Clarifying Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG)

Natural gas pipelines deep under the sea are exposed to extreme cold. Salt water and corrosion also attack the transport pipelines. Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is introduced into the pipelines as an antifreeze and anticorrosion agent. To perform this function long-term, however, the MEG has to be kept continuously free of unwanted substances. GEA Westfalia Separator has expertise in a clarification process which is as efficient as it is economic.

MEG is mixed in with natural gas before transport to reduce the freezing point in the pipelines, to prevent blockages due to hydrates and to achieve increased corrosion protection. As the deep-sea pipelines are exposed to an ambient temperature only just above freezing, it is easy to see why the antifreeze function alone is of such considerable importance. However, the MEG becomes contaminated with salt water and extremely fine particles of corrosion in the pipelines, so quality continuously deteriorates.

With MEG clarification, GEA Westfalia Separator provides a process which effectively counteracts this negative impact. The unwanted solids are efficiently removed from enriched MEG by clarifiers in the gas treatment system. Dehydration and removal of solids up to 2 to 5 μm in size enriches the MEG to such an extent that it can once again fulfill its function of keeping the pipelines free.