Modification of the Natural Gas Dehydration Unit to Reduce BTEX Emission

Emission of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds from natural gas industries is considered as an important environmental concern. These compounds are absorbed by solvent (usually glycol) in the dehydration unit of natural gas treatment and then release into the atmosphere during the solvent regeneration step. In current study, emission of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene from a natural gas refinery is investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively and a simple practical modification of the unit is proposed for the prevention of BTEX emission. To achieve this goal, the natural gas dehydration unit is simulated using Aspen Plus and effect of operational parameters on the percent of recovery of aforementioned substances are investigated. Subsequently, by modification of the process by adding an air cooler and a separator in two sections of the process, it was observed that about ۷۷% of the BTEX recovered and emissions of BTEX can be prevented, significantly.

Keywords:

BTEX. , Natural gas , Dehydration unit , VOCs emission , Simulation by Aspen Plus