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Iron Content Troubleshooting in TEG Dehydration System

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Papps

Petroleum
Mar 21, 2011
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Lean TEG iron content measured and found that 220 ppm and pH dropped to 3.5, colour was dark brown.

Added MEA into the system and brought down iron content to 120 ppm and pH increased into 7.0.

It took one week to get back to this condition. Post adding MEA into the system observed Surge drum temperature rise and iron content came down by filtration. I suppose addition of MEA precipitated out iron from the glycol stream and got filtered in filters.

Now pH got stabilized but iron content again increased back to 400 ppm and colour turned into black. Rich and lean glycol sample looks same black coloured. But concentration is maintaining around 99 % above. I guess if glycol got degraded it won't be regenerating.

Further adding of MEA is not helping iron to get out of the solution. Filter differential pressure is maintaining constant. No rise is observed.

If Lean glycol is diluted with equal amount of water after some time black particles settling up leaving glycol n water down whereas its opposite to rich stream. When diluted with water, black particles settling down.

Questions:

Will adding of MEA increase the system temp always ?..
With the above explained condition how to get the glycol back into its normal condition. I guess it's not degraded as its regenerating. Any other solution available to get back the glycol to its original condition.
 
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Are your black particles magnetic (magnetite)? The pH runaway seems like a good candidate for corrosion products due to a loss of passivation.
 
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