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Effective dehydration of natural gas to cryogenic specification is a critical stage of the pretreatment train for LNG production. Zeolitic molecular sieves are the only class of adsorbents capable of meeting the required dewpoint for liquefaction. Failure to reach the required dewpoint or inability to maintain the necessary gas flow to the liquefaction section can constrain or shutdown the production of valuable LNG cargo.
The existence of physical effects such as refluxing and retrograde condensation in the dehydrator vessels during regeneration and adsorption are well understood. These effects are known to lead to degradation of the molecular sieve adsorbent by leaching of the clay binder and loss of adsorption capacity. The resulting increase in pressure drop and mal-distribution of either the regeneration or adsorption flow may ultimately require premature adsorbent replacement. Improving resistance to refluxing has focused mainly on improvements to the molecular sieve binder system, whereas reduction of the tendency for refluxing may be mitigated by better management of regeneration.
This paper presents an innovative approach to the refluxing problem based on materials development. This innovation is supported by many years of successful and highly durable installations in cryogenic applications. The paper describes the first retrofit installation of this new development in dehydration of gas for LNG production. It will also discuss potential benefits for new installations such as reduced vessel size and operational security in addition to extended bed lifetimes which could be achieved for existing units.