Method for treating contaminated gas

• US 8,388,739 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valerus Field Solutions, L.P. (Snc-Lavalin Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Valerus Compression Services, LP (Axip Energy Services LP)
• Inventors: Cash, Edwin W., Bradley, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Renee E
• Application Number:
  US13/369,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20120145002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 952/26, 952/28, 952/35, 952/36
• US Class Current: 95/226
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1462 Removing mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/18 Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/10 Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/102 of acid contaminants

Abstract

A method for treating natural gas using a vessel having a manifold for introducing gas in the vessel, a flow disperser above the manifold that prevents channeling of the gas, a spray system for spraying a treating liquid into an upwardly rising column of gas and, optionally, a liquid level controller for maintaining the level of a pool of treating liquid above the flow disperser.

Claims

1. A method for treating contaminated gas comprising:

introducing a contaminated gas into a high pressure vessel comprising a pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the contaminated gas is introduced through a manifold at a level below the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid;

dispersing the contaminated gas through a flow disperser wherein the flow disperser is positioned in the vessel between the manifold and the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid and is operable to prevent channeling of the contaminated gas; and

spraying the contaminant-absorbing liquid from a position above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the contaminant-absorbing liquid moves in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the contaminated gas.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dispersing the contaminated gas through a flow disperser comprises dispersing the contaminated gas through a first flow disperser comprising a first perforated plate and dispersing the contaminated gas through a second flow disperser comprising a second perforated plate.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of introducing the contaminated gas that exits the vessel and contaminant-absorbing liquid into a mixer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of introducing the contaminated gas that exits the vessel and contaminant-absorbing liquid into a cooler.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of reheating the contaminant-absorbing liquid in a heat exchanger after the liquid exits the cooler.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing a pressure of at least 800 pounds per square inch (psi) over atmospheric pressure within the vessel.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein contaminant-absorbing liquid comprises an amine.

8. A method for treating contaminated gas comprising:

introducing a contaminated gas into a high pressure vessel comprising a pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the contaminated gas is introduced through a manifold at a level below the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid;

dispersing the contaminated gas through a first perforated plate wherein the perforated plate is positioned in the vessel between the manifold and the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid and is operable to prevent channeling of the contaminated gas; and

spraying the contaminant-absorbing liquid from a position above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the contaminant-absorbing liquid moves in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the contaminated gas.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of dispersing the contaminated gas through a second perforated plate wherein the perforated plate is positioned in the vessel between the first perforated plate and the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid and is operable to prevent channeling of the contaminated gas.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of introducing the contaminated gas that exits the vessel and contaminant-absorbing liquid into a mixer.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of spraying the contaminant-absorbing liquid from a position above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid comprises using a nozzle to form small-sized drops of contaminant-absorbing liquid.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of maintaining the level of contaminant-absorbing liquid in the high pressure vessel above the first perforated plate while treating the contaminated gas.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of establishing a pressure of at least 800 pounds per square inch (psi) over atmospheric pressure within the vessel.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein contaminant-absorbing liquid comprises an amine.

15. A method for treating contaminated gas comprising:

establishing a pressure of at least 800 pounds per square inch (psi) over atmospheric pressure within a high pressure vessel

establishing a pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid within the vessel;

introducing a contaminated gas into the vessel, wherein the contaminated gas is introduced through a manifold at a level below the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid;

dispersing the contaminated gas through a flow disperser wherein the flow disperser is positioned in the vessel between the manifold and the top level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid and is operable to prevent channeling of the contaminated gas; and

spraying the contaminant-absorbing liquid from a position above the level of the pool of contaminant-absorbing liquid, wherein the contaminant-absorbing liquid moves in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the contaminated gas.