Mathematical Modeling, Parametric Estimation, and Operational Control for Natural Gas Sweetening Processes

Abstract

As a result of the increased energy demand and the required environmental compliance, purification of natural gas (NG) need to be processed through more efficient technologies. Most the NG sources contain H2S and CO2 as acidic contaminants causing corrosion, reduction in the calorific value of the fuel, and toxicity. Removal of these gases (gas sweetening) is mostly performed in a reactive absorber followed by a stripper for solvents regeneration. Amine solvents are very suitable due to their natural affinity towards the acid gases. In the setting‐up of newer plants or retrofitting of old units in existing plants to improve the efficiency of the sweetening process, modeling, optimization, and safer operational control of the process have drawn the attention of many researchers. The development of better models must take into account the synthesis and implementation of proper control strategies. Rate‐based, equilibrium, and kinetic models supported by thermodynamic properties of the components have been discussed here and experiments carried out to identify new process models have also been presented.

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