Treatment of Ethane-Propane in a Petrochemical Complex

A Petrochemical complex is responsible for producing various petrochemicals. It is made up of various fragments that work in synchronization with each other. This paper focuses on treatment of ethane-propane in a petrochemical complex after recovery from natural gas. Some of the important fragments are the Gas Sweetening Unit (GSU), the (C2\C3) Recovery Unit, and the Gas Cracker Unit (GCU). The GSU uses a solvent for removing acid gases like CO₂ in the natural gas by chemical absorption. First counter current absorption of the gas with a solvent like DEA takes place and then its further treatment in the regenerator column to strip off the CO₂. The ‘sweetened’ gas from the GSU forms the feedstock to the C2\C3 Recovery Unit where cryogenic conditions prevail and if the CO₂ component of the gas is not removed, it will freeze at such low temperatures. The ethane-propane is cracked in the GCU.