Work

A novel integrated simulation approach for natural gas sweetening and dehydration: H2S, CO2, and H2O removal with energy optimization using Aspen HYSYS

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In the contemporary era, natural gas has emerged as a predominant energy source globally. However, raw natural gas typically contains impurities such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O), necessitating treatment prior to pipeline delivery. This study develops and validates an integrated Aspen HYSYS V8.8 flowsheet that couples MDEA-based sweetening with TEG-based dehydration and co-optimizes both units. Parametric case studies establish optimum absorber conditions of 2000 kPa, 30 ˚C, 20 trays, 45 wt% MDEA at 5000 kgmole/h for acid-gas removal and 3500 kPa, 40 ˚C, 2 trays, 800 kg/h TEG for dehydration. At these conditions, the sales gas achieves 96.86 mol% purity with 2.89 mol% CO2, low H2S and H2O content of 7.5 and 76 ppm respectively, while preserving a heating value of 46.08 MJ/kg. Heat integration and solvent recovery lead to 13.78% energy savings. Independent material-balance checks via MATLAB show a negligible average deviation of 0.97% from HYSYS stream results. Treating sweetening and dehydration as a single, heat-integrated optimization problem enables simultaneous compliance with H2S/CO2/H2O limits at lower energy intensity, providing a transferable basis for energy-efficient gas conditioning facilities.

Source: Results in Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107972

Authors: Rayan Yehya, Nour Abou Sharaf, Bassam Riachi, Jean-Claude Assaf, Wael Hamd

Institutions: Lebanese University, University of Balamand

Language: English

Topic: Process Optimization and Integration

Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,940