PROCESS SIMULATION AND EVALUATION OF METHANOL RECOVERY UNIT USING ASPEN HYSYS

Natural gas is one of the most economical and environmentally friendly energy sources, playing a crucial role in Kazakhstan’s gas industry. The optimization of gas processing technologies, particularly methanol regeneration, is essential for improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. Methanol (CH3OH) is widely used in the oil and gas industry as a hydrate inhibitor, but its high consumption necessitates regeneration to minimize costs and environmental impact. This study focuses on the technical and economic feasibility of methanol regeneration from methanol-water solutions (MWS) at the “X” gas processing plant in western Kazakhstan. The Aspen HYSYS software was used to simulate the methanol recovery process, employing the Peng-Robinson equation of state. The study explored different process configurations, considering separation, purification, and rectification technologies.