Gas Treatment & Generation · Engineered by SorbiTech

Gas Sweetening Unit

Name: Gas Sweetening Unit
Brand: SorbiTech

Molecular sieve and impregnated carbon gas sweetening unit for H₂S, CO₂, and mercaptan removal from natural gas, refinery gas, and LPG streams.

Capacity / Flow 0.5–500 MMSCFD

Design Standards ASME VIII Div.1 · NACE MR0175 · ATEX/IECEx

Inlet Conditions Up to 2 % H₂S · up to 5 % CO₂ · any mercaptan level

Outlet Specification H₂S < 4 ppmv · CO₂ to spec · mercaptans removed

Operating Pressure (bar) Up to 100

Quick Answer

A Gas Sweetening Unit removes hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and mercaptans from natural gas, refinery gas, and LPG streams using 13X molecular sieve or impregnated activated carbon in a TSA cycle. Outlet H₂S below 4 ppmv and CO₂ to pipeline specification meet GPA 2140, sales gas contracts, and LNG feed prep requirements.

Combined Drying and Sweetening in One Adsorber Train

The SorbiTech Gas Sweetening Unit removes hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, mercaptans, and water from natural gas in a single temperature swing adsorption train. The deciding feature is the use of SorbiTech 13X molecular sieve in the main bed: the 10 Ångström pore admits H₂S, CO₂, mercaptans, and water simultaneously, so a single bed delivers both pipeline dew point and pipeline H₂S and CO₂ specification. This is the engineering alternative to a two stage MDEA contactor plus dehydration train at small to medium scale.

Process and Regeneration Cycle

Twin or triple adsorber vessels run 180 degrees out of phase. Hot regeneration purge at 250 to 320 °C drives off the captured H₂S, CO₂, and water; the regeneration off gas is routed to a Claus tail gas unit, a flare, or an incinerator depending on the H₂S load. The regenerator condenser recovers the water for monitoring. NACE MR0175 hardness controlled welds and post weld heat treatment are mandatory for the H₂S service envelope.

Scope of Supply

Engineered by SorbiTech and supplied complete:

Twin or triple adsorber vessels to ASME VIII Div.1 and NACE MR0175
Inlet filter coalescer for liquid removal
Regeneration gas heater rated for sour service
Switching valve manifold with full hardness control documentation
Charge of SorbiTech 13X molecular sieve loaded under nitrogen
Regeneration off gas routing to flare or SRU
PLC or DCS control with outlet H₂S analyser and outlet dew point monitor

Where It Fits

Wellhead gas treatment for fields above 0.5 percent H₂S typically combines an amine sweetening unit with downstream dehydration. The SorbiTech sweetening unit is the engineering alternative at small to medium scale (below 60 MMSCFD) where combined drying and sweetening on one bed reduces footprint, capital, and operating complexity. Applications include natural gas treatment in the oil and gas sector.

Delivery

Delivered turnkey by SorbiTech for projects with civil and electrical scope, or fabricated to client drawings under SorbiTech scope. Lifecycle service includes media changeout at the operator turnaround and the forward inventory plan that maintains the SorbiTech media stock at the regional warehouse.