Publication Date:
2016-06-22
Description:
The development of floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plants has resulted in a focus on reducing the weight and size of the topside processing facilities for these units. The conventional fractionation of natural gas liquids (NGL) in LNG plants implies a direct sequence of three or more conventional distillation columns requiring different levels of refrigeration. The results of a feasibility study are described, indicating that a packed three-product dividing-wall column (DWC) could replace conventional de-ethanizer and depropanizer columns. This could provide significant energy, hardware, weight, and footprint benefits, but, very likely, at the expense of an unaffordable cold utilities demand. 1) A conventional demethanizer combined with a three-product dividing-wall column operated at moderate pressure appears to be a promising alternative for the conventional three-column sequence as encountered in natural gas liquids fractionation plants. In addition to the overall energy saving, such a configuration enables also weight, hardware, and footprint reduction.
Print ISSN:
0930-7516
Electronic ISSN:
1521-4125
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
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