Human Factors of XR: Using Human Factors to Design XR Systems
Ammonia CO2 Removal Systems
1. CO2 Removal - Process Technology
for Ammonia Plants
By:
Gerard B. Hawkins
Managing Director, CEO
2. Why Remove CO2 ?
Poisons Synthesis catalyst
Can be used downstream in Urea production
If allowed into the loop would
Also act as inert in loop
Increase the compression costs
Used as a product in its own right
Carbonated drinks
Refrigeration units
Can be exported to methanol plant
3. Systems for Removing CO2
Started with Monoethanolamine
Chemical absorption
Highly corrosive
High energy consumption (14% of total
plant)
Modern plants use MDEA
Other options include physical solvents
Selexol (UOP)
Benefield (hot potassium carbonate)
Vetrocoke
4. MDEA
Uses diethanolamine with an amine
activator
No corrosion inhibitors required
No solvent degradation is observed
Acts as a combination of physical and
chemical solvent
CO2 can be recovered by flashing only
6. Advantages of MDEA
Some stated above
Can use MDEA to retrofit plants using MEA
Can tailor balance between physical and
chemical
Allows for versatility especially in retrofit
cases
8. CO2 Removal issues
Benfield Problems
• Dirty solution
• Foaming due to contaminants or
degradation products
• DEA degradation products
• Difficulty of oxidizing V4+ to V5+
Results
• Low DEA concentration
• Poor corrosion protection
• Reduced CO2 removal capability
9. Vanadation
Method of protecting stable magnetite layer
from corrosion
Must reduce V5+ and deposition on surface
Steady state is reached when V5+ : V2O5 is
0.4
If ratio less than 0.3 - rapid break down and
corrosion
High levels can lead to degradation of DEA
Most plants have a slow reduction of V5+ to
V4+
Can counter by addition of KNO2
10. Benefield - Water Balance
Large volumes of solution being circulated
Must keep water balance right to ensure
strength of solution is between 27 and 30%
>30% - crystallisation and vessel
corrosion
<27% - poor scrubbing
11. Benfield Water Balance
Benfield
System
Process Gas
Inlet Absorber
Pump Gland Seals
Purges to levels
34 te/hr
2 te/hr
21 te/hr
1 te/hr
52 te/hr
6 te/hr
Absorber Inlet Catchpot
PG Exit Absorber
CO2 Catchpot Drain
CO2 Export Main
12. Common Problems - Benfield
High DP on Absorber
• High level in base - flooding inlet gas line
• Foaming due to contaminants
• Fouled packing causing restriction to flow
• High gas flow causing solution to be held up
• High circulation rates leading to flooding
• Temperature variations
13. Common Problems - Benfield
Consequences
• Solution help up creating low levels in regen
tower
• Make gas supply to syn gas machine
reduced
• Vibrations/Surging of machine
• Benfield solution carried forward from
absorber and deposited on methanator
catalyst
14. Common Problems - Benfield
High PD in Regenerator
• High vapour rates leading to hold up of
solution from low level in base of regen
column
• High make gas temperatures or excessive
steam usage in reboilers
• Foaming
• Fouled/Choked packing
• Mechanical failure of trays or distributors
15. Common Problems - Benfield
Consequences
• Levels fall in base of regen column
• Reduction in suction head available to
pumps - cavitation
• Reduced flows to absorber - high CO2 in exit
gas
• Trips methanator on high temperature
• Carry over of benfield solution into CO2
condensate recovery system
• Excess boiling of solution - changes in
concentration and potential for corrosion
16. Amine Promotion Mechanism
Slow reaction
of CO2 and
hydroxylation
Fast reaction
of CO2 and amine
Hydrolysis of
carbamate to amine
Free amine diffusion
Carbamate diffusion
HCO3
-
Promotion mechanism of organic Amine on CO2 Absorption
into Potassium Carbonate solution
interfaceGas phase Liquid phase
CO2
CO2
HCO3
-
17. Benfield CO2 Removal Improvements
LRS 10 Benfield Promoter
• British Gas Technology
• New amine mixture
• Completely compatible with DEA
• Replaces DEA in hot potash solutions
• Improves absorption and desorption of
CO2
• Reduces CO2 removal energy
18. Effect of 3% LRS 10 to Benfield
Time (hours)
%CO
Conc
CO2 concentration in absorber overheads
19. Benefits of LRS 10 Promotion
Retrofit easy, just add 3% LRS solution
CO2 slip reduces immediately, giving scope
to:-
• Increase plant throughput, or
• reduce steam/carbon ratio, or
• reduce methane to synloop, and
• plant becomes more controllable