Kharisma 2020 IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 778 012116
Kharisma 2020 IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 778 012116
(TEG) to Obtain The Optimum Total Annual Costs - Complementary power output
characteristics of electromagnetic
(TAC) generators and triboelectric generators
Feng-Ru Fan, Wei Tang, Yan Yao et al.
*renanto@[Link]
Abstract. Natural gas is one of the most desired raw materials which can be used in
petrochemical industries or as energy resource. Natural gas usually obtained from underground
reservoirs and it must go through purification process so it can be utilized. All acid gas
compounds such as H2S, CO2 and all liquids including H2O must be removed. Most industries
use triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration unit to absorb water from natural gas streams.
Therefore, further research about design and optimization of dehydration unit using TEG
should be conducted since the optimization of dehydration unit using TEG affects to safety,
operability, and stability of the process. In this study, the optimization of TEG Dehydration
Unit process is conducted to minimize the Total Annual Costs (TAC) and improve the
efficiency of the process. Aspen Plus software is used to perform the simulation of TEG
dehydration process. Optimization is conducted by changing several of the base case operating
conditions which have been created using existing condition to obtain the optimum conditions
with minimum TAC on the existing circumstances. The variables that are used in this research
is absorber column pressure (35-45 barg with 2.5 barg interval) and lean TEG temperature (39-
49°C with 2°C interval). The constrain of the absorber column pressure is less than 45 barg,
since the natural gas feed pressure from well is 45.16 barg. The results show that by changing
some operating conditions can reduce the size of the column, reduce the energy costs including
steam, cooling water, and electricity costs. Therefore, it can reduce the TAC of the natural gas
dehydration unit. The validation simulation results of the steady state of the TEG Dehydration
Unit using Aspen Plus and the real plant produces relatively small % error, so it can be used to
create a base case using the existing data. The mole fraction of H2O in dehydrated gas after
optimization using Aspen Plus is 0.000178 while in real plant the result is 0.000200. The
simulation results can reduce the TAC from 3,416,739 USD to 2,973,219 USD.
1. Introduction
Natural gas is a vital component of the world's energy supply. Natural gas is also considered as
important resources for various production processes, both fuel and raw materials in various industries
such as fertilizers and various kinds of chemicals [1]. Natural gas usually obtained from a natural
underground reservoir and it generally contains a large quantity of methane along with heavier
hydrocarbon such as ethane, propane, isobutene, normal butane, etc. Also, in the raw state, it often
contains a considerable amount of non-hydrocarbons, such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon
dioxide. There are some traces of such compounds as helium, carbonyl sulfide, and various
mercaptans. It is also generally saturated with water [2]. However, several treatments are needed to
convert the raw natural gas become commercial gas which has significant different specification. All
acid gas compounds, H2S and CO2 must be removed. Also, all the free liquids, both hydrocarbon and
water, have to be removed [2]. The dehydration process usually used to remove the water content from
natural gas because the content of water vapor and hydrocarbons can form gas hydrates which can
inhibit the flow in pipes and other equipment, especially in the control system. Water vapor also
increases the corrosion of natural gas, especially when there is acidic gas [3]. In general, many natural
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Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
gas industries use triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration process to remove water from natural gas
flows to meet pipeline quality standards. The advantages of TEG application compared to the other
dehydration process are: lower vapor pressure, higher resistance to degradation, and lower viscosity
[3].
Many researchers studied about the simulation and optimization of TEG dehydration process in
natural gas purification. Darwish et al. [4] studied natural gas dehydration plant which employs
triethylene glycol (TEG) as the dehydrating agent has been simulated using Aspen Plus, it resulted that
the dew point (water contents) of the dry gas issuing from the contactor is mostly responsive to
disturbances in the sweet gas flow rate and TEG losses are mostly sensitive to the contactor pressure.
Kazemi et al. [5] studied the sensitivity analysis of natural gas dehydration using TEG that shows the
effectiveness parameters such as TEG circulation rate, equilibrium stages of absorption column, and
operating conditions with economical considerations. Bahadori et al. [6] studied the development of
simple sizing method of TEG absorber at wide operating conditions by considering TEG circulation
rate and TEG purity which shows the correlation of capital cost and TEG absorber operation
condition.
Based on the literature reviews that have been done, there are no studies about the simulation and
optimization of TEG dehydration process by total annual cost (TAC) calculation with interest rate
consideration. Therefore, in this study, the simulation and optimization of natural gas dehydration
process using TEG were conducted by considering TAC coupling with interest rate. The simulation
was conducted using Aspen Plus software by considering the operation of real plant. The optimization
was conducted by considering the TAC in various variables of absorber column pressure and lean
TEG temperature which can affect the water content of dry gas, heat duty of heat exchangers, and
columns diameter. Then, all those results are used to find the optimum TAC where the annualized
capital cost was found using interest rate calculation with assumption 10% interest/year for 10 years.
2. Methods
The simulation conducted in this study aims to examine theoretically the factors that influence the H2O
content of the product on the absorber and heat duty cooler in the dehydration process of natural gas
from triethylene glycol (TEG) solution.[8] Then, in this study, the calculation of the total model of
dehydrated natural gas units is obtained by assuming a steady-state system.
2.1 Feed composition and product specification
The information of feed gas composition and gas product specification are required to develop the
appropriate process design of TEG dehydration process. In this study, real plant data was used to
specify the feed gas composition. Table 1 shows the feed gas composition dan lean TEG specification
used in absorber column.
Table 1. Composition Feed and Lean TEG to Absorber
Feed Lean TEG
Composition mass flow mass flow
% mole % mole
(kg/hr) (kg/hr)
H2S 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
CO2 2.67 8709.56 0.00 0.00
Nitrogen 1.83 3799.74 0.00 0.00
Methane 83.19 98920.34 0.00 0.00
Ethane 5.30 11812.44 0.00 0.00
Propane 3.66 11962.47 0.00 0.00
i-Butane 1.00 4308.11 0.00 0.00
n-Butane 1.16 4997.40 0.00 0.00
i-Pentane 0.42 2246.07 0.00 0.00
n-Pentane 0.26 1497.38 0.00 0.00
n-Hexane 0.17 1085.87 0.00 0.00
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
Due to the requirement for further process, the gas product specification from TEG dehydration
unit are determined to has a maximum limit of dry gas water content with value of 10 lb/MMscf [9].
3612
MIX-2
FD-2
B4 4325
3613
3605
HE-1
3606
V-1 3
4
3614
3616 1
HE-2 B2
C-1 3609
FD-1 C-2
V-2 3607
V-4 3611
3507 3603
V-3 3610
3608
3602 3617
COOLER MIX-1
PUMP MIX-3
3618 TEG-MU
3620
WATER-MU
Figure 1. Model Simulation of Natural Gas Dehydration Using Triethylene Glycol (TEG)
The simulation process begins with wet gas that is fed to the absorber from the bottom of the
column while the lean TEG is fed from the top of the column. Wet gas is contacted to TEG in the
absorber to remove its water content. The operating pressure of TEG absorber is 45.16 barg while the
operating temperature is 44.25 ºC. The dry gas leaves the absorber from the top of the column and rich
TEG leaves the column from the bottom of the column to be preheated [10]. After preheating in the
glycol-glycol heat exchangers, the rich TEG is fed to the regenerator column. The regenerator column
consists of a column and a reboiler. The operating pressure of the regenerator column is 0.14 barg. The
top products of the regenerator column are water and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) while the
bottom product is lean TEG. The lean TEG after leaving the regenerator column is pumped back to the
TEG absorber [11].
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
cost. When the column diameter is too low, anomaly condition was occur such as flooding. The lowest
diameter of absorber column used in this study is 1.81 m for condition of 45 barg and 49°C. So, if the
column diameter is lower than 1.81 m, flooding will occur and decrease its performance. Meanwhile,
when the column diameter is too high, the column begins to weep. So if the column diameter is too
high, weeping will occur and can not be operated well. From the simulation, the column can be
operated when the column diameter is 1.81 m. Figure 2 show the absorber column performance with
diameter of 1.81 m for condition of 45 barg and 49°C.
As seen in Figure 2, the operating point doesn’t touch the weeping or flooding line which means
the column can be operated at the diameter 1.81 m. The next step is to simulate again using the Aspen
Plus software to get the optimal absorber and stripper column design. With the most optimal design
obtained, it is expected to be able to reduce the value of capital costs for both columns. This price
reduction is done by finding the smallest column diameter that meets the hydraulic plot in the
simulation results using Aspen Plus software. The design parameters used are in accordance with the
provisions of Aspen Plus:
Table 5. Design parameter for absorber and regenerator [14]
Design parameter Value
% jet flood and downcomer flood 80
Minimal downcomer area fraction 0.1
Maximal pressure drop 0.0247 atm
Maximal % jet flood 100
Maximal % downcomer backup 100
Maximal % liquid entrainment 10
Minimal weir loading 4.471 cum/hr-meter
Maximal weir loading 117.372 cum/hr-meter
Status warning (% limit) 10
Foaming system factor 1.0
Aeration multiplier factor 1.0
Over design factor 1.0
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
3.3 The effect of absorber column pressure and lean TEG temperature on the column
performances
The variables used in this study can affect the performance of the absorber and regenerator columns.
These performances have impacts on changes in dry gas water content, cooler heat duty, and column
diameter suppression. The optimization of the process was conducted to obtain the low water content
in dehydrated natural gas and the optimum condition to get total annual cost. The variables are the
absorber operating pressure and lean TEG temperature. The absorber operating pressures are varied
from 35 to 45 barg with 2.5 barg interval and the lean TEG temperature are varied from 39°C to 49°C
with 2°C interval. Figure 3 shows the effect of absorber operating column pressure and lean TEG
temperature to dehydrated natural gas water content.
. Figure 3. Effect of absorber column pressure and lean TEG temperature to dry gas water content
As seen in Figure 3, if the absorber column pressure increases, the water content of dehydrated
natural gas will decrease. Meanwhile, if the lean TEG temperature increases, the water content of dry
gas will increase. This is because the absorption process is more optimal at low temperatures. The lean
TEG temperature in natural gas dehydration units is better if it is not cooler than 12°C to avoid
condensation of hydrocarbons in the feed of natural gas [15]. The high water content of dehydrated
natural gas is limited to a maximum of 10 lb/MMscf according to the specification of the sales gas [9].
The water in the pipe is a problem because it can make the flow clogged, increase corrosion, and cause
gas hydrate [3].
The lean TEG temperature is varied to study the effect on the operating cost. When the output
temperature of lean TEG decreases, more duty is needed and the cost will increase. Figure 4 shows the
effect of lean TEG temperature to lean TEG cooler heat duty.
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
Figure 4. Effect of lean TEG temperature to lean TEG cooler heat duty in various pressure
condition.
One of the parameters that seen in this study is the cooler heat duty. In this case, the cooler was
chosen as a reviewed object because it is directly related to the independent variables used in this
study. Where these two variables, absorber column pressure and lean TEG temperatures, influence the
price of a cooler that functions to cool lean TEG which goes into the absorber. The absorption process
is better done at low temperatures, but to reach low temperatures a high heat duty cooler is needed
[15]. The inverse relationship of the lean TEG temperature and cooler heat duty affect the operating
cost of the cooler which also affect the result of the TAC. Another variable that affects the absorption
process is pressure, which is better done at high pressure. From Figure 4, when the pressure was
higher, the heat duty cooler decreases and it will affect the finding of the optimum TAC value.
The diameter of absorber and regenerator column was also determined as parameter. The relation
between absorber and regenerator column diameters with absorber operating pressure is inversely
proportional. High pressure can reduce the column diameter. In order to contance the gas with the
liquid properly, the gas and liquid must enter the column with a certain rate of filling material.
Naturally, the liquid flowing down will choose to pass at the point where the resistance is low. If the
speed or pressure of the gas is too large (because the diameter is too small), then the rate of liquid
downward will be disrupted by the upward flow of gas and it will begin to collect liquid in the column
(an increase in liquid hold up). In this loading condition, a slight increase in the gas rate will cause a
very large increase in pressure drop. If the rate of gas continues to increase, the liquid does not flow
down but collects at the top of the column. Then, the backflow occurs and the liquid spills out of the
column so that flooding occurs. A column is usually operated under conditions just before loading. In
this condition, the flow of liquid will be well distributed so the mass transfer is well operated. In
column design, gas speeds are usually taken at 50% – 80% flooding speed [14]. By paying attention
to the hydraulic plot on Aspen Plus, finding the smallest diameter column that meets the feasibility of
the column. The effect of absorber operating pressure to absorber and regenerator column diameters
shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
Figure 5 and Figure 6 shows the higher value of column pressure, the smaller the diameter can be
found. It can reduce the capital cost of both columns the optimal TAC value until optimal results can
be obtained.
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
In this study the calculation of the operating cost is obtained by calculating steam requirements,
cooling water, electricity, and TEG make-up flow. The utility requirement of each equipment can be
obtained from the Aspen Plus simulation results. Furthermore, from each number of utilities needed
the price is calculated according to those listed in Table 3.
Total annual cost (TAC) is obtained by summing annual capital cost with annual operating cost.
Because the cost parameter obtained from Luyben are determined in 2011, the TAC result should be
corrected based on cost index by using least square method [7]. Figure 7 shows the effect of absorber
column pressure and lean TEG temperature to TAC.
Figure 7. Effect of absorber column pressure and lean TEG temperature to TAC
As seen in Figure 7, the value of TAC was decreasing while the increasing of the column pressure
and lean TEG temperature. The lowest TAC result was found in the highest absorber pressure and the
highest lean TEG temperature, because when the lean TEG temperature was high, it didn’t need a big
amount of cooling water, so the operating cost could be reduced. The reduction in operating cost can
have a bigger effect on the TAC result more than the reduction in the capital cost.
4. Conclusion
The simulation of natural gas dehydration unit using triethylene glycol (TEG) is created using
Aspen Plus based on the real plant condition. The base case has been created and give the product of
dehydrated natural gas with water content value of 8.514 lb/MMScf and TAC value of 3,694,601.2
USD/year. The design optimization is done by varying absorber column pressure and lean TEG
temperature and give the optimum condition at absorber column pressure 45 barg and lean TEG
temperature 39˚C. The optimum total annual cost of the natural gas dehydration unit is 3,240,234.9
USD/year with 8.656 lb/MMScf water content in the dehydrated natural gas.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a research grant from Research, Technology, and Higher Education
Ministry, Republic of Indonesia, under Contract No. 5/E1/[Link]/2019 and 911/PKS/ITS/2019.
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26th Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE 2019) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 778 (2020) 012116 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/778/1/012116
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