The SPE Separations Technology Technical Section (STTS) continues its study of gas scrubbing technology with a special session at the 2015 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition on 28–30 September in Houston.
The session, titled “Gas Scrubber Design and Validation for Robust Separation Duty,” corresponds with the theme of the section’s webinars. The session will feature three to four speakers and a roundtable discussion.
Gas scrubbing technology is part of most oil and gas facilities systems, both onshore and offshore. From knockout drums to compressor suction to liquefied natural gas trains, a gas scrubber removes traces of liquid droplets from gas streams to protect downstream equipment from damage. Scrubbers may be used upstream of gas purification equipment such as membranes or contactors, and mechanical equipment such as compressors, or even downstream of processes that condense liquids from the gas.
A scrubber design is not achieved by simply selecting a catalog item and applying a K-factor. A robust system takes into consideration the inlet piping and components design, uses a proper inlet distributor, accounts for flow variability and fluid properties, allows for adequate disengagement space in the vessel, and ensures suitable flow distribution. As scrubbing technology is designed for modular, compact systems to be used in demanding environments, the equipment is pushed to challenging limits. High-capacity internals are required in combination with standard equipment such as vane packs and mist pads.
The special session speakers will discuss these factors in the evolution of scrubber design and the performance that is required from this technology and how the performance can be validated in practice.
If you are interested in participating in the event, email Hank Rawlins at hrawlins@eprocess-tech.com, or Ed Grave at edward.j.grave@exxonmobil.com.