A technological solution combining Turbo expander and Joule-Thomson valve to enhance LPG recovery efficiency at the Dinh Co gas processing plant
Abstract
This paper presents the application of a low-temperature hydrocarbon recovery system that combines a turbo expander (TE) with a Joule- Thomson (JT) valve at the Dinh Co Gas Processing Plant. This is an advanced cryogenic cooling technology, widely applied in modern natural gas processing plants, LNG complexes, and petrochemical facilities that require high liquid recovery efficiency.
The implementation at Dinh Co Gas Processing Plant demonstrates that the combined TE-JT system achieves significantly deeper gas cooling compared to the JT valve-only configuration. As a result, propane (C3) recovery efficiency has consistently exceeded 85%, contributing to improved economic performance of the plant. The hybrid TE-JT solution not only proves its high practicality amid the volatility of energy and LPG markets but also represents a substantial advancement in the modernization of Vietnam's gas processing technologies, aligning with global trends toward energy efficiency improvement and emission reduction.
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