Energy Optimization of the Gachsaran Refinery’s Natural Gas Sweetening Unit Using Vapor Recompression Column

Tens of thousands of barrels are sent to the Bandar-e-Emam petrochemical plant every day, andthe Gachsaran oil and gas refinery always aims to partially supply the feed for this petrochemicalcomplex by sweetening sour natural gas liquid containing some H۲S and CO۲. Reducing the high energyconsumption of sweetening requires energy optimization. Vapor Recompression Column was used foroptimizing sweetening energy in the Gachsaran gas unit, and the distillation column's top vapor wascompressed to transfer its thermal energy to the bottom. The results show that Vapor RecompressionColumn consumed about ۷۵% less energy than the conventional process mostly due to warm and coldutility savings.

Keywords:

Sour gas sweetening , Natural gas , Vapor Recompression Column , Energy optimization