Modeling the operation of the glycol fire regeneration unit evaporator

UDK: 622.279.8:681.518

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2026-2-57-62

Key words: glycol regeneration, burner, deformation, conjugate heat transfer, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, evaporator, natural gas drying

Authors: Yu.V. Zhiltsov (Branch of RN-GRD in Krasnoyarsk LLC, RF, Krasnoyarsk); A.S. Novozhenov (Branch of RN-GRD in Krasnoyarsk LLC, RF, Krasnoyarsk); O.A. Golovanov (Kharampurneftegaz LLC, RF, Gubkinsky); M.I. Arshinskiy (Branch of RN-GRD in Krasnoyarsk LLC, RF, Krasnoyarsk; Siberian Federal University, RF, Krasnoyarsk); A.P. Gorokhov (Branch of RN-GRD in Krasnoyarsk LLC, RF, Krasnoyarsk; Siberian Federal University, RF, Krasnoyarsk); A.A. Kukhlenko (Branch of RN-GRD in Krasnoyarsk LLC, RF, Krasnoyarsk)

This work presents the results of mathematical modeling of the operation of a fired triethylene glycol reboiler. Modeling process was performed through several steps. First modeling step consisted of the process simulation of regeneration unit to calculate material and energy balances of each individual unit and streams of modeled system. In the second step, starting from the obtained results in the first step, coupled thermal heat transfer calculation of fuel gas burning in the firetube was performed, taking into account heat transfer through firetube wall surface from flue gases to external medium and convective heat transfer from firetube external surface to glycol. Fuel gas burning process inside firetube and heat transfer to glycol were modeled taking into account flow of both gas and liquid fluid in their respective sides. As a result of performed calculations contour diagrams with temperature fields of firetube and reboiler shell side were obtained. Coupled heat transfer calculations were verified comparing the results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation with experimental data. In the final step of present work a stress-strain evaluation of firetube was performed and it was determined that strain stresses in firetube do not exceed the permissible limits if its external surface is not heated above 410 °C.

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