Abstract
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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Betting and H. D. Epsom, World Oil Mag., 254, 197 (2007).
A. Karimi and M. A. Abdi, Chem. Eng. Process., 48, 560 (2009).
P. B. Machado, J. G.M. Monteiro, J. L. Medeiros, H. D. Epsom and O. Q. F. Araujo, J. Nat. Gas. Sci. Eng., 6, 43 (2012).
F. Okimoto and J. M. Brouwer, World Oil Mag., 223, 89 (2002).
V. I. Alferov, L. A. Baguirov, L. Dmitriev, V. Feygin, S. Imaev and J. R. Lace, Oil Gas J., 103, 53 (2005).
P. Schinkelshoek and H. Epsom, in Proc. GPA 87th Annual Convention, TX (2008).
H. Liu, Z. Liu, Y. Feng, K. Gu and T. Yan, Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 13, 9 (2005).
E. Jassim, M. A. Abdi and Y. Muzychka, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1757 (2008).
E. Jassim, M. A. Abdi and Y. Muzychka, Pet. Sci. Technol., 26, 1773 (2008).
M. M. Malyshkina, High Temp., 46, 69 (2008).
M. M. Malyshkina, High Temp., 48, 244 (2010).
C. Wen, X. Cao and Y. Yang, Chem. Eng. Process., 50, 644 (2011).
C. Wen, X. Cao, Y. Yang and J. Zhang, Chem. Eng. Technol., 34, 1575 (2011).
C. Wen, X. Cao, Y. Yang and W. Li, Energy, 37, 195 (2012).
C. Wen, X. Cao, Y. Yang and J. Zhang, Adv. Powder Technol., 23, 228 (2012).
M. Ghanbari Mazidi, A. Shahsavand and B.M. Vaziri, J. Pet. Technol., In press.
F. Bakhtart and M. T. Mohammadi Tochai, Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow, 2, 5 (1980).
A. Guha and J. B. Young, I Mech E Conf. Publ., 167 (1991).
G. Cinar, B. S. Yilbas and M. Sunar, Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 23, 1171 (1997).
A. J. White and M. J. Hounslow, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 43, 1873 (2000).
S. Dykas, Task Q., 5, 519 (2001).
A. G. Gerber and M. J. Kermani, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 47, 2217 (2004).
M. R. Mahpeykar and A. R. Teymourtash, Sci. Iran., Trans. B., 11, 269 (2004).
Y. Yang and Sh. Shen, Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transfer, 36, 902 (2009).
S. Dykas and W. Wroblewski, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 53, 933 (2012).
G. Cinar, B. S. Yilbas and M. Sunar, Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 23, 1171 (1997).
Q. F. Ma, D. P. Hu, J. Z. Jiang and Z. H. Qiu, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 23, 221 (2009).
Q. F. Ma, D. P. Hu, J. Z. Jiang and Z. H. Qiu, Int. J. Comput. Fluid Dyn., 24, 29 (2010).
B. Lingling, L. Zhongliang, L. Hengwei, J. Wenming, Z. Ming and Z. Jian, Sci. China Technol. Sci., 53, 435 (2010).
S. H. Rajaee Shooshtari and A. Shahsavand, J. Sep. Purif. Technol., 116, 458 (2013).
S. D. Mohaghegh, J. Pet. Technol., 57, 8691 (2005).
S. Zendehboudi, M. A. Ahmadi, A. Bahadori, A. Shafiei and T. Babadagli, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 91, 1325 (2013).
G. Zahedi, A. R. Fazlali, S.M. Hussein, G. R. Pazuki and L. Sheikhattar, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 68, 218 (2009).
A. Shahsavand and A. Ahmadpour, Comput. Chem. Eng., 29, 2134 (2005).
A. Shahsavand and M. Pourafshari Chenar, J. Membr. Sci., 297, 59 (2007).
B.M. Vaziri, A. Shahsavand, H. Rashidi and M. G. Mazidi, in Proc. 13 th Iranian National Chemical Engineering Cong. & 1 st Int. Regional Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran (2010).
A. Kohl and R. Nielsen, Gas Purification. 5th Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., Houston, Texas (1997).
T. H. Ahmed, Hydrocarbon phase behavior, 1st Ed., Gulf Pub. Co., USA (1989).
W. D. Mccain, The properties of petroleum fluid, 2nd Ed., Pennwell Pub. Co., Tlsu, Oklahoma, USA (1990).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shooshtari, S.H.R., Shahsavand, A. Predictions of wet natural gases condensation rates via multi-component and multi-phase simulation of supersonic separators. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 31, 1845–1858 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0133-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0133-0