A major producer in the U.S. mid-continent area operates a 100 KBPD refinery. Within the refinery a DEA amine sweetening unit is operating with a recirculating rate of 350 - 700 gpm. Upgrading the amine filtration system solved persistent problems with amine quality, equipment failure, and lost time caused by these problems.

The amine process experienced many problems before the system was modified and the amine filtration system upgraded.

Foaming within the contactor tower was an ongoing problem. A significant amount of anti-foam agent was being used to control foaming. In addition, the amine color was a 'dirty' blackish green indicating significant contamination.The pump and seal failure rates were a costly and time consuming problem that occurred on average every 3 months. This was a direct result of dirty amine contaminating the pumps and other downstream equipment. The amine contamination was a direct result of the inadequate filtration system which included a carbon bed and cartridge filters.

Another costly and time consuming part of the process was the existing amine filtration system. The filters needed to be changed every 2-3 weeks. During changeout of the filters, the system would be down for approximately 4 hours requiring 2 refinery personnel to remove and replace all filters. Also, the refinery was spending an additional $36,000 per year for filter elements that were unable to effectively control contaminant in the system.

In December 1997, the refinery management installed the Pall Ultipleat High Flow filtration system on the lean side of the amine process cycle. The Full Flow Filtration System is designed to treat up to 700 gpm @ 100° F. The system utilizes 4 Ultipleat High Flow filter elements. They are coreless filter elements with no metal hardware. The filtration flow path is from the inside of the element to the outside. Contaminant trapped on the inside will not recontaminate the vessel during changeout.

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Many of the process problems have been solved since the installation of the Pall Ultipleat High Flow Filtration System.

Foaming has decreased to the point that anti-foam agent is no longer used in the system. Amine quality and color has improved dramatically. The amine color is now a "water white" compared to the "dirty blackish" color before the system upgrade. Pump and seal failure rates have decreased from failures every 3 months to zero failures since the filter system was installed in December '97.

The Pall Ultipleat High Flow Filter system is designed to treat the full amine flow of up to 700 gpm.

The amine filter onstream life has doubled from 2-3 weeks to 4-6 weeks, thus reducing filter cost by 1 1/2 to 2 times per calendar year. This reduced the number of filter changeouts, which cut labor and equipment downtime reducing filter disposal costs.

The Pall Ultipleat High Flow Filter system only utilizes 4 filter cartridges which has decreased the actual time it takes to change out the filters by at least a factor of four.

In summary, much less time and attention is spent on the amine process operation since the system upgrade was completed. This saves time and money that could be used elsewhere within the refinery processes.

Problem Areas	Before Upgrade	After Upgrade
Filter change frequency	Every 2-3 weeks	Every 4-6 weeks
Filter change time	8 man-hours/change	1 man-hour/change
Pump/Seal failures	Every 3 months	Zero failures since December 1997
Anti-Foam usage	Anti-foam used to decrease amine foaming	Anti-foam injection discontinued
Filter disposal	Metal components & high number of cartridges	Only 4 filters required for full flow operation, no metal components
Filter cost/year	$36,000 / year	$14,500 - $22,000 /year

Fewer elements Smaller housings Higher flow rates Bigger cost savings