Conditioning fuel gas using FuelSep™ minimizes costly unscheduled downtime - a smart and simple solution.
Challenge
Raw gas often cannot be used to fuel the gas engines or gas turbines driving pipeline compressors due to poor quality. Significant concentrations of H2S and/or C3+ will cause corrosion and carbon build-up in the gas engine. CO2 and nitrogen will lower the BTU value. Any of these impurities can compromise engine operation, increase downtime or at a minimum put emissions out of compliance. Their presence in the raw gas can even render the gas unusable as fuel so expensive diesel has to be trucked in.
Membrane Solution
MTR’s FuelSep™ systems purify raw gas sidestreams to premium quality fuel gas. MTR membranes easily remove H2S, C3+, CO2, N2 and water from fuel gas. Because these impurities are taken out of the fuel gas and returned to the compressor suction, there are no effluent streams to be disposed of. Any C3+ removed from the fuel gas goes back into the main gas stream, so all NGL in the raw gas stream is available for downstream recovery, if desired.
These units have no moving parts, are simple to install and operate unattended. Units typically operate under ambient conditions. Feed gas heating may be required in some conditions. Many units are operating worldwide with many repeat customers.
Benefits
- Removes heavy components such as C2+ to clean up fuel gas (ethane removed also)
- Increases recovery of liquids
- Reduces gas engine NMHC (non Methane Hydrocarbon) Emissions
- Removes significant portions of acid gases such as H2S and CO2 that will reduce acid formation in the turbine or engine exhaust and reduce emissions
- Increases reliability of gas engines and turbines
- Usually operates under ambient conditions. Feed heating required in some situations.
- Eliminates need to de-rate gas engine
- Decreases maintenance costs and reduces unscheduled downtime
- Contains no moving parts, simple to operate and maintain
FuelSep® unit operating in Texas
System Performance
Gas Turbine Unit
- Conditioned gas flow rate: 2 to 30 MMscfd
- Raw feed C3+ content: 4 to 20 vol%
- Raw feed dew point: 80°F to 120°F
- Conditioned gas dew point: 40°F to 60°F
- C3+ removal: greater than 70%
- Typical Unit dimensions: 20 ft (L) x 10 ft (W) x 10 ft (H)
Gas Engine Unit
- Conditioned gas flow rate: 0.05 to >20 MMscfd
- Raw feed Btu value: 1100 to 1500 Btu/scf
- Conditioned fuel gas Btu value: 1000 to 1100 Btu/scf
- Feed dew point: 80°F to 120°F
- Conditioned gas dew point: 40°F to 60°F
- C3+ removal: greater than 70%
- Typical Unit dimensions: 8 ft (L) x 6 ft (W) x 6 ft (H)
