Membrane filtering cuts glycol solids buildup

Use of a crossflow-membrane microfiltration system on triethylene glycol (TEG) from a Phillips Petroleum Co. dehydration unit has significantly reduced high suspended-solids concentrations. After some initial adjustments at the Rock Creek plant (Borger, Tex.), the unit has produced 0.5 gpm of clean glycol from the crossflow unit and averaged suspended-solids concentration of less than 50 ppm. The topics in this paper are organized under the following headings: Solids-problem history, Cleanup techniques, Polypropylene tubes, Field tests, and Follow-up.