Parameter optimization of natural gas processing plant of Tahe 1^#

Aiming at the actual situation of the natural gas processing plant of the Tahe 1^#, this paper focused on the research of the sensitive factors that affect the natural gas processing plant and the optimization of the parameters. In this paper, the process simulation software was used to build a model, and the following factors were used to analyze their influences on the recovery of C₃ and C₃⁺ and the energy consumption of the facility. These factors include the outlet temperature from the expansion side of expansion unit, the temperature after propane refrigeration, the temperature of low-temperature separator, the number of theoretical plates of DHX tower and dethanizing tower, the temperature of reboiler at the bottom of dethanizing tower. Based on the variables above, using high recovery rate and low energy consumption as goals, LPG quality standards as constraint conditions, the paper successfully established the optimal model of natural gas processing facility with sequential quadratic programming method. As a result, the recovery rate of C₃ has increased from 83.63% to 96.65% and the recovery rate of C₃⁺ from 92.30% to 98.43%. At the same time, the molar content in the processed liquefied gas of C₃+C₄ has increased to 95%, and C₅ has decreased about 1%.