Abstract: The constituent of energy consumption in the stripper for efficient desulfurization solvent (XDS) was analyzed by energy balance. Results suggested that the energy required to heat amine solution accounted for the major part of the reboiler heat duty and had the most significant impact on the energy consumption of the whole desulfurization system. The effect on reducing energy consumption with increasing the mass fraction of XDS solvent for refinery gas desulfurization system was simulated and analyzed by the process simulation software Aspen HYSYS, and then industrial validated in a refinery was conducted. Simulation results showed that the steam consumption for the stripper could be reduced by increasing mass fraction of XDS in lean solution and reducing solution circulation flow rate under the premise of ensuring the quality of purified gas. Industrial test results matched well with the simulated ones. In the petrochemical enterprise, if the mass fraction of XDS in lean solution was increased from 23.82% to 44.40%, the rich solution flow rate and corresponding steam consumption for the stripper could be reduced by 20.4% and 20.6%, respectively, which displayed the positive energy saving effect. Prior and post to increase mass fraction of XDS in lean solution, the foaming tendency and corrosive nature of XDS solution kept lower levels, and the desulfurization efficiency of the units remained stable.

Key words: process simulation, desulfurization, liquified petroleum gas, dry gas , regeneration, energy consumption