A Novel Solution for Troubleshooting Natural Gas and CO2 Dehydration Unit Issues

For certain natural gas dehydration units where minimization of co-adsorption of contaminants such as H2S, CO2 and methanol are required, a 3A molecular sieve has long been the optimum solution. However, 3A molecular sieve has some limitations in adsorption capacity when compared to 4A molecular sieve and suffers from hydrothermal stability issues during regeneration. What customers need is a 4A sieve that behaves like a 3A sieve. Honeywell UOP’s UI-800 molecular sieve is exactly that, resulting in extended cycle times, fewer regenerations per annum, energy savings for the customer and reduced CO2 emissions.

These properties of UI-800 make it a perfect solution also for CO2 dehydration in carbon capture sequestration systems and other applications where drying of CO2 is required. The acidic nature of these streams can result in a short lifetime for a 3A mole sieve. Again, UI-800’s optimum adsorption capacity and stability in the presence of carbonic acid can result in extended bed life, providing cost savings for CO2 dehydration units.