THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DESIGN OF AN AMINE CONTACTOR USED FOR HYDRODESULPHURIZATION IN

PETROLEUM INDUSTRIE

PROJECT PROPOSAL

SUBMITTED
By

LEWIS KABWITA
CE430
SIN: 17109493

Supervisor
MR. DON CHINUNGI
CHAPTER ONE

1.0INTRODUCTION

It has been and it will always be of importance to keep improving the amine contactor which is
an absorption column used for hydrodesulphurization. With the increasingly strict diesel
standards in the countries of the world, deep processing of petroleum products to ultralow sulfur
levels is receiving more and more attention [ CITATION xio20 \l 1033 ]. New severe environmental
regulations call for much lower levels of heteroatom-derived pollutants, and this has stimulated
an intensification of research and development efforts toward new or improved catalytic
processes. A major shift is thus observed from the classical to a “deep” hydrotreating mode
aimed at removing no less than 95% Sulphur compounds. The worldwide environmental
pressure on fuel manufacturing has awaken a renewed interest in HDS catalysis research since
the currently available technologies, which had been operating satisfactorily for several decades,
are no longer adequate for the “deep refining” necessary to meet the new strict
standards[ CITATION rob02 \l 1033 ] and this calls for an improvement in the efficiency of the
contactor . Bottoms for the first time, in 1930, developed an absorption process for acid gases
using alkylamine solutions. For several years, diethanolamine (DEA) was commonly used in
refineries to remove acid gases[ CITATION man17 \l 1033 ]. moreover, Frazier and Kohl first
proposed the use of tertiary amines such as methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) for selective removal
of H2S.

An amine contactor is an absorption column made of stainless steel with sieve trays used to
absorb hydrogen sulphide contaminants from fuel stream in petroleum processing by the process
called hydrodesulphurization. The contactor is a specialty high-pressure vertical vessel.  Gas
enters the bottom of the vessel, rising upward to meet with pre-cooled amine gas, which is fed
from the top of the unit.  Amine gas is kept at a higher temperature than that of the incoming gas
stream to prevent hydrocarbon condensation and potential foaming problems.  Alternatively,
coalescers can be installed upstream of the contactor for removal of entrained liquids to eliminate
the root cause of condensation. As acidic gases are absorbed, light sweetened gas exits from the
top of the contactor while acidic amine exits from the bottom [ CITATION www16 \l 1033 ]. In the

2
mid-1950's, the first noble metal catalytic reforming process (the Platformer process) was
commercialized. At the same time, the catalytic hydrodesulphurization of the hydrocarbons was
also commercialized. Hydrodesulphurization (HDS) or Hydrotreating is a catalytic chemical
process widely used to remove sulfur compounds from refined petroleum products such as
gasoline or petrol, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and fuel oils. One purpose for removing the sulfur is to
reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions resulting from using those fuels in automotive vehicles,
aircraft, railroad locomotives, ships, or oil burning power plants, residential and industrial
furnaces, and other forms of fuel combustion.

The main aim of this project was to design an amine contactor which is used for
hydrodesulphurization in petroleum industries in order to produce products which are free of
Sulphur compounds. And this will focus on the increment or improvement of the amine
contactor’s efficiency and determining its cost of design.

Figure 1.0. amine contactor(absorber)

[ CITATION AFA10 \l 1033 ]

1.1PROBLEM STATEMENT

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Zambia is one of the countries that depend on petroleum products. In recent years it has been
shown that hydrogen sulphide has an effect in engines causing corrosion and making the oil
acidic. When it is emitted into the environment it is very toxic and it causes effect to many
different tissues and organs.

H2S will form sulfur dioxide (SO 2) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) during combustion which results in
a very aggressive corrosion. The corrosion will literally reduce the lifetime of the downstream
equipment by years, this is why gas engine manufacturers require that H 2S in the clean gas must
not exceed 100-250 ppm. Otherwise, the operating costs for change of engine oil, spark plugs
and other maintenance will increase significantly. Furthermore, there will be high costs for
repairs and income lost during overhauls (a thorough examination of machinery or a system,
with repairs or changes made if necessary) and break downs. Air quality standards is another
driver as combustion of un-cleaned biogas will result in acid rain from emissions of sulfur
dioxide (SO2). Also health and safety standards may require H 2S removal as H2S is toxic even in
small concentrations [ CITATION bio21 \l 1033 ] . However, automobile’s pollutants cause
immediate and long-term effects on the environment. automobiles exhausts emit a wide range of
gases and solid matter, causing global warming, acid rain, and harming the environment and
human health. Engine noise and fuel spills also cause pollution [ CITATION jen18 \l 1033 ] . After a
serious exposure, symptoms usually begin immediately. At low levels, hydrogen sulfide causes
irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Moderate levels can cause headache, dizziness, nausea,
and vomiting, as well as coughing and difficulty in breathing. Higher levels can cause shock,
convulsions, coma, and death[ CITATION www14 \l 1033 ].

1.2PROBLEM JUSTIFICATION

Most of petroleum products are of high demand and usage and it is a must the products should be
of low sulfur content as per country’s sulfur required level and over decades the only method
which has been efficient and reliable for the removal of sulfur from these petroleum products is
hydrodesulphurization which is achieved by an amine contactor (absorption column). The design
of an amine contactor for the hydrodesulphurization process has led to an improvement in
petroleum products and has also led in;

 Absorption of hydrogen sulphide and contaminants in petroleum

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  Reduction of pollutants on the environment.
 When hydrogen sulphide is absorbed from petroleum (e.g. petrol) it reduces the rate at
which the parts of engines corrode.
 Respiratory diseases are reduced.

1.3MIAN OBJECTIVE

The aim is to design an amine contactor used in hydrodesulphurisation for processing 30 m 3/hr of
fuel in petroleum processing industry.

1.4SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

 To carry out material balance

 To carry out energy balance
 To carry out mechanical design
 To perform economic evaluation

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CHAPTER TWO

2.0METHODOLOGY

2.1MASS BALANCE

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ܻ௏భǡಲ
ܻ௏భǡಳ
ܻ௏భǡ಴ ‫ܮ‬ଵ
ܻ௏భǡವ ܺ௅భǡா
ABSORBER

ܸଶ
ܻ௏మǡಲ
ܻ௏మǡಳ
ܻ௏మǡ಴ ‫ܮ‬ଶ
ܻ௏మǡವ ܺ௅మǡಶ
ܺ௅మǡ಴

The equations of design that will be employed will be as follows;

Overall balance

L1 +V 2=L2 +V 2 (2.1)

Component balance

6
y v ( V 2 ) = y v ( V 1 ) (2.3)
2 ,B 1, B

Hydrogen Sulphide (C)

y v ( V 2 )= y v c ( V 1 )+ x L ( L2 ) (2.4)
2 ,C 1, 2 ,C

x L ( L1 )=x L ( L2 ) (2.6)
1, E 2 ,E

Where;

y=gas phase molar composition

x=liquid phase molar composition

L=liquid phase mass flow rate

V =gas phase mass flow rate

Specifying the basis which will be equal to the flow rate of the inlet stream of methane( V 2 ¿ we
can calculate the flow rates of the three remaining streams.

y V (V 2)
V 1= 1 ,B
(2.7)
yV 1, B

y v ( V 2 )− y v (V 1 )
L2 = 2,c
(2.8) 1c

xL 2,C

x L ( L2 )
L1 = 2 ,E
(2.9)
xL 1, E

2.11 Operating line for the column

Based on the most volatile component c, the operating line will be determined from

L2 V1
yv = ( x L ) + ( y v ) (2.30)
2c
V2 V2 2 ,C 1,c

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The solubilities of gases in liquids in which they are sparingly soluble are given in terms of
Henry's Law Constant H. The graph of the equilibrium line and the operation line is plotted.
According to Henry's Law, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial
pressure in the gas phase, given by.

P A =H 'A x A (2.31)

H 'A Henry’s law is given by;

H
H 'A = (2.32)
PT

Where;

H=is the henr y ' s constant of the solute∈a solvent∧its temperature dependant

PT =isthe operating pressure of the column at a giventemperature

2.12 mass transfer within the column

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

N H =K OL ( C ¿a−C a ) →liquid phase(2.33)

2S 1

N H =K Og ( Pa g−P¿a ) → gas phase (2.34)

2S

Where;

P¿a=∂ pressure at equilibrium

N H =mass transfer of the hydrogen sulphide component ,units

2S

C ¿a=the equilibrium concentration

K OL ∧K Og=overall mass transfer coefficients(m2 /s )

In order to carry out calculations for mass transfer in the gas phase, Dalton’s and Raoult’s laws
will be applied[ CITATION jaf12 \l 1033 ]

dalto n' slaw Pag= y 1 × PT (2.35)

8
 ' ¿ Pa g
raou t slaw Pa = (2.36)
x1

Define the variables

2.13 Theoretical liquid to gas ratio

L y v −¿ y
( 2.31) ¿
1 v2
( ) =
G theoretical x L −x L
2 1

The column operating line and equilibrium line lead to a minimum reflux ratio which is basically
the liquid to gas flow rate ratio when there exists an infinity number of stages. Now, when the
number of stages is not infinite, an actual reflux ratio from which actual values of the liquid flow
rate are obtained, is calculated.

2.14 Actual liquid to gas ratio

L L
( ) =
G actual G( ) Theoretical
×n( 2.32)

Actual liquid to gas ratio will be calculated by finding the product of the theoretical ratio with a
factor of ngiven between 1.2 and 1.5. (ref)

2.2ENERGY BALANCE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Q−W =∆U + ∆ KE +∆ PE (2.21)

Where

Q= heat

W= work

U= internal energy

KE=kinetic energy
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PE=potential energy

2.3MECHANICAL DESIGN

2.31Desingn parameters

2.32 Diameter of the column

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

4V
DC=
√ w

πρ v u v
(2.31)

Where;

Vw= is the maximum vapor rate kg/s

Uv= maximum allowable vapor velocity

The equation to determine the maximum vapor velocity is based on well-known sounders and
brown equation, Lowenstein (1961) and is given by

1
ρl−ρ v 2
[ ]
u v =(−0.171 l t +0.27 l t −0.047 )
ρv
(2.32)

Where;

Lt=plate spacing

2.33 Area of column

The area of the column (A) can be calculated based on the diameter

π
A= D 2C ( 2.33)
4

2.34 Height of a column

H= ( HETP ) × ( No . of trays∨stages required )(2.34)

10
Where;

HETP=height equivalent to theoretical plates

hT Height of packing
HETP= = ( 2.35)
N T number of ideal plate

Packed height(Z)

Z=N × H (2.36)

Where;

N=Number of transfer units

H= Height of transfer units

Volume of the column

This can be calculated from the area of the column and height

V =H × A (2.37)

2.35 Column efficiency

Percent of hydrogen sulphide removed

This can be calculated using the amount of the component to be measured going in the system
leaving

yr − y p
η= × 100 % ( 2.38 )
yr

Where;

y p= processed gas H 2 S composition

y r =raw methane H 2 S composition

The contactor efficiency[ CITATION jiu05 \l 1033 ]

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 y out
(
η= 1−
y¿ ) × 100 %(2.39)

Where;

η=efficiency of the column

y ¿ =the concentrationof H 2 S at the∈let

y out =theconcentration of H 2 S at the outlet

2.32 PRESSURE DROP

2.32.1Total drop

The total plate drop is given by

ht =h d + ( h w + how ) +hr (2.32.1)

Where;

ht =total plate pressure drop , pa

h d=dry pressure drop

h0 w =weir liquid crest

hr =residual head

2.32.2 weir liquid crest

this is the height of the liquid crest and it can be measured by using the Francis weir formula.
This can be written as

2
Lw 3
h ow=750
[ ]
ρl l w
(2.32.2)

Where;

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Lw =liquid flow rate. kg /s

h ow=weir crest , mm liquid

l w =weir length, m

2.32.3 dry pressure drop

Dry plate pressure drop occurs due to friction within dry short holes and can be estimated using
expressions derived for flow through orifices

2
uh ρv
h d=51
[ ]
co ρl
(2.32.3)

Where;

Co=orifice coefficient

Uh= velocity through the holes

2.32.4 Residual head

The residual pressure drop results mainly from the surface tension as the gas releases from a
perforation it can be estimated using the simple equation proposed by Hunt et al (1955)

12.5× 103
hr = ( 2.32.4)
ρl

2.4PROCESS MODEL DEVELOPMENT

The software and its version suitable for the modelling of this process Aspen Hysys V10. Xxxx
NRTL property method will be used for the simulation model. NRTL is a non-random two liquid
model used to calculate activity coefficient to take into account non- ideality in the liquid phase.

Aspen HYSYS (or simply HYSYS) is a chemical process simulator used to mathematically
model chemical processes, from unit operations to full chemical plants and refineries. It is able to
perform many of the core calculations of chemical engineering which include those concerned

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with mass balance, energy balance, heat transfer, mass transfer, vapor liquid equilibrium,
chemical kinetics, fractionation and pressure drop.[ CITATION enm21 \l 1033 ]

2.5 ECONOMIC EVALUATION

2.51Fixed capital
It is the total cost of the plant ready for start-up It is the cost paid to the contractors. It includes
the cost of:
 Design, and other engineering and construction supervision.
 All items of equipment and their installation.
 All piping, instrumentation and control systems.
 Buildings and structures.
 Auxiliary facilities, such as utilities, land and civil engineering work.
It is a once-only cost that is not recovered at the end of the project life,
C f =f L C e (2.51)
Where
Cf= fixed capital cost

Ce=the total delivered cost of all the equipment items

fL= the lang factor which depends on the type of process.

2.52 Working capital

Is the additional investment needed, over and above the fixed capital, to start the plant up and
operate it to the point when income is earned.[ CITATION RKS991 \l 1033 ]
It includes the cost of:
 Start-up.
 Initial catalyst charges.
 Raw materials and intermediates in the process.
 Finished product inventories.

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  Funds to cover outstanding accounts from customers.

2.53 payback time

Pay-back time is the time required after the start of the project to pay off the initial investment
from income however, the time to reach the break-even point is called the payback time.

total investment
pay back time= (2.52)
average annual cash flow

2.54 break-even point

break-even point is used for the percentage of plant capacity at which the income equals the cost
for production.

¿ cost
BEP= (2.53)
sales price per unit−variable cost

2.55 rate of return(ROR)

ROR which is the ratio of annual profit to investment, is a simple index of the performance of
the money invested. Though basically a simple concept, the calculation of the ROR is
complicated by the fact that the annual profit (net cash flow) will not be constant over the life of
the project. The simplest method is to base the ROR on the average income over the life of the
project and the original investment.
cumulative net cash flow at end of project
ROR= ×100 % (2.54)
life of project ×original investiment
Therefore,
cumulative income=F−C
Investiment=C
Life of project=G
And in this case the rate of return can be redefined as
F−C
ROR= (2.55)
G ×C

Simple rate of return calculations takes no account of the time value of money.

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CHAPTER THREE

3.0 BUDGET
ITEM COST
PRINTING AND BINDING K400
STATIONARY K100
INTERNET SERVICE K350
OTHER EXPENCES K300
TRANSPORT K250
TOTAL K1400

3.1 GANTT CHART

15th marc 23rd april 26th may 19th june 20th july 10th Aug 30th sept

FINAL PROJECT

PROJECT SUBMISSION

REPORT REVIEW

DRAFT REPORT

DATA ORGANISATION

PROJECT RESEARCH

BEGAN ENDED

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REFERENCE
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hydrdenitrigenation reactions. new york: kluwer academic publishers.

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%20levels%2C%20hydrogen%20sulfide,convulsions%2C%20coma%2C%20and%20death.
[Accessed 6 february 2021].

4. Anon., 2016. www.transtechenergy.com. [Online]

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[Accessed 6 february 2021].

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Available at: https://www.biogasclean.com/h2s.aspx
[Accessed 6 february 2021].

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Available at: http//www.en.m.wikipedia.org
[Accessed 24 february 2021].

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[Accessed 6 february 2021].

11. SINNOT, R., 1999. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN. 3 ed. NEW YORK: UNIVERSITY OF WALES
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