Predictions of wet natural gases condensation rates via multi-component and multi-phase simulation of supersonic separators

Seyed Heydar Rajaee Shooshtari; Akbar Shahsavand

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.31, No.10, 1845-1858, October, 2014

DOI10.1007/s11814-014-0133-0 Export Citation

Predictions of wet natural gases condensation rates via multi-component and multi-phase simulation of supersonic separators

Seyed Heydar Rajaee Shooshtari, and Akbar Shahsavand^†

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

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Proper correction of water and heavy hydrocarbon dew points of sweet natural gases is essential from various technical and economical standpoints. Supersonic separators (3S) are proved to be capable of achieving these tasks with maximum reliability and minimal expenses. The majority of the previous articles have focused on the flow behavior of pure fluids across a 3S unit. Multicomponent fluid flow inside 3S accompanied with condensation phenomenon will drastically increase the complexity of the simulation process. We tackle this issue by considering a proper combination of fundamental governing equations and phase equilibrium calculations to predict various operating conditions and composition profiles across two multi-component and multi-phase 3S units. Various Iranian sweet gases are used as real case studies to demonstrate the importance of 3S unit practical applications. Simulation results clearly illustrate the effectiveness of 3S units for faithful dehydration of various natural gases, while successfully controlling its dew point, suitable for any practical applications. Conventional HYSYS simulation software is used to validate the simulation results.

Keywords:Supersonic Separator;Natural Gas;Dew Point Correction;Condensation;Flash Calculation

[References]

Betting M, Epsom HD, World Oil Mag., 254, 197 (2007)
Karimi A, Abdi MA, Chem. Eng. Process., 48(1), 560 (2009)
Machado PB, Monteiro JGM, Medeiros JL, Epsom HD, Araujo OQF, J. Nat. Gas. Sci. Eng., 6, 43 (2012)
Okimoto F, Brouwer JM, World Oil Mag., 223, 89 (2002)
Alferov VI, Baguirov LA, Dmitriev L, Feygin V, Imaev S, Lace JR, Oil Gas J., 103, 53 (2005)
Schinkelshoek P, Epsom H, in Proc. GPA 87th Annual Convention, TX (2008)
Liu HW, Liu ZL, Feng YX, Gu KY, Yan TM, Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 13(1), 9 (2005)
Jassim E, Abdi MA, Muzychka Y, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1757 (2008)
Jassim E, Abdi MA, Muzychka Y, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1773 (2008)
Malyshkina MM, High Temp., 46, 69 (2008)
Malyshkina MM, High Temp., 48, 244 (2010)
Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Chem. Eng. Process., 50(7), 644 (2011)
Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Zhang J, Chem. Eng. Technol., 34(9), 1575 (2011)
Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Li WL, Energy, 37(1), 195 (2012)
Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Zhang J, Adv. Powder Technol., 23(2), 228 (2012)
Ghanbari Mazidi M, Shahsavand A, Vaziri BM, J. Pet. Technol., In press.
Bakhtart F, Mohammadi Tochai MT, Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow, 2, 5 (1980)
Guha A, Young JB, I Mech E Conf. Publ., 167 (1991)
Cinar G, Yilbas BS, Sunar H, Int. J. Multiph. Flow, 23(6), 1171 (1997)
White AJ, Hounslow MJ, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 43(11), 1873 (2000)
Dykas S, Task Q., 5, 519 (2001)
Gerber AG, Kermani M, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 47(10-11), 2217 (2004)
Mahpeykar MR, Teymourtash AR, Sci. Iran., Trans. B., 11, 269 (2004)
Yang Y, Shen Sh, Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transfer, 36, 902 (2009)
Dykas S, Wroblewski W, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 53, 933 (2012)
Cinar G, Yilbas BS, Sunar H, Int. J. Multiph. Flow, 23(6), 1171 (1997)
Ma QF, Hu DP, Jiang JZ, Qiu ZH, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 23, 221 (2009)
Ma QF, Hu DP, Jiang JZ, Qiu ZH, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 24, 29 (2010)
Lingling B, Zhongliang L, Hengwei L, Wenming J, Ming Z, Jian Z, Sci. China Technol. Sci., 53, 435 (2010)
Shooshtari SHR, Shahsavand A, Sep. Purif. Technol., 116, 458 (2013)
Mohaghegh SD, J. Pet. Technol., 57, 8691 (2005)
Zendehboudi S, Ahmadi MA, Bahadori A, Shafiei A, Babadagli T, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 91(7), 1325 (2013)
Zahedi G, Fazlali AR, Hussein SM, Pazuki GR, Sheikhattar L, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 68, 218 (2009)
Shahsavand A, Ahmadpour A, Comput. Chem. Eng., 29(10), 2134 (2005)
Shahsavand A, Chenar AP, J. Membr. Sci., 297(1-2), 59 (2007)
Vaziri BM, Shahsavand A, Rashidi H, Mazidi MG, in Proc. 13th Iranian National Chemical Engineering Cong. & 1st Int. Regional Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran (2010)
Kohl A, Nielsen R, Gas Purification. 5th Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., Houston, Texas (1997)
Ahmed TH, Hydrocarbon phase behavior, 1st Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., USA (1989)
Mccain WD, The properties of petroleum fluid, 2nd Ed., Pennwell Pub. Co., Tlsu, Oklahoma, USA (1990)

[Referenced By]

[1] Betting M, Epsom HD, World Oil Mag., 254, 197 (2007)

[2] Karimi A, Abdi MA, Chem. Eng. Process., 48(1), 560 (2009)

[3] Machado PB, Monteiro JGM, Medeiros JL, Epsom HD, Araujo OQF, J. Nat. Gas. Sci. Eng., 6, 43 (2012)

[4] Okimoto F, Brouwer JM, World Oil Mag., 223, 89 (2002)

[5] Alferov VI, Baguirov LA, Dmitriev L, Feygin V, Imaev S, Lace JR, Oil Gas J., 103, 53 (2005)

[6] Schinkelshoek P, Epsom H, in Proc. GPA 87th Annual Convention, TX (2008)

[7] Liu HW, Liu ZL, Feng YX, Gu KY, Yan TM, Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 13(1), 9 (2005)

[8] Jassim E, Abdi MA, Muzychka Y, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1757 (2008)

[9] Jassim E, Abdi MA, Muzychka Y, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1773 (2008)

[10] Malyshkina MM, High Temp., 46, 69 (2008)

[11] Malyshkina MM, High Temp., 48, 244 (2010)

[12] Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Chem. Eng. Process., 50(7), 644 (2011)

[13] Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Zhang J, Chem. Eng. Technol., 34(9), 1575 (2011)

[14] Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Li WL, Energy, 37(1), 195 (2012)

[15] Wen C, Cao XW, Yang Y, Zhang J, Adv. Powder Technol., 23(2), 228 (2012)

[16] Ghanbari Mazidi M, Shahsavand A, Vaziri BM, J. Pet. Technol., In press.

[17] Bakhtart F, Mohammadi Tochai MT, Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow, 2, 5 (1980)

[18] Guha A, Young JB, I Mech E Conf. Publ., 167 (1991)

[19] Cinar G, Yilbas BS, Sunar H, Int. J. Multiph. Flow, 23(6), 1171 (1997)

[20] White AJ, Hounslow MJ, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 43(11), 1873 (2000)

[21] Dykas S, Task Q., 5, 519 (2001)

[22] Gerber AG, Kermani M, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 47(10-11), 2217 (2004)

[23] Mahpeykar MR, Teymourtash AR, Sci. Iran., Trans. B., 11, 269 (2004)

[24] Yang Y, Shen Sh, Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transfer, 36, 902 (2009)

[25] Dykas S, Wroblewski W, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 53, 933 (2012)

[26] Cinar G, Yilbas BS, Sunar H, Int. J. Multiph. Flow, 23(6), 1171 (1997)

[27] Ma QF, Hu DP, Jiang JZ, Qiu ZH, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 23, 221 (2009)

[28] Ma QF, Hu DP, Jiang JZ, Qiu ZH, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 24, 29 (2010)

[29] Lingling B, Zhongliang L, Hengwei L, Wenming J, Ming Z, Jian Z, Sci. China Technol. Sci., 53, 435 (2010)

[30] Shooshtari SHR, Shahsavand A, Sep. Purif. Technol., 116, 458 (2013)

[31] Mohaghegh SD, J. Pet. Technol., 57, 8691 (2005)

[32] Zendehboudi S, Ahmadi MA, Bahadori A, Shafiei A, Babadagli T, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 91(7), 1325 (2013)

[33] Zahedi G, Fazlali AR, Hussein SM, Pazuki GR, Sheikhattar L, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 68, 218 (2009)

[34] Shahsavand A, Ahmadpour A, Comput. Chem. Eng., 29(10), 2134 (2005)

[35] Shahsavand A, Chenar AP, J. Membr. Sci., 297(1-2), 59 (2007)

[36] Vaziri BM, Shahsavand A, Rashidi H, Mazidi MG, in Proc. 13th Iranian National Chemical Engineering Cong. & 1st Int. Regional Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran (2010)

[37] Kohl A, Nielsen R, Gas Purification. 5th Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., Houston, Texas (1997)

[38] Ahmed TH, Hydrocarbon phase behavior, 1st Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., USA (1989)

[39] Mccain WD, The properties of petroleum fluid, 2nd Ed., Pennwell Pub. Co., Tlsu, Oklahoma, USA (1990)