30 36
larger plants.
Length (ft) 42 52.5 52.5 52.5 52.5 52.5
Trays 20 20 20 20 20 20
Select options to suit special needs
Reboiler
These plants are designed so that they can
O.D. (in) 24 36 60 72 96 120
be customized to meet your special needs
Custom performance from a while maintaining fast delivery.
standard design Length (ft) 10 25 30 30 40 40
Duty (MMbtu/hr) .23 .75 1.25 2.75 5.5 8.6
These options include:
NATCO has put years of gas sweetening • Outlet scrubber and accessories
expertise into the design and engineering Still column
O.D. (in) 10.75 14 18 24 36 42
• Flash tank and accessories
of six standardized gas plants. You get the • NACE accessories
kind of performance with these standard Length (ft) 23 48 50 50 50 50
Trays Pack 20 20 20 20 20
• Instrument options
plants that you expect from a custom- • Control panel options
designed sweetening plant. Reflux accumulator
O.D. (in) 14 16 18 24 36 42
• Reclaimer and accessories
Length (ft) 6 5 7.5 7.5 7.5 52.5 For more information on NATCO Amine Gas Sweetening
Circulation pump (2) Systems or other NATCO Group products contact:

Rate (gpm) max 3 10 20 40 80 120 NATCO Head Office

Houston, USA
Horsepower 3 10 20 40 75 100
Tel: +(1) 713 849 7500
Reflux pump (2) Email: sales@natco-us.com
Rate (gpm) max N/A .75 1.5 3 6 9 NATCO UK
Horsepower N/A 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Farnborough, UK
Tel: +(44) 1252 363000
Booster pump Email: sales@natco-uk.com
Rate (gpm) max N/A 10 20 40 80 120 NATCO Canada
Horsepower N/A 2.0 2.0 5 10 10
Calgary, Canada
Tel: +(1) 403 236 1850
Reflux condenser Email: sales@natco.ab.ca
Duty (MMbtu/hr) .15 0.525 1.05 2.10 4.20 6.30 NATCO Japan
Heat exchanger
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +(81) 33288 1901
Duty (MMbtu/hr) .95 0.315 .63 1.26 2.52 3.78 Email: natco1@natcojapan.com
Cooler NATCO SCOMI
Duty (MMbtu/hr) .10 0.325 0.65 1.30 2.60 3.90 (Scomi NATCO Joint Venture Company)
Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Charcoal filter Tel: +(60) 3 2168 4382
Rate (gpm) 3 7.5 7.5 7.5 16 25 Email: sales@natcosea.com
www.natcogroup.com

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