Enhancing liquefied petroleum gas production through debutanizer column optimization

Abstract

Debutanizer columns are important in natural gas processing as they are crucial in generating Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). LPG is well recognised for its environmentally benign combustion properties, making it a desirable fuel option for cooking, heating, and transportation. The optimisation of debutanizer units has significant relevance in improving the efficiency of LPG separation. This study aims to enhance the separation efficiency of a butane removal tower by modelling and optimising its operation using HYSYS software. The research aims to introduce innovation in this field. A series of comprehensive simulations were carried out to achieve this goal, resulting in outcomes that nearly corresponded to the findings obtained from natural gas units. Moreover, a thorough examination was conducted to examine the impact of temperature, pressure, feed flow rate, and reflux ratio on the production yield of n-butane. The study reached this conclusion by optimising tower conditions, with a particular emphasis on improving the performance of the condenser during the hot summer season. In ideal circumstances, the distillate demonstrated a butane concentration ranging from 70% to 74%, while all overhead gas is condensed in all instances. This study highlights the importance of optimising the debutanizer column in enhancing the quality and efficiency of LPG production in the natural gas processing sector.