Patent ID: 7645433

Claim:
A method for optimizing start-up of an amine regeneration system comprising: (a) providing fluid communication between a rich amine input stream and a reflux accumulator whereby a liquid level within said reflux accumulator is achieved by supplementation with said input rich amine stream; (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.