Lean O

Hydrocar
uniform m
increases
Thus, wh
over 50%
lighter co
thereby c

A simple
the absor
or packin
enters the
most of t
is heated
cooled, c
separator

F

Simple le
absorptio
Oil Absorpt
rbon liquids
molecular w
s with decrea
hile perhaps
% of propane
omponents, m
capturing the
e lean oil abs
rption tower
ng. As the ga
e tower near
the heavier c
d to release th
condensing m
r are compre
Fig. 5.20Sc
ean oil absor
on processes
NG
tion
can be extra
weight. The f
asing volatili
only a small
e, perhaps ov
methane and
e absorbed p
sorption proc
near the bot
as flows upw
r the top. Wh
compounds.
he absorbed
most of the p
essed and rec
chematic di
rption proces
can be desig
GL Extr
acted from n
fraction of ea
ity of the co
l percentage
ver 80% of b
d ethane, are
propane and h
cess is illustr
ttom and flow
ward in the to
hen the gas l
The rich oil
hydrocarbon
propane and
cycled to the
iagram of le
sses operate
gned and op
action M
natural gas by
ach compoun
mpound at t
of the meth
butane, and s
then rejecte
heavier com
rated schema
ws upward t
ower, it is in
eaves the tow
is then flow
ns. The vapo
heavier hydr
e rich gas or
ean oil absor
at ambient t
perated at low
Methods
y contacting
nd going int
the absorber
hane in the ga
so on, goes in
ed in the rege
mpounds upon
atically in F
through the t
n intimate co
wer at the to
wed to the str
ors leaving th
rocarbons. T
to the sales
rption proc
temperatures
wer than amb
s
g the gas with
o solution in
pressure and
as might go
nto solution
eneration pro
n regeneratio
ig. 5.20. The
tower, which
ntact with th
op, it has bee
ripping sectio
he top of the
The vapors fr
gas.
ess.
s. More com
bient temper
h a light oil
n the oil
d temperatur
into solution
in the oil. T
ocess of the
on of the oil
e rich gas en
h contains tr
he oil, which
en stripped o
on, where th
e stripper are
from the reflu

mplex lean oi
rature. By
of
re.
n,
The
oil,
l.
nters
rays
h
of
he oil
e
ux
il
contacting the chilled gas from a refrigeration unit in an absorber with cooled absorption oil,
more of the components in the gas go into solution than in a process operated at ambient
temperatures. The rich oil leaves the bottom of the tower through a level control valve,
exchanges heat with the regenerated lean oil stream, and enters a rich oil flash tank, operating at
about half the pressure of the absorption tower. Large amounts of the absorbed lighter
compounds, such as methane and ethane, flash off and are routed to recompression. In recovery
facilities for propane and heavier hydrocarbons, the oil then enters a deethanizer column, where
the balance of the absorbed methane and ethane are rejected. These gases are flowed to a
presaturator vessel and then to a recompressor, where they are joined with the main treated gas
stream. From the deethanizer tower, the lean oil is flowed to the still, where the separation of the
oil and the balance of the absorbed compounds takes place. Upon regeneration, the lean oil flows
through heat exchangers and a cooler to a presaturator vessel where it becomes partially
saturated with methane and ethane. It is then pumped back to the high pressure absorber.
Another cooling step is included to ensure that the lean oil temperature is no higher than the gas
temperature to maximize absorption. The design of the overall process is now performed by
computer, as the material and heat balance calculations are quite intricate and require rigorous
mathematical treatment.