DEFOMAMINE 700

Description

DEFOMAMINE 700 is uniquely formulated to reduce foaming in amine systems using MEA, DEA, MDEA, DGA and formulated amine solvents. DEFOMAMINE 700 is newest generation defoamer of RXSOL Advance Technologies for use in amine treating gas and liquid hydrocarbons. DEFOMAMINE 700  should be considered as an alternative to upgrading equipment to control hydrocarbon entrainment, amine losses or for incremental increases in unit throughput.

Product Technical bulletin

Description  :

DEFOMAMINE 700 is uniquely formulated to reduce foaming in amine systems using MEA, DEA, MDEA, DGA and formulated amine solvents. DEFOMAMINE 700 is newest generation defoamer of RXSOL Advance Technologies for use in amine treating gas and liquid hydrocarbons. DEFOMAMINE 700  should be considered as an alternative to upgrading equipment to control hydrocarbon entrainment, amine losses or for incremental increases in unit throughput.

Application :

DEFOMAMINE 700 is a defoamer (or antifoam) formulated for use in amine systems that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in gas processing applications such as:

• Natural gas processing
• Refinery amine systems
• Hydrogen production
• Ammonia manufacture
• Coke oven gas processing
• Cryogenic gas processing and
• Synthesis gas purification.

The most common location for foaming in an amine system is in gas treaters or absorbers. Foaming in amine absorbers can result in reduced treating capacity, off specification products and high amine losses. If the problem is condensing hydrocarbons, the foaming may be resolved by increasing the Lean Amine temperature. If hydrocarbons are entrained in the gas feed, increasing the temperature may have little or no effect.

The injection of DEFOMAMINE 700  into the Lean Amine feed to the absorber(s) should resolve the foaming. It can be injected with “shot feed” injection equipment or with a chemical injection pump. For shot feed applications, two to four quarts are injected at a time. The dosage for a continuous injection system is typically 10 to 50 ppm (mg/L)/day based on system volume.
The use of DEFOMAMINE 700  has also been beneficial in improving the separation of gas, liquid hydrocarbon and amine solution when injected into the Rich Amine upstream to the Flash Drum. One of the most serious locations for foaming is in the regenerator. Foaming in the regenerator usually corresponds with a loss of liquid level in the bottom of the tower, reduced tower top temperature and a higher Lean Amine loading. Reducing the steam rate may allow the hydrocarbon to descend in the tower, reducing the foaming by reducing vapor traffic. Alternately, a small amount of DEFOMAMINE 700  injected into the Rich Amine or Reflux can help resolve the problem. Hydrocarbons that vaporize overhead should be removed by purging the reflux accumulator to the waste water system.

As with any foaming control chemical, the presence of other antifoams may have a negative side effect on performance. Whenever possible, allow several hours or even days for one antifoam product to exit nthe system prior to injecting a new product. DEFOMAMINE 700 has been found to be compatible with most polyglycol and alcohol type of antifoams but high concentrations of silicone based products reduce its performance.

Dose and Using Procedure :

DEFOMAMINE 700 is a defoamer designed by RXSOL to out perform silicone, polyglycol or alcohol based products and avoid the side effects common to these materials. DEFOMAMINE 700 is a non-ionic polymer made of repeated polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene chemical groups. It is resistant to degradation and forms shorter chain length polymers upon degradation. DEFOMAMINE 700 is removed to some extent by activated carbon filtration but is also removed in the flash drum (3-phase separator).
Testing conducted in Rx Marine Internationa Research Laboratories reveal that Rx Amine 700 out performs silicone, polyglycol and alcohol based products in foam tests conducted using both laboratory amine solutions and actual plant amine solutions. DEFOMAMINE 700 outperforms other defoamer and antifoam products, the most important benefit of this product is the absence of the following side effects:

1. DEFOMAMINE 700 does not increase equipment fouling, particulate filtration costs or the emulsion tendency of the amine solution, in contrast to silicone based products.
2. DEFOMAMINE 700 does not breakdown to fatty acids or fatty acid soaps that increase foaming, in contrast to polyglycol ester based products.
3. DEFOMAMINE 700 does not breakdown to form organic acids, in contrast to alcohol based products.

Determination of Foaming Tendency and Stability

This is a simple procedure that can be used to determine the foaming tendency and stability of an amine solution. If the defoamer products are to be evaluated, the amine solution should be allowed to settle in a separatory funnel for at least one hour before the bottom layer is used for the evaluation. The amine solution should be heated to 100°F (37.8°C) or the Lean Amine feed temperature to the absorber.

Equipment
1 liter graduated cylinder gas flow meter (500 to  5000 ml/min) gas supply – nitrogen or air timing device connecting tubing hot water bath sparger tube – sintered glass, metal or ceramic.

Procedure :

1. Pour 200 ml of 100°F (37.8°C) amine solution into the graduated cylinder.
2. Establish gas flow at 4,000 ml/min. Insert sparger tube and begin timing
3. Record foam height after one minute. Stop gas flow and reset timer.
4. Record time required for foam to break to a liquid surface.
5. Thoroughly clean cylinder and sparger tube before and after each use.
6. Repeat, adding defoamer product at desired concentration.

Note: If foam exceeds height of cylinder, repeat using a lower gas rate.

Future & Benefit :

• DEFOMAMINE 700  has been proven to be more cost effective than silicone, polyglycol or alcohol based products.
• In contrast to silicone based defoamers, Rx Amine 700 does not increase equipment fouling, particulate filtration costs and the emulsification tendency of the amine.
• In contrast to many polyglycol based defoamers, Rx Amine 700 does not degrade to fatty acid soaps that increase foaming.
• In contrast to alcohol based defoamers, Rx Amine 700 does not degrade to organic acids. Superior foam control combined with negligible side effects make DEFOMAMINE 700 an excellent product to use for controlling foaming problems in aminen systems.

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