Adsorbent Solutions - the Important Role of Adsorbents in LNG Plants

David L Smith is the Global Aluminas Business Development & Technical Support Manager for the Catalysts, Adsorbents & Specialties business unit of UOP, LLC based in Danville, California. With 40 years of experience in the adsorbent field, Dave joined UOP in 2000 after holding positions with Union Carbide, Schoofs, Inc. and Alcoa. He has provided adsorbent product application technology presentations to petrochemical, natural gas processing, petroleum refining and industrial gases industry accounts worldwide as well as presented numerous technical papers at industry conferences. In turn, a number of technical papers have been published in industry journals. Dave holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University.

Abstract

 Prior to liquefaction of natural gas in a LNG plant, the feed stream must be “conditioned” through removal of a variety of contaminants including water, acid gases, various sulfur compounds and mercury to assure on-specification LNG as well as to protect the cold box section’s brazed aluminum heat exchanger. The most cost effective and efficient separation process to remove ppm levels of H2O, H2S, mercaptans, and Hg to the required ultra low effluent specifications is via solid bed adsorption. This presentation will discuss:

1)      Adsorption fundamentals

2)      Key features and benefits of various molecular sieve adsorbents utilized in LNG plants

3)      Challenges in dehydration and treating of natural gas

4)      Multi-contaminant removal in regenerative adsorption systems

5)      Adsorbent guard bed technology and products for H2S and Hg removal including optimum location for the mercury removal unit

6)      Typical process scheme for conditioning natural gas in LNG and FLNG plants

7)      Technical services available for design and optimum operation of adsorption systems in LNG/ FLNG plants