Training Course Agendas

These course agendas are a representation of the course material presented for the specific classes. All material is subject to change depending on the specific needs of the clients at each course. Please contact Bryan Research & Engineering for additional information on any training session.

BRE 201: Gas Processing

Objectives:

The Gas Processing course explores various gas separation technologies used in field processing (JT and mechanical refrigeration) as well as in plant processing (Turbo-Expander, GSP, and RSV type demethanizers, and NGL fractionation). The course encompasses detailed discussion and demonstration, through ProMax® models, of the important thermodynamic and engineering principles that apply to the design, operation, and optimization of these processes.

The course also demonstrates and introduces the user to various capabilities within ProMax that can be used to parameterize and optimize gas processing units. Some of the capabilities used extensively in the course are Solvers, Specifiers, and the Scenario ToolTM. Through hands-on experience, the user will learn how to use ProMax tools to refine gas processing unit designs and optimize gas processing conditions to meet desired goals.

Attendees will learn:

• Technologies used in the gas processing industry
• Specific applications of ProMax and its features with regards to gas processing
• Capabilities and features of ProMax simulation software
• Plant modeling techniques and methods
• More advanced uses of the ProMax Scenario Tool

Prerequisites:

• Any 100 level course or equivalent experience
• Understanding of ProMax specifiers, solvers, and Scenario Tool

Methods:

• Instructor-led demonstrations
• Hands-on simulation
• Question-Answer
• Open floor discussion

Agenda

Installation of ProMax

The first step in all courses is to verify that ProMax is properly installed on each attendee’s computer.

Introduction and Overview

Field Processing - JT and Refrigeration Plants

• Exercise 1: Simple JT Fuel Gas Conditioning Skid – Attendees will start with a base JT skid and determine why the Gas/Gas and Gas/Liquid exchangers from the LTS are in the order that they are.
• Exercise 2: JT & MRU Gas Plant Comparison – Attendees will convert a JT plant to a refrigeration plant by addition of a chiller and compare and contrast the capabilities of each system. Precompression will also be evaluated.
• Exercise 3: Propane Refrigeration Loop Fundamentals – Attendees will add and optimize a propane loop onto their refrigeration plant.
• Exercise 4: Simple Gas Plant – Attendees will work through a method to determine the optimal combination of refrigeration and JT based on a given inlet and product specification.

Turboexpander Systems

A basic turboexpander system is discussed first, but variations (GSP/RSV) are then compared to show the increased efficiencies of these systems.

• Exercise 5: Demystifying the Turboexpander Plant – Attendees will build a turboexpander plant from scratch, adding one piece at a time, and determine what the function and need of each piece is. Attendees will learn the logic transition steps from a refrigeration plant to a turboexpander plant.
• Exercise 6: Column Side Draws – Attendees will compare the different ways that side draws on a distillation column can be modeled.
• Exercise 7: Expander Plant Heat Integration – The effect of different layouts of the heat exchangers used in the Turboexpander plant are investigated to obtain higher ethane recovery.
• Exercise 8: Expander Plant Reflux Configurations – Working from the base turboexpander plant, attendees will provide a source of reflux, either using a GSP or RSV system, and determine what process advantages these configurations provide.

GSP Plant Optimization

The next several exercises discuss methods that may be used to estimate matching an existing unit, and expected performance at different operating conditions.

• Exercise 9: GSP Exchanger Rating – Attendees proceed to replace the design-case specification for rated heat exchangers. These are replaced with Solvers that drive Heat Exchanger Rating Fraction Over-Design properties to zero. Also, rather than fixing the LTS Vapor Split, the split is outfitted with a Solver holding the Residue Gas Pressure at the target Sales Line pressure.
• Exercise 10: GSP Optimization – A goal is presented to increase the ethane recovery to over 85% by making judicious changes to the operating parameters of the system. There are physical limitations that must be met, based on current equipment in the plant.
• Exercise 11: Feed Contaminants – GSP and RSV claim to be better at handling more CO₂ and water contamination than the basic turboexpander. The limits of these two contaminants are explored based on solid formation temperature calculations.
• Exercise 12: GSP Optimization – Economics – The attendees use Keep-Whole Value calculations to determine the most economical ethane recovery.
• Exercise 13: Ethane Rejection – A change from ethane recovery to rejection is modeled in ProMax to demonstrate some of the differences.
• Exercise 14: Fractionation – A look at meeting required specifications from the demethanizer through the butane splitter.

Notes About the Agenda:

Our agenda is provided to give the approximate material to be covered in the course, in the approximate order it will be covered. All courses we provide will be tailored to the needs of the host company providing the training accommodations, as well as the needs of the course attendees. Some courses may cover additional topics, while some may cover less than indicated in the agenda.

Some courses may be shortened to one or two days when represented by a three-day agenda. These courses will typically cover both process simulation and process optimization topics, but will exclude several exercises. Please contact our training team here: Contact Training, or through the consulting engineer for your region, for specific information for any course.