Apparatus for and method of removing acidic gas from a gaseous stream and regenerating an absorbent solution

An apparatus comprising:

• a stripper including at least one inlet for receiving rich solvent containing acidic gas to be regenerated,
• a first outlet for releasing lean solvent stripped of acidic gas, and a second outlet for releasing vapor containing the stripped acidic gas;
• a first flow path delivering at least some of the rich solvent from an absorber to the inlet at or near the bottom of the stripper;
• a second flow path removing the lean solvent from the first outlet of the stripper and moving it to the absorber;
• at least a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connecting the first flow path to the second flow path,
• the first and second heat exchangers permitting heat transfer between the rich solvent and the lean solvent;
• at least one heater positioned in the first flow path, the heater being upstream of the stripper and downstream of the heat exchangers;
• and
• a cold rich solvent bypass connecting the first flow path at a location upstream of the first heat exchanger to a predetermined point on the stripper, wherein the cold rich solvent bypass directs a portion of the rich solvent having a temperature within the range of 30° C. to 50° C. from the first flow path;
• and
• a warm rich solvent bypass connecting the first flow path at a location downstream of the first heat exchanger to the stripper, wherein the warm rich solvent bypass directs a portion of the rich solvent having a temperature of 100° C. to 121° C. from the first flow path.