Modeling, Simulation, and Economic Assessment of Membrane-Based Gas Dehydration System and Comparison with Other Natural Gas Dehydration Processes

An economic assessment of natural gas dehydration using polymeric membranes was made through modeling and simulation and the results were compared with those conducted through absorption and adsorption. A diagram of the economic boundaries between different natural gas dehydration processes was also introduced. The effects of the membrane properties, membrane module cost, feed pressure, and natural gas wellhead price on the cost of water vapor removal were examined. It has been concluded that at low feed pressures and at feed flow rates more than 0.85 MMSCMD the membrane-based gas dehydration system is not competitive with the absorption process. An increase in the feed pressure increases the cost of the absorption and adsorption processes, while decreases that of the membrane system. At feed flow rates higher than 3.4 MMSCMD and inlet pressures less than about 4100 kPa, the total separation cost of the adsorption unit was lower than that of the membrane system.