Plant-wide assessment of high-pressure membrane contactors in natural gas sweetening – Part I: Model development

Abstract This paper presents a predictive mathematical model of high-pressure membrane contactor, with view to developing plant-wide natural gas sweetening including amine regeneration. We build upon an existing contactor by Quek et al. [Chem Eng Res Des 132:1005–1019, 2018], which uses combination 1-d and 2-d mass-balance equations predict the CO2 absorption flux wetting under lean solvent operation. For first time, quantitative predictions can be made both semi-lean operations. A energy balance that accounts for evaporative losses exothermic into is solved alongside equations, in order temperature profile inside contactor. The water amines quantified separately, as well absorptive light hydrocarbons solvent. model’s capability tested against data from lab-scale module pilot-scale operated industrially relevant conditions at processing facility Malaysia. close agreement between measurements flux, profile, hydrocarbon loss observed wide range flowrates compositions, thereby validating modeling assumptions. combined companion paper, where it used process integration analysis.