Pressure Vessels for Amine Reflux Vessels: Design & Considerations

Amine reflux vessels are pressure vessels designed to handle condensed liquids (water + amine) and residual acid gases (H₂S, CO₂) from the overhead of an amine stripper column. Their design follows strict standards due to corrosive conditions and operational demands.

1. Design Codes & Standards

I.> ASME BPVC (Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code), Section VIII, Div. 1 or 2 – Mandatory for pressure containment.

II.> API 12GDU (Gas Dehydration Units) – Guidelines for amine system components.

III.> NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 – Material selection for H₂S service (sour environments).

IV.> GPSA Engineering Data Book – Industry best practices for gas processing.

2. Key Design Parameters

3. Material Selection

I.> Carbon Steel (SA-516 Gr. 70) – Most common, cost-effective, but requires amine-compatible coatings/inhibitors.

II.> Stainless Steel (SS 304/316) – Used for high H₂S/CO₂ or oxygen-contaminated systems.

III.> Clad Materials (CS + SS overlay) – For severe corrosion zones.

IV.> Internal Linings (Fiberglass, PTFE, Epoxy) – Additional protection against wet acid gas attack.

Note: Amine degradation products (e.g., heat-stable salts) can accelerate corrosion—material choice depends on amine type (MDEA, DEA, MEA).

4. Nozzle & Internals Requirements

5. Pressure Relief & Safety

• PSV (Pressure Safety Valve) – Sized per API 520/521 for overpressure scenarios.

• Rupture Disk (Optional) – For additional protection against sudden pressure spikes.

• Flare/Scrubber Vent – Disposes H₂S/CO₂ safely.

6. Operational Challenges & Mitigation

7. Inspection & Maintenance

• NDT (UT, RT, PT) – Checks for wall thinning/cracks.

• Thickness Monitoring – Ultrasonic testing (UT) for corrosion tracking.

• Biannual Shutdown Checks – Demister integrity, nozzle condition.

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