Fuel Gas Dehydration and Filtration Systems
Fuel Gas Dryers are essential for the smooth operation of gas-fired production equipment. Natural Gas Dehydration and Filtration systems are an effective tool for fuel gas conditioning at remote locations. In most areas, access to the electrical grid is unavailable making these systems beneficial since no power or utilities are required. In some cases, Fuel Gas Coalescers are used for the conditioning of the fuel gas.
What is Fuel Gas and why does it need to be dried?
- Natural gas from the wellhead or pipeline provides a readily available source of fuel in remote locations
- This Fuel Gas is used to operate a variety of gas powered equipment near the wellhead and other sites in the transmission system such as:
- Gas fired heaters for tanks, buildings, and production equipment
- Pilot lights for flares
- Gas powered turbines and generating sets
- Gas powered engines for compressors, pumps, and pump jacks
- Gas often leaves the gas well and saturated with water vapor
- This water vapor can condense in the piping and cause damage to engines and inefficient burning in heating equipment
- Water can condense in fuel lines and freeze during cold weather, shutting down the equipment
- The damaged equipment and frozen fuel gas lines can lead to gas wells and pipelines being shut down for equipment repairs
How is the moisture removed from the gas to prevent costly well shutdowns?
Deliquescent Dryers
- PLD Series and D Series
- Small Single-Tower Deliquescent Dryers are often used in these applications
- The deliquescent dryer is installed in the gas line leading to the gas powered equipment
- The gas flows through the deliquescent dryer and removes the water vapor
- The desiccant gradually dissolves as it removes the water vapor, and must be periodically added
- The removed water and dissolved desiccant solution accumulates in the dryer vessel and is drained away
- No electric power is required for deliquescent dryers
- Used to prevent water condensation in gas lines (0 to 1450 PSIG
Inline Adsorbent Desiccant Dryers
- ID Series
- Small in-line dryers using adsorbent desiccant can also be used to provide even dryer gas for low-flow, critical applications
- This desiccant provides a dew point of -40°F or lower in the instrument gas
- The desiccant eventually is saturated and must be replaced
- These dryers produce no liquids to dispose of
- No power is required to operate in-line adsorbent dryers
- Used at point-of-use where very low dew points (-40°F) are required (up to 250 PSIG)
Regenerative Desiccant Dryers
- HLSXG Series
- In some installations, regenerative desiccant dryers can be used
- Electric power is required, either AC power or 12VDC power or solar panel for remote locations
- Regenerative desiccant dryers provide a continuous water dew point of -40°F or lower in the instrument gas, with no desiccant re-fill requirements
- These dryers will vent purge gas, so purge gas must be vented to flare or vapor recovery
- Used where very low dew points (-40°F) are required, and where electric power is available (80 to 250 PSIG)
Fuel Gas Coalescer
Van Gas Technologies high-efficiency GF102 coalescing filters provide needed protection from liquid hydrocarbons, lubricating oils, soap and glycol.
Most coalescing filter elements on the market today are rated down to 0.3 microns, Van Gas high-efficiency elements have been designed for efficiencies down to 0.01 microns with a maximum oil carryover of only .008 parts per million.
Other features and benefits of the GF102 series include:
- Flow capacities up to 90 MMSCFD at 1440 PSIG.
- Closure types include swing-bolt, blind flange, and blind flange with davit.
- Large sump area for knock-out and collection of bulk liquids.
- Optional factory installation of dump system and instrumentation.