Patent ID: 7695702

Claim:
A method for optimizing operation of an amine regeneration system comprising: (a) passing a rich amine input stream through a flash tank wherein a pressure differential enables flashing off of a portion of acid gas from said rich amine input stream, whereby dynamic pressure control of said flash tank is achieved by providing a controlled source for direct injection of a supplemental pressurized acid gas stream to said flash tank; (b) heating said input rich amine stream by passage thereof through a rich/lean heat exchanger to form a heated rich amine stream; (c) releasing acid gas components from said heated rich amine stream by passage of said heated rich amine stream into a still wherein said heated rich amine stream is subjected to an initial steam contact thereby causing it to release acid gas components and form a lean amine stream; (d) feeding said resultant lean amine stream to a reboiler where it is heated to produce additional steam; (e) introducing said additional steam to said still whereby it contacts said heated rich amine stream and exits said still as an overhead admixture including said acid gas components; (f) recovering water from said overhead admixture by passage thereof through a reflux condenser whereby acid gas components exit to waste; (g) storing said recovered water in a reflux accumulator for subsequent pumping to said still; and (h) passing said lean amine stream from said reboiler to said rich/lean heat exchanger wherein it is cooled and exits said system fully regenerated.