1

CONTACTOR
CONTACTOR IS VESSEL IN WHICH CHEMICAL SOLUTION REMOVES COM-
PONENTS FROM GAS OR LIQUID.

GLYCOL REMOVES WATER FROM GAS IN DEHYDRATION CONTACT.

CONTACTOR IS SOMETIMES CALLED ABSORBER.

IN ABSORBER, HYDROCARBONS IN GAS DISSOLVE IN STREAM OF LIQUID

HYDROCARBONS.

IN CONTACTOR, CHEMICAL SOLUTION REMOVES PART OF GAS BECAUSE

THE SOLUTION HAS AN ATTRACTION OR CHEMICAL REACTS WITH PAR OF
THE GAS.

THE NAME IS NOT IMPORTANT. WHAT GOES ON INSIDE THE CONTACTOR

OR ABSORBER IS IMPORTANT.
 2
DRY GAS OUTLET

MIST GLYCOL
PAD COOLING
COIL

LEAN
GLYCOL

WET
GAS
INLET

DRAIN

RICH GLYCOL
CONTACTOR
 3
CONTACTOR

CONTACTOR
 4
TRAYS IN CONTACTOR

BUBBLE CAP TRAY

VALVE TRAY

VALVE TRAY

DOWNCOMER

BUBBLE
CAP
TRAY
TRAY INSTALLATION
IN TOWER

TRAYS USED IN CONTACTORS

 5
PACKING USED IN CONTACTORS
GAS OUT

LIQUID
LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR
IN
PACKING SLOTTED RINGS
RESTRAINER

RANDOM
SHELL
TOWER
PACKING

LIQUID RASHIG
REDISTRIBUTOR
RINGS

PACKING GAS IN
SUPPORT
LIQUID
OUT BERYL
SADDLES
DETAIL OF TOWER WITH
TWO PACKED SECTIONS

PLASTIC
SADDLES

RING & SADDLE

STRUCTURED TOWER PACKING TYPE PACKING
 6
FLOW ON TRAYS

DOWNCOMER
RETAINING BUBBLE CAP
BOLT AND NUT LIQUID
FLOW

WEIR

RISER

VAPOR
DOWNCOMER FLOW

VALVE

VALVE RETAINING
TRAY EAR

FLOW ON TOWER TRAYS

 7
BURPING OR PUKING
I'm getting
sick.
URP!

LIQUID
INLET

OBSTRUCTION

GAS
INLET

LIQUID FLOW DOWN THE TOWER GAS PRESSURE BUILDS UP IN THE

BECOMES RESTRICTED, AND LIQUID BOTTOM UNTIL IT IS ENOUGH TO
STARTS TO BUILD-UP ON THE TRAYS. OVERCOME THE LIQUID HEAD ON
GAS PRESSURE STARTS TO BUILD THE TRAYS. AT THAT TIME, A SLUG
UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TOWER. OF GAS MOVES UP THE TOWER. IT
TRAVELS AT A HIGH VELOCITY AND
CARRIES LIQUID WITH IT AS IT
FLOWS OUT THE TOP.

BURPING IS CAUSED BY HIGH LIQUID FLOW RATE OR OBSTRUCTION IN

DOWNCOMER.

ITS SYMPTOM IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF SOLUTION.

IT IS PREVENTED BY LOWERING SOLUTION FLOW RATE.

 8
FLOW DESCRIPTION

GAS OUTLET

FLOW
INDICATOR

LEAN GLYCOL
COOLER

INLET GAS

SURGE
TANK

LEAN GLYCOL
PUMP

INLET GAS
SEPARATOR
RICH GLYLCOL

TO LIQUID
CONTACTOR
DISPOSAL
 9
CONTACTOR WITH INTEGRAL INLET SEPARATOR
GAS OUTLET

MIST PAD LEAN SOLUTION

TRAYS

CHIMNEY
TRAY

LEVEL
CONTROLLER

MIST PAD RICH

SOLUTION

INLET GAS

TO LIQUID
DISPOSAL

CONTACTOR WITH INTEGRAL INLET SEPARATOR

 10
GLYCOL CONTACTOR WITH FLUID DRIVEN PUMP

FLOW
INDICATOR

OUTLET
GAS
GLYCOL
COOLER
CONTACTOR

SURGE
TANK

INLET GAS

GLYCOL PUMP
INLET GAS RICH GLYCOL TO
SEPARATOR RECONCENTRATOR

TO LIQUID
DISPOSAL

GLYCOL CONTACTOR WITH FLUID DRIVEN PUMP

 OUTLET GAS
LEAN 25 PARTS OF
GLYCOL WATER VAPOR

INLET GAS
100 PARTS RICH GLYCOL
OF 75 PARTS OF
WATER WATER
VAPOR
SINGLE MIXING STAGE
11
 OUTLET GAS
LEAN 10 PARTS OF
GLYCOL WATER VAPOR

30 PARTS WATER VAPOR

INLET GAS
100 PARTS RICH GLYCOL
OF 90 PARTS OF
WATER WATER
VAPOR
2 MIXING STAGES
12
 13
MIXING STAGES

ADDING ADDITIONAL MIXING STAGES WILL LOWER THE QUANTITY OF WA-

TER VAPOR IN TREATED GAS.

SUPPOSE TREATED GAS SPECIFICATION IS 10 PART WATER VAPOR, AND

TWO MIXING STAGES ARE REQUIRED TO MEET SPECIFICATION.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF TRAYS THAT ARE

EQUIVALENT TO 6 MIXING STAGES.

WE BUILD A SMALL TOWER WITH SEVERAL TRAYS, AND OPERATE IT WITH

DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF TRAYS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY TRAYS WILL GIVE
THE SAME RESULTS AS 6 STAGES OF MIXING.

IF 8 TRAYS DO THE SAME AS 2 MIXING STAGES, THE TRAY EFFICIENCY IS

2
X 100 = 25%
8

AFTER WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF MIXING STAGES REQUIRED AND THE

TRAY EFFICIENCY, WE CAN DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF TRAYS IN A
CONTACTOR.

NUMBER OF MIXING STAGES

NUMBER OF TRAYS IN CONTACTOR =
TRAY EFFICIENCY ÷ 100

HOW MANY TRAYS ARE REQUIRED IF 3 MIXING STAGES ARE REQUIRED

AND TRAY EFFICIENCY 33%? ____________

PACKING IS TESTED THE SAME WAY AS TRAYS EXCEPT THAT IT IS RATED

AS HEIGHT OF PACKING EQUAL TO 1 MIXING STAGE. 1 TO 3 METERS [3 TO
10 FEET] OF PACKING ARE USUALLY REQUIRED FOR EACH MIXING STAGE.
 14
TRAY EFFICIENCY

TRAY EFFICIENCY DEPENDS ON THOROUGHNESS OF MIXING OF SOLU-

TION AND PROCESS FLUID.

DEGREE OF MIXING DEPENDS ON:

1. VISCOSITY OF LIQUID. GLYCOL HAS HIGH VISCOSITY - HAS LOW

EFFICIENCY - ABOUT 25%. FOUR TRAYS ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH
MIXING STAGE.

DIRT IN SOLUTION WILL RAISE VISCOSITY AND LOWER EFFICIENCY.

REMOVE IN FILTER.

SCALE OR DEBRIS ON TRAYS WILL INTERFERE WITH MIXING AND

LOWER EFFICIENCY.

2. VELOCITY OF GAS FLOWING THROUGH SOLUTION. IT MUST BE HIGH

ENOUGH TO AGITATE AND MIX WITH LIQUID. HIGH VELOCITY WILL
BLOW LIQUID OFF TRAYS.

DIAMETER OF CONTACTOR IS SELECTED SO THAT GAS VELOCITY

IS 30 - 60 CM/SEC [1 - 2 FT/SEC].

TRAY EFFICIENCY IS FAIRLY CONSTANT AT 50 - 100% OF DESIGN GAS FLOW.

IT FALLS OFF AT HIGH OR LOW RATES.
 15

FACTOR EFFECT ON WATER PICK-UP

1. GLYCOL CONCENTRATION. MORE PICK-UP AT HIGHER CON-

CENTRATION

2. GLYCOL FLOW RATE. MORE PICK-UP AT HIGHER RATE.

3. CONTACTOR TEMPERATURE. LESS PICK-UP AT HIGHER

TEMPERATURE.

4. OTHER COMPONENTS IN GAS LESS PICK-UP OF WATER VAPOR.

THAT SOLUTION PICKS UP,
SUCH AS METHANOL.
 16

TYPICAL GLYCOL CONCENTRATIONS AND FLOW RATES

TO CONTACTORS IN GAS DEHYDRATION PLANTS

MOISTURE CONTENT OF CONCENTRATION FLOW OF GLYCOL PER WEIGHT OF

GAS LEAVING CONTACTOR OF LEAN GLYCOL MOISTURE REMOVED FROM GAS

kg/million m3 lb/MMcf Wt% L/kg of water gal/lb or water

95 - 100 6-7 98.0 - 98.7 8 - 16 L/kg 1 -2 gal/lb

16 - 32 1-2 99.6 - 99.85 24 - 32 L/kg 3 - 4 gal/lb

1.6 - 3.2 0.1 - 0.2 99.95 - 99.98 50 - 80 L/kg 6 - 10 gal/lb

 17
OPERATING PROCEDURES

Start-up Sequence
Gas Outlet

Shutdown Sequence

Flow
Indicator

1 Start Cooler

LEAN GLYCOL
Stop Gas Flow COOLER
1
4 Start Gas Flow

Inlet Gas
SURGE
TANK

LEAN GLYCOL
2 PUMP
Stop Pump 2
Start Pump
INLET GAS
SEPARATOR
Rich Glycol

When liquid appears in bottom,

To Liquid CONTACTOR 3 put level controller in service.
Disposal
 18

DEW POINT OF PIPELINE QUALITY GAS

AT VARIOUS PRESSURES
SI UNITS ENGLISH UNITS
Gas Pressure Dew Point Gas Pressure Dew Point
kPa @ 112 mg/m3 psi @ 7 lbs/MMcf
3000 -8.5°C 500 19°F
3500 -7.2°C 550 21°F
4000 -5.9°C 600 22°F
4500 -4.7°C 650 24°F
5000 -3.6°C 700 25°F
5500 -2.5°C 750 27°F
6000 -1.5°C 850 29°F
6500 -0.6°C 850 29°F
7000 0.0°C 900 30°F
7500 0.8°C 950 31°F
8000 1.5°C 1000 32°F
8500 2.1°C 1050 33°F
9000 2.8°C 1100 34°F
1150 35°F
1200 35°F
1250 36°F

EXAMPLE: GAS FROM A DEHYDRATOR ENTER A PIPELINE AT 7000 kPa

[1000 psi]. THE DEW POINT OF TREATED GAS MUST NOT EXCEED 0 ° C
[32 ° F].
 19
CONTROL OF CONTACTOR

CONTACTOR IS CONTROLLED TO PRODUCE TREATED GAS OF ACCEPTABLE

QUALITY AT LOWEST OPERATING EXPENSE.

MAIN OPERATING EXPENSE IS THAT OF REGENERATING SOLUTION.

EACH GPM OF LEAN SOLUTION REQUIRES ABOUT 800 MCF/YEAR OF FUEL

TO REGENERATE.

IDEAL CONTROL IS THAT WHICH RESULTS IN TREATED GAS THAT MEETS

QUALITY SPECIFICATIONS AT MINIMUM FLOW OF LEAN SOLUTION.

CONTROL POINTS ARE:

1. LEVEL CONTROL ON INLET SEPARATOR.

2. LEAN SOLUTION FLOW RATE.
3. LEAN SOLUTION TEMPERATURE.
4. BOTTOMS LEVEL CONTROL.

ALTHOUGH SOLUTION PURITY (CONCENTRATION, RESIDUAL CONTENT,

SOLID PARTICLES, ETC.) AFFECTS OPERATION OF CONTACTOR, IT IS CON-
TROLLED AT ANOTHER LOCATION — RECONCENTRATOR OR STRIPPER.
 20
LEVEL CONTROL IN INLET SEPARATOR

INLET SEPARATOR MUST

GAS OUTLET
REMOVE SOLID AND LIQ-
UID FROM GAS TO PRE-
VENT FOAMING.

LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM

SHOULD BE SET TO DUMP LEAN
LIQUID AS IT ENTERS. SOLUTION

IF LIQUID ENTERS IN
SLUGS, SET PROPOR-
TIONAL BAND AT LOW
POINT — 10 TO 25% — SO
CONTROL VALVE WILL
FULLY OPEN WITH SMALL
CONTACTOR
RISE IN LEVEL.

IT IS GOOD PRACTICE TO
STROKE LEVEL CONTROL LEVEL
VALVE PERIODICALLY TO CONTROLLER
CHECK ITS MOVEMENT
AND BLOW OUT SOLID RICH
MATERIAL. SOLUTION

INLET GAS

INLET GAS
SEPARATOR

TO LIQUID
DISPOSAL
 21
GLYCOL TEMPERATURE CONTROL

CONTROL TEG
GAS OUTLET
TEMPERATURE WITH
BY-PASS OR LOUVERS.

44°C
[110°F]

LEAN
GLYCOL
GLYCOL
COOLER

38°C
[100°F]
INLET
GAS LEVEL
CONTROLLER

RICH
GLYCOL

CONTACTOR
 22
GLYCOL-TO-GAS-EXCHANGER

GLYCOL-TO GAS
EXCHANGER

LEAN GLYCOL
FROM PUMP

CONTACTOR DRY OUTLET

GAS

EXCHANGER IS DESIGNED SO THAT GLYCOL OUTLET TEMPERATURE

IS 6 - 10°C [10 - 15°F] ABOVE GAS TEMPERATURE.
 23

A. TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE WHEN OUTLET GAS HAS HIGH DEW

POINT

CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE TROUBLESHOOTING

WATER VAPOR IN OUTLET GAS PROCEDURE
1. HIGH CONTACTOR a. CHECK INLET GAS TEMPERA-
TURE.
TEMPERATURE LOWER TO DESIGN POINT.
b. CHECK LEAN GLYCOL TEMPERA-
TURE. LOWER IF MORE THAN 6 -
8°C [10 - 15°F] ABOVE INLET GAS
TEMPERATURE.
2. LOW GLYCOL FLOW RATE a. CHECK PUMP FOR MALFUNCTION
AND REPAIR.
b. INCREASE FLOW UNTIL TREATED
GAS MEETS SPECIFICATION.
3. LOW GLYCOL a. INCREASE TEMPERATURES IN
CONCENTRATION STILL REBOILER.
b. INCREASE STRIPPING GAS FLOW.
4. CONTACTOR IS FOULED. a. CONFIRM WITH PRESSURE DROP
MEASUREMENT.
b. INTERNALLY INSPECT AND
CLEAN.
 24
TROUBLESHOOTING
TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE FOR FOAMING OR CARRYOVER
TROUBLESHOOTING
CAUSE OF FOAMING PROCEDURE
1. LEAN SOLUTION CONTAINS a. CHECK SOLUTION FOR
SOLID PARTICLES. DISCOLORATION OR CLOUDI-
NESS.
b. CHANGE OR CLEAN FILTER ELE-
MENTS.
2. LIQUID HYDROCARBONS ARE a. CHECK FOR OIL FILM ON SAMPLE
PRESENT IN CONTACTOR. OF LEAN SOLUTION. IF OIL IS
PRESENT, LEAN SOLUTION TEM-
PERATURE IS TOO LOW, OR LIQ-
UID HYDROCARBONS ARE EN-
TERING CONTACTOR IN INLET
GAS.
b. CHECK LEAN SOLUTION TEM-
PERATURE FOR 6 - 8°C [10 - 15°F]
ABOVE INLET GAS TEMPERA-
TURE. RAISE SOLUTION TEM-
PERATURE.
c. CHECK LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM
ON INLET SEPARATOR.
3. LEAN SOLUTION CONTAINS a. CHECK LEAN SOLUTION FOR
SOLUBLE CONTAMINANTS. SOLUBLE CONTAMINANTS. USE
RECLAIMER TO REMOVE CON-
TAMINANTS, OR REPLACE SOLU-
TION.
4. DOWNCOMERS ARE a. CHECK FOR HIGH PRESSURE
PLUGGED OR TRAYS ARE DROP.
FOULED. b. INTERNALLY INSPECT TOWER.
5. HIGH GAS FLOW RATE. CHECK RATE. LOWER TO DESIGN
RATE.
6. CHEMICALS USED IN TREAT- a. REMOVE CHEMICALS FROM
ING OIL OR GAS WELLS ARE SOLUTION WITH CHARCOAL
CONTAINED IN INLET GAS. FILTER.
THEY DISSOLVE IN SOLUTION b. ADD FOAM INHIBITOR.
 CONTACTORS IN VALIDATION
Answers
DEHYDRATION PLANT SI UNITS Trainee ______________________
Scoring
Dry Gas
Water Spec = 95 kg/million m3
1. Answer the following questions
for the Contactor shown to the
left.

FLOW a. The amount of water in the 10

INDICATOR
1056 kg/d.
inlet gas is _______
960 x 1.1
GLYCOL b. The amount of water in the 10
COOLER
104.5 kg/d.
outlet gas is ______
95 x 1.1
c. The amount of water ab- 5
Inlet Gas
1.1 million m3/d sorbed by the glycol is
960 Kg moisture/million m3
INLET GAS 865
________kg/d. = 960 - 95
SURGE
TANK
35°C
d. The glycol circulation rate to 10
GLYCOL
9.61 L/min.
the Contactor is _____
PUMP
(865 x 16) ÷ 1440
e. The temperature of glycol to 10
INLET GAS the Contactor should be
SEPARATOR

RICH GLYCOL
40
____________°C. = 35 + 5
CONTACTOR
Water content of outlet gas is 10
TO LIQUID
DISPOSAL f.
Glycol pick-up rate = 16 L/kg water
60 kg/million m3. What should
you do?
Lower glycol flow until outlet gas
water content is 90 - 95 Kg/106m3

Scoring
Check the correct item or items to each of the following statements.

3 for 2. Foaming in a Contactor is caused by:

each ______ High temperature _______ High pressure
e
______ Liquid hydrocarbons e
_______ Dirty solution
correct
answer
3. Excess component in the outlet gas from a Contactor is caused by:
e
______ Low solution concentration e
_______ Low solution flow rate
______ High solution concentration _______ High solution flow rate

4. Burping is usually caused by:

______ Low liquid flow rate _______ Low gas flow rate
e
______ High liquid flow rate _______ High gas flow rate

Total 5. At start-up, the flow of gas / glycol is started first.

73
 CONTACTORS IN VALIDATION
Answers
DEHYDRATION PLANT ENGLISH UNITS Trainee ______________________
Scoring
Dry Gas 1. Answer the following questions
Water Spec = 6 lb/MMcf
for the Contactor shown to the
left.

FLOW a. The amount of water in the 10

INDICATOR
2400 lbs/d.
inlet gas is _______
60 x 40
GLYCOL b. The amount of water in the 10
COOLER
249 lbs/d.
outlet gas is ______
40 x 6
c. The amount of water ab- 5
Inlet Gas
40 Mmcf/d sorbed by the glycol is
60 lb moisture/MMcf
INLET GAS 2160
________lbs./d.
SURGE
TANK
90°F
d. The glycol circulation rate to 10
GLYCOL
3 gpm.
the Contactor is _____
PUMP

*e. The temperature of glycol to 10

INLET GAS the Contactor should be
SEPARATOR

RICH GLYCOL
89 = 10 = 100
____________°F.
CONTACTOR
TO LIQUID
DISPOSAL f.
Water content of outlet gas is 10
Glycol pick-up rate = 2 gal/lb water
4 lbs MMcf. What should you
do?
Lower glycol flow until water
content is almost 6 lb/MMcf.
*d. 2160 x 2
1490 = 3 gpm
Scoring Check the correct item or items to each of the following statements.

2. Foaming in a Contactor is caused by:

3 for ______ High temperature _______ High pressure
each e
______ Liquid hydrocarbons e
_______ Dirty solution
correct
answer 3. Excess component in the outlet gas from a Contactor is caused by:
e
______ Low solution concentration e
_______ Low solution flow rate
______ High solution concentration _______ High solution flow rate

4. Burping is usually caused by:

______ Low liquid flow rate _______ Low gas flow rate
e
______ High liquid flow rate _______ High gas flow rate

5. At start-up, the flow of gas / glycol is started first.

Total
73