Premium
Effects of glycol on adsorption dynamics of idealized water droplets on LTA‐3A zeolite surfaces
Author(s) -
Olsen Richard,
Kvamme Bjørn
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.16567
Subject(s) - zeolite , adsorption , desorption , chemical engineering , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering
During production of natural gas, glycol may follow the gas stream due to hydrate prevention or glycol dehumidification. Further dehumidification can be achieved by Linde Type A‐3A zeolite. Local glycol concentrations can form through adsorption to surrounding clay material or zeolite, thus blocking zeolite windows or contaminating condensed water droplets close to the surface. Idealized nanoscale water droplets and their adsorption dynamics onto zeolite structures were simulated, with and without glycol contamination. Blockage of the zeolite windows was also investigated. Water from contaminated droplets adsorbed slower than uncontaminated droplets due to hindrance caused by glycols adsorbed to the zeolite surfaces, thus decreasing initial water loading rates. The adsorption free energy barrier of water was higher for D4R‐terminated zeolite than for alpha cavity‐terminated zeolite. Adsorbed glycols blocked zeolite cavities. However, temperature increase resulted in partial desorption of the glycols, while water desorbed at a lower temperature than for glycol.