Simulation and scale-up of the desulphurization of gas streams by adsorption method using numerical simulation

Abstract Natural Gas usually contains H2S as a major contaminant, and its presence in gas streams can lead to corrosion of equipment and pipelines. Adsorption is a commonly used technique for removing sulfur compounds from gas streams at low concentrations. The desulphurization process is very complex, requiring experimental and pilot-scale studies before the development of a full-scale adsorption column. Such studies often involve simulation and scale-up techniques. Approaches for scale-up techniques applied to the removal of H2S from natural gas in real conditions of transport lacks discussions in the literature. The present study aimed to perform a scale-up of experimental pilot-scale equilibrium data for the real conditions of natural gas transport through gas pipelines using numerical simulation. We evaluated the influence of operating parameters (bed length/diameter ratio, pressure, and temperature) on the removal of H2S from a gas stream in the range of 1.5 to 3.5, 50 to 110 bar, and 298 to 328 K, respectively. The predicted results match real process data providing the elaboration of a scale-up for gas transport conditions in a pipeline. The results showed that at the confidence level of 95%, only pressure was statistically significant, and the optimization of operating conditions increased the amount adsorbed in the equilibrium from 3.71 to 4.70 mol/kg. Bed saturation time was estimated for different operating flows, and the results are in agreement with data reported in the literature.