Cryo vs. Stabilizer vs. Other Options
Cryo vs. Stabilizer vs. Other Options
(OP)
I'm sure this is an incredibly broad question, but I'll give it a go.
At what point does the design go from a stabilizer unit with mechanical refrigeration (propane loop) to a cryo unit?
I'm looking at a gas stream that simply won't pass muster on the sales gas side Btu limit (1050 Btu/scf) for the pipeline. I've got a stabilizer skid that will, hydraulically, handle the flow. But even the gas coming off the separator is higher than required.
Is there a rule of thumb for reviewing a gas stream that determines "hey, this just won't make it in a stabilize, you need a cryo"?
Sorry for the nebulous question, thanks for any pointers you may have.
Thanks,
-m
At what point does the design go from a stabilizer unit with mechanical refrigeration (propane loop) to a cryo unit?
I'm looking at a gas stream that simply won't pass muster on the sales gas side Btu limit (1050 Btu/scf) for the pipeline. I've got a stabilizer skid that will, hydraulically, handle the flow. But even the gas coming off the separator is higher than required.
Is there a rule of thumb for reviewing a gas stream that determines "hey, this just won't make it in a stabilize, you need a cryo"?
Sorry for the nebulous question, thanks for any pointers you may have.
Thanks,
-m





RE: Cryo vs. Stabilizer vs. Other Options
Second example is based on economy. If you can recover NGL from feed gas at a price that gives you positive NPV at whatever discount rate your company uses in economic calculations, and you have a market and the infrastructure for NGL, in 99.9% cases that's a straightforward winner. Cryogenic processes require removal of Hg, CO2, Hg, down to ppm/ppb levels so technology and the associated costs of gas treatment will be much higher for cryogenic plants.
I have seen refrigeration units employed mostly in cases where a very small amount of liquids had to be removed from the gas (i.e. less than 1%), and typically when unit pressures were in the range of 20-40 barg. How would you handle liquid stream within the plant can also be a significant factor.
Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE
RE: Cryo vs. Stabilizer vs. Other Options