Resumen

MORALES, G.V.; TIRADO, G.M.; CABRERA, D.E.  y  MERCADO, L.. Simulation of the Natural Gas Sweetening Process. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2005, vol.16, n.6, pp. 33-36. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642005000600006.

A simulation was carried out of the gas sweetening process (partial elimination of carbon dioxide) using the HYSYS simulator. Also, a parametric sensitivity analysis to identify the sensitive operational variables required to achieve quality specifications for commercial natural gas in relation to carbon dioxide content, while also improving the process efficiency, was performed. The gas sweetening process was carried out in a plate tower, using an absorbent solution of 40% w/w methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The simulation was conducted using data streams from wells located in Salta (Argentina). The simulation showed that the MDEA solution flow, the MDEA temperature and the MDEA solution regeneration temperature were the most sensitive variables for obtaining important changes in the product values.

Palabras clave : natural gas; gas sweetening; process simulation; HYSYS; methyldiethanolamine.