Molecular sieves are usually installed in applications in which very low residual water content is required, such as ahead of a low temperature hydrocarbon extraction process.
The basic principle of operations starts with the wet gas entering the adsorption tower which contains the molecular sieve desiccant and exits the other end of the vessel dry. In a simple two tower design, while one tower is adsorbing, the other tower is regenerating. Regeneration gas is heated up to 550 ˚F and is passed to the tower in regeneration mode to remove the water from the molecular sieve. As the saturated gas leaves the top of the vessel, it is cooled in a condenser and then the condensed water is separated in separator. As the dehydrated unit becomes saturated with water vapor, it is automatically switched to regeneration mode while the regeneration unit becomes active in dehydration mode. Switching from dehydration to regeneration is done by use of automatic switching valves.
These units provide an effective means to remove water vapor from a natural gas where cryogenic temperatures in natural gas processing requires the inlet gas to be bone dry.
Cutter USA Mole Sieve Units are modular for simple installation, mobility and easier field installation.