Gas Processing I

NGT 140

Chapter 10
Nitrogen Rejection Unit

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 Ch 3

Ch 5

Ch 2 Ch 7 & 8
Ch 10

Ch 4 Ch 6

Ch 9

Ch 2

Ch 9
Nitrogen Rejection
• Is a necessary process in maintaining a desired
Btu value for sales gas and pipeline
specifications.
• Adding nitrogen lowers the Btu value
• Removing nitrogen raises the Btu value
• Nitrogen is removed from feed gas at low
temperatures in a nitrogen rejection unit
(NRU).
Types of Nitrogen Rejection Units
• Pressure swing adsorption
• A process using a molecular sieve and alternate high and low
pressure swings. (moderate recovery)
• Cryogenic absorption
• Uses chilled hydrocarbon oil to absorb the bulk of the
methane and achieve a separation of nitrogen from natural
gas. (widely used)
• Membranes
• Membranes are used to selectively permeate methane and
reject nitrogen in the gas stream. (low to moderate recovery)
• Cryogenic distillation
• Done through condensation and distillation at cryogenic
temperatures. (used for large scale applications and is
commonly used due to its efficiency and reliablility)