Definitions of words and terms used in the gas processing industry.
For questions regarding incorrect/outdated entries or suggestion for adding additional terms, please contact Martin Erne
The highest pressure at which a substance can exist in the vapor phase.
Above the critical pressure, the mixture cannot be vaporized regardless of the temperature.
The highest temperature at which a substance can exist in the liquid phase.
Above the critical temperature, the mixture cannot be condensed regardless of the pressure.
A gas processing facility which is capable of producing liquid products at very low operating temperatures.
Most cryogenic plants use turboexpanders or J-T Valves to drop the temperature enough to get liquids (C3+) to condense from the gas stream.
A valve, or plate, used to regulate the flow of air or other gases.
A damper is used to control the velocity of the hot exit gasses over a waste heat recovery exchanger.
A piece of equipment used for removing air, or other gases, from a process stream, steam condensate, or boiler feed water.
The deaerator was not functioning causing the boiler to surge from the entrained gasses.
A distillation tower for separating the butane components and lighter from the pentane and heavier components.
The debutanizer is typically downstream of the depropanizer in the fractionation facility.
A liquid from which essentially all ethane and lighter compounds have been removed.
Deethanized product can also be referred to as C3+
A distillation tower for separating ethane and lighter components from the propane and heavier components.
The deethanizer was installed downstream of the demethanizer.
An undesirable substance which is produced because of some reaction such as cracking, dehydrogenation, or polymerization.
This term often implies the formation of a contaminant or low value product. Amines degrade into salts or solids if the regenerator is too hot.
The act or process of removing water from a system or flowing stream.
Dehydration is a common problem for many who attend the hospitality events at GPA Midstream.
A facility which contains equipment and apparatus designed to remove water from hydrocarbon streams.
The gas did not meet water quality specifications due to the upset condition at the dehydration plant.
The equipment and apparatus designed to remove water from hydrocarbon streams.
Common types of dehydrators are molecular sieves, silica gel, alumina, glycol or methanol.
A distillation tower for separating the isobutane from the normal butane.
A deisobutanizer is sometimes referred to as a butane splitter.
The location within a facility or piping system where product changes custody from one party to another.
The inlet meter is designated as the delivery point to the gas processing facility.
A hydrocarbon product from which essentially all methane and lighter materials have been removed.
Demethanized mix may be referred to as demethanized product or y-grade.
A distillation tower for separating methane and lighter components from the ethane and heavier components.
The demethanizer is often operated at cryogenic temperatures.
A distillation tower for separating propane and lighter components from the butanes and heavier components.
The depropanizer is upstream of the debutanizer in a fractionation facility.
A solid substance used to remove water.
The desiccant in a gas plant is often silica gel or molecular sieve.
Rapid and explosive combustion that causes a shockwave.
For instance, detonation can be a reference to a phenomenon in the internal combustion engine as found in a gas compressor where ignition timing, inadequate air fuel ratios or high operating temperatures causes the fuel to pre-ignite, causing the unacceptable condition of engine knock.
The temperature at a given pressure at which liquid initially condenses from a gas or vapor.
For example, the temperature at which water vapor starts to condense from a gas mixture (water dew point), or at which hydrocarbons start to condense (hydrocarbon dew point).
The removal of free water at the point of accumulation.
For example, filters, strainers, and low-point drains are common dewater points.
The difference between any two pressures.
Two examples are: (1) difference in pressure between the upstream and downstream taps of an orifice plate from which the fluid volume passing through the orifice is computed; (2) the pressure drop across the trays of a distillation column. Common symbol: DP. Commonly referred to as Delta P.
Components of a mixture that diminish the value of a property under consideration.
Diluents of natural gas, such as nitrogen and helium are often referred to as "inerts".
A device that segments flow to measure the volume of a fluid.
Rotary and Diaphragm meters are examples of displacement meters. Displacement meters are often referred to as "positive displacement meters" or "PD meters".
The product that is condensed from vapor to liquid after a thermal distillation process.
The purity ethane product coming out of a dethanizer and the purity propane product coming out of a depropanizer are examples of distillates.
