Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
(OP)
Foaming problems in one of our amine vs. light gas (mainly methane, ethane, and propane) contactors has persisted for a while now. Foaming events at least twice a week. Analysis around Rich Pinch, anti-foaming agents, etc., have not seemed to help the problem. On June 2nd we decided to bypass the lean amine filters (40 micron) within the unit prior to the contactor. Since doing this, we have not seen a single foaming event within the contactor. The filters are there to help prevent foaming, but it would seem they have had the opposite effect. We believe this is ok on the process, because the whole amine system is filtered by the same micron size (40 micron) filters in the amine regeneration unit before being sent out to the other units. This is a low pressure amine system. Because the micron sizes are the same, within the unit in question, and the amine regen. unit, we would not expect there to be any difference in amine quality due to filter sizes. We do not see any foaming events in any of the other contactors across the refinery that are supplied by this amine system.
From researching literature across the web, I cannot find another situation in industry where this has happened. Has anybody ever seen this phenomena happen at their refinery? Why would bypassing these filters actually help to improve the foaming situation? Could the filters cause negative turbulence? And is there any unforeseen consequence of bypassing these local filters?
Thanks for the help
From researching literature across the web, I cannot find another situation in industry where this has happened. Has anybody ever seen this phenomena happen at their refinery? Why would bypassing these filters actually help to improve the foaming situation? Could the filters cause negative turbulence? And is there any unforeseen consequence of bypassing these local filters?
Thanks for the help





RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE
RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
So, instead of bypassing the filters, I would keep lining them up till I clean the entire system. As for the origin of the black stuff, you need to find the key culprits of corrosion: whether is it thermal degradation of amine, operation beyond maximum recommended amine loading, incompatibility of materials, presence of contaminants in gas stream or in makeup water, etc. These could be numerous. Without proper analysis and troubleshooting, I wouldn't expect to see the problem resolved one day. It seems like the problem is definitely not of acute nature.
If there is no experience in your company to deal with these issues, considering contacting Amine Experts or other specialized consultants. Apparently there are some guys in your neighborhood: http://aminefiltration.com/#
Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE
RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
Of course, this is just a hypothesis. For getting the real picture, one would have to do a thorough troubleshooting of the plant.
Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE
RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?
RE: Bypassing Amine Filters HELPS foaming issues in Amine Contactor, WHY?