Technology
Hydrogen
Recovery Unit
The patented AET HRU technology
utilizes non-cryogenic absorption to separate methane and heavier
hydrocarbons from the hydrogen containing gases. The purified
hydrogen leaves the absorber column with minimal pressure drop. The
absorbed methane and heavier hydrocarbons are flashed off from the
solvent by reducing the pressure of the absorber bottoms stream.
The separated gases leave as the fuel gas product. The liquid from
the proven heatless flash regeneration step is returned to the top of the
methane absorber as lean solvent. The lean solvent is made up of
the heavier components in the feed gas. Typically, the process will
produce a valuable excess solvent stream of recovered C3+ liquid.
If desired, additional propane plus
product can also be produced. The AET HRU has the unique and
valuable ability to recover 95% of hydrogen contained in a feed gas and
produce a hydrogen product stream with 95% hydrogen purity.
Locations
for use of the technology include use on a hydrogen loop to reduce
blowdown and to increase hydrogen partial pressure. Locating
between two units will increase hydrogen partial pressure in the
downstream unit. The process can also be located on the bulk fuel
stream or PSA tailgas (after compression).
Click here for
larger view of drawing.
Saudi Aramco demonstrates the
feasibility of the AET hydrogen purification technology covered by U.S.
patent numbers 5,462,583, 5,551,972, and 6,698,237 and other pending
applications. The demonstration is explained in Paper No. AM-05-31,
Hydrogen Purification in Hydroprocessing (HPHsm Technology),
Yuv R. Mehra and Ali H. Al-Abdulal, presented at the 103rd NPRA
Annual Meeting in March 2005.