Apparatus and method for exclusively removing VOC from regeneratable solvent in a gas sweetening system

A method to remove volatile organic compounds from an absorbent fluid stream of an acid gas removal apparatus comprising the steps of:

• moving an absorbent fluid away from an absorbent fluid source and through a VOC removal station, said absorbent fluid comprising a fluid into which volatile organic compounds and at least one acid gas constituent have been absorbed from a sour fluid stream;
• controlling the pressure and temperature of said absorbent fluid flowing through said VOC removal station to liberate substantially all of said absorbed volatile organic compounds without significant liberation of acid gas constituents from said absorbent fluid so that remaining volatile organic compounds liberated downstream in said stripping station do not exceed a pre-determined VOC level;
• conducting said liberated absorbed volatile organic compounds from said VOC removal station through at least one VOC vent;
• moving said absorbent fluid from said VOC removal station and through a stripping station;
• adjusting said stripping station to liberate said at least one of acid gas constituent from said absorbent fluid;
• and
• conducting said liberated acid gas constituent from said stripping station through at least one stripping vent.

A method to remove volatile organic compounds from an absorbent fluid of an acid gas removal apparatus comprising the steps of:

• moving the absorbent fluid through a VOC removal station and a stripping station, the absorbent fluid comprising a fluid into which volatile organic compounds and at least one acid gas constituent have been absorbed from a sour fluid stream;
• generating a vent stream from the absorbent fluid moving through the VOC removal station by regulating the temperature and pressure of the absorbent stream, the vent stream comprising volatile organic compounds and at least one acid gas constituent liberated from the absorbent fluid, wherein the ratio of the liberated volatile organic compounds to the liberated at least one acid gas constituent is significantly higher than a similar ratio of any subsequent stream generated from the absorbent fluid stream flowing through the stripping station;
• conveying the vent stream away from the VOC removal station;
• generating an exhaust stream from the absorbent fluid moving through the stripping station by regulating the temperature of the absorbent stream, the exhaust stream comprising at least one acid gas constituent and a concentration of volatile organic compounds less than a pre-determined VOC level liberated from the absorbent stream;
• and
• conveying the exhaust stream away from said stripping station.