At constant pressure, the water content of the inlet gas increases as the inlet gas temperature increases. For example, at 1,000 psia and 80°F gas holds about 34 Ib/MMscf, while at 1,000 psia and 120°F it will hold about 104 Ib/MMscf. At the higher temperature, the glycol will have to remove over three times as much water to meet a pipeline specification of 7 lb/MMscf.
An increase in gas temperature may result in an increase in the required diameter of the contact tower. As was shown in separator sizing , an increase in temperature increases the actual gas velocity, which in turn increases the diameter of the vessel.
inlet gas temperatures above 120°F result in high triethylene glycol losses. At higher gas temperatures tetraethylene glycol can be used, but it is more common to cool the gas below 120°F before entering the contactor. The more the gas is cooled, while staying above the hydrate formation temperature, the smaller the glycol unit required.
The minimum inlet gas temperature is normally above the hydrate formation temperature and should always be above 50°F. Below 50°F glycol becomes too viscous. Below 60°F to 70°F glycol can form a stable emulsion with liquid hydrocarbons in the gas and cause foaming in the contactor.
There is an economic trade-off between the heat exchanger system used to cool the gas and the size of the glycol unit. A larger cooler provides for a smaller glycol unit, and vice versa. Typically, triethylene glycol. units are designed to operate with inlet gas temperatures between 80°F and 110°F.
