(133h) Systematic in-Process Modification Approach for Enhanced Waste Energy Recovery in Gas Plants

Oil and gas industry is currently one of the most growing industrial sectors in the world. World demand for hydrocarbons is forecasted to grow rapidly during this decade and the one after. The growing demand for energy consumption have initiated another wave of new research focusing on new cost-effective technologies and systems for increased productivity and product quality while improving energy efficiency, preserve sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental consequences as well. Many methods and tools for energy conservation have been developed during the last two and half decades. These methods used mainly mathematical programming technique and pinch technology to synthesize and operate processes optimally from efficient use of energy point of view. Several challenges still face the industrial community in adopting these methods efficiently and stretching the envelope of knowledge beyond it towards reaching global optimal energy-consuming processes. This paper demonstrates the benefits obtained in form of more energy savings in gas industry through the utilization of systematic technique for in-process modification approach in a typical gas plant. It shows a new methodology for systematic targeting of energy consumption under all possible combination of in-process modifications and the automatic selection of the optimal process operating conditions that achieve desired targets. The application of this approach ?In-process modification for energy efficiency optimization? is not only beneficial in maximizing profitability but also in reducing the energy-based air pollution in gas processing plants. Key Words: In-process modification, Heat Integration; gas processing plant; TEM_icons? software