10/15/2017 Column Specifications for a Typical Gas Plant simulation model Energy Group Co.

Energy Group Co.

Column Speci cations for a Typical Gas Plant simulation model

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Many gas plants have one or more columns to provide product fractionation
and puri cation. The 3 most common are the deethanizer, debutanizer and
stabilizer as shown here (condensers and reboilers omitted for clarity).

Columns

Creating a gas plant simulation model requires assigning speci cations to

the columns, such that they converge and also accurately model the
operation of the plant. Good modeling speci cations result in a robust
model that can be used for design and troubleshooting applications.
The deethanizer is designed to take liquid from the low temperature
separator (LTS) and remove ethane and lighter components from the liquid.
The bottoms from the deethanizer are sent to the debutanizer where they
are separated into a mixed LPG product (mostly C3s and C4s) and a stabilized
condensate product (C5+ material). The stabilizer takes inlet condensate and
removes C4- material in order to meet a vapour pressure speci cation.

Product properties that are of interest are the C2/C3 mole ratio in the LPG
product and the Reid Vapour Pressure (RVP) in the stabilized condensate.

In the actual operating plant, the column speci cations are usually:

Deethanizer:

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Bottom Tray or Reboiler Temperature

Debutanizer:

Bottom Tray or Reboiler Temperature

Re ux Flow or Re ux Ratio

Stabilizer (no condenser):

Bottom Tray or Reboiler Temperature

For simulation purposes, the above speci cations are most useful when
troubleshooting an existing fractionation train. By using these speci cations
in a simulation, the predicted product properties can be compared against
measured samples and the simulation parameters adjusted to match
current behaviour.

However, when designing a new or modi ed fractionation train, the most

useful speci cations in a simulator will re ect the product properties more
closely:

Deethanizer:

C2 mole fraction in bottoms or C2/C3 mole ratio in bottoms, a C2/C3 mole

ratio of 2% is common.

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Debutanizer:

RVP in bottoms 12 psia would be a typical maximum value.

Re ux Ratio 0.5 or 1.0 is a common value.

Stabilizer (no condenser):

RVP in bottoms 12 psia would be a typical maximum value.

When creating a new simulation for a fractionation train, it is usually easier

(and good modeling practice) to start with ow rate speci cations for the
columns. Once each column is converged, switch the column speci cations
from owrates over to matching product speci cations as listed above. Gas
plant fractionation column simulations are generally robust and will operate
well over a fairly wide range of inlet conditions.

May 18, 2015 Energy

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