OPERATING PRESSURE

Operating Pressure Conditions for Effective Glycol Conditioning and Reduction of Glycol Losses

Now let’s look at operating pressure inthe contactor, re-generator, filters and GCG separator. 

Contactor Operating Pressure

If you operate the contactor below the properly design pressure you will have problems. 

• First, at constant temperature water content of inlet gas increases and pressure decreases, causing the unit work harder to dry the gas.
• Secondly, at constant gas rates the gas velocity through the contactor increases as the pressure decreases causing carryover problem.

Regenerator Operating Pressure

Regenerator pressure where build-up If there is plugging or flooding problem in the still packing and increases regenerator pressure prevent some water boiling out of the glycol requiring higher temperature in the re-boiler, this waste fuel gas and also the glycol degradation.

Filter Operating Pressure

As far as filter goes a pressure drop up of 3 to 6 psig is normal and glycol flows through the elements, the pressure increases as the elements become plugged replace the filter elements when this differential pressure increases to 15 to 20 psig.

Gas Condensate Glycol Separator Operating Pressure
Operating pressure in the gas condensate glycol separator is 50 to 85 psig (345 to 587 kpa). Back pressure is maintained by a pressure controlled regulator.
Now that we understand various temperature and pressure into relationships we should able to prevent costly operating problems high glycol losses, foaming and corrosion.
To really operate efficiently we got to minimize our glycol losses, losses occur due to vaporization, entrainment and mechanical leaks.