(178b) Benfield Revamp Process for Lowering Operating Cost and Improving System Throughput

The UOP Benfield Process is a thermally regenerated cyclical solvent process using an activated and inhibited hot potassium carbonate (HPC) solution to remove CO₂, H₂S and other acid gas components. Over the last 50 years, UOP has licensed more than 700 Benfield units. UOP offers the opportunity to upgrade these installed and operating units through the three revamp options: UOP Benfield ACT-1^TM activator; UOP Benfield LoHeat ^TM technology; and UOP proprietary packing. A combination of revamp options can result in capacity increases and/or energy savings. Each of the revamp option and various flow schemes will be discussed as well as key operational parameters for significant performance improvements. Recent Benfield revamp projects will be presented as examples of how the upgrading options are implemented and possible process requirements and constraints that could be encountered.