Gas

Natural Gas Filtration In The Process of Gas Exploration

Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is found primarily in oil fields, natural gas fields or coal seams in small quantities. The production process of natural gas includes extraction, processing, pipeline transportation, and distribution. Natural gas extracted from underground contains many impurities such as hydrogen sulfide, oil and water and needs to be filtered and removed in time during processing. Hanke is equipped with a professional technical team to provide you with customized gas filtration solutions. Natural gas filtration solutions include gas exploration, amine desulfurization, desiccant dehydration, and pipeline transportation.

For details, please refer to:

Gas Filtration Solutions

Gas Exploration
Amine Desulfurization
Desiccant Dehydration
Pipeline Transportation

Gas Exploration

Background
Raw natural gas extracted from underground contains liquid obstructions, hydrogen sulfide, oil and other contaminants and cannot be used directly, and requires a series of processes before it can be put into use.
Problem
These contaminants can corrode downstream equipment, causing compressor plugging, increasing the equipment maintenance frequencies and shortening their service life, thereby increasing operating costs.
Solution
Raw natural gas must be filtered to protect downstream equipment. Cartridge filters are recommended and generally installed before a compressor as it can remove almost all solids and liquid impurities in natural gas that may damage the compressor.

Gas exploration & filtration flow chart

A cartridge filter is installed in the gas exploration equipment

Cartridge filter for gas exploration filtration

Amine Desulfurization

Background
In natural gas purification plants, a process called "desulfurization" is used to remove acidic gases with amine liquid (mainly hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide) from the incoming gas stream to prevent downstream equipment from corrosion. Natural gas is fed into a contact tower, where it comes into contact with the amine liquid, and the acidic gas in the natural gas reacts with the amine liquid and produces amine salts. The liquid with amine salts then passes through a carbon bed, removing trace amounts of hydrocarbons before entering the downstream equipment.
Problem
In the actual production process, in addition to acid gases, natural gas also contains condensed liquefied gases, solid impurities, dirt and other impurities in the pipeline, when they enter the contact tower with the natural gas, it causes contact tower bubbles and pollution, and reduces the absorption of acid gas; it also carries the amine liquid into the downstream, causing carbon bed pollution and equipment corrosion. Therefore, it is necessary to set filters for filtration in the process of amine desulfurization.
Solution
First, a cartridge filter is installed before the natural gas coming into the amine desulfurization process to remove a large amounts of liquid and solid impurities from the incoming natural gas. In this way, it can effectively reduce the foaming rate of the amine solution and the losses caused by gas stream carryover. In addition, in the downstream of the contact tower, a cartridge filter is installed to remove the carried amine liquid before the gas stream enters the carbon bed; in the downstream of the carbon bed, a cartridge filter is also installed to prevent the carbon powder from being mixed into the gas flow and subsequent processes.

Amine desulfurization & filtration flow chart

4 cartridge filters are installed in the gas filtration device

Cartridge filter for amine desulfurization

Desiccant Dehydration

Background
Desiccant dehydration is the main form of natural gas drying. Wet gas enters and passes through the desiccant where the moisture is adsorbed and retained, and the gas flows out smoothly. In a drying system, there are usually two or more drying towers filled with a solid desiccant such as silica gel or molecular sieve. When one tower is saturated with water, it can be shut down and the desiccant regenerated, while the other tower in the line is activated. The natural gas passes through a regeneration cycle. In this cycle, dry gas flows out of the drying bed and cools, while the wet gas is delivered back to the wet inlet gas stream.
Problem
In the actual drying process, hydrocarbons, corrosive solid impurities and amines contained in the natural gas cannot be removed by the desiccant. When performing gas drying, these impurities will block the fine pores of the desiccant and decrease its water holding capacity, causing pollution to the downstream equipment and an increased in investment cost.
Solution
In the drying process, filters are installed for desiccant filtration. Generally, cartridge filters are installed in the upstream and downstream of the drying bed to intercept particles and prevent unnecessary solid impurities and liquid contaminants from interfering with desiccant adsorption.

Desiccant dehydration & filtration flow chart

2 cartridge filters are installed in the desiccant dehydration device.

Cartridge filters for desiccant dehydration

Pipeline Transportation

Background
Natural gas is transported through a complex network of pipelines to high demand areas or stored for emergencies. Natural gas used in households and businesses is transported through pipelines.
Problem
Natural gas travels through the pipeline over a long period of time and can be mixed with many contaminants, such as pipeline scale, compressor lubricants, water and chemicals used to reduce pipeline corrosion. These impurities will cause wear and tear on various instruments and valves, affecting the normal operation of equipment and increasing maintenance costs.
Solution
Filters are installed in natural gas pipelines to filter and remove harmful impurities. Basket strainers are commonly used for natural gas pipeline filtration. Basket filters can effectively remove fin solid contaminants from pipelines and protect all types of meters and valves.

Basket strainers are installed in the pipeline system.

Basket strainers for pipeline transportation