Advanced Gas Separation Technologies Training Course

Advanced Gas Separation Technologies Training Course

Introduction

Advanced Gas Separation Technologies Training Course is designed to equip oil and gas professionals, process engineers, chemical engineers, and energy industry specialists with advanced technical knowledge and practical skills in modern gas separation processes. This course explores advanced gas processing technologies, including membrane gas separation, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), temperature swing adsorption (TSA), cryogenic separation, absorption and stripping, gas dehydration, acid gas removal, and carbon capture technologies. Participants will gain a detailed understanding of gas separation principles, thermodynamic behaviour, mass transfer mechanisms, process equipment design, and separation efficiency optimisation. The programme also addresses emerging developments in digital process simulation, artificial intelligence in process operations, advanced materials, and energy-efficient separation systems to help organisations improve gas purity, maximise hydrocarbon recovery, and minimise operating costs.

The course combines engineering theory with practical applications, industrial case studies, and process optimisation exercises to strengthen participants’ ability to evaluate, design, troubleshoot, and improve complex gas separation systems. Participants will learn how to select suitable separation technologies based on gas composition, pressure, temperature, flow rate, product specifications, environmental requirements, and lifecycle costs. Particular attention is given to natural gas sweetening, hydrogen purification, helium recovery, carbon dioxide separation, methane recovery, nitrogen rejection, and industrial gas processing. The training also examines process safety, equipment reliability, fouling prevention, solvent degradation, membrane performance, energy consumption, and environmental compliance. Through real-world engineering scenarios and simulation-based learning, delegates will develop the competence to optimise separation processes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and enhance plant performance. By the end of the programme, participants will be better prepared to implement innovative gas separation solutions that improve operational reliability, resource utilisation, product quality, and long-term industrial sustainability.

Course Duration

10 days

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain advanced gas separation principles, thermodynamic fundamentals, and mass transfer mechanisms used in modern gas processing facilities.
2. Evaluate and select appropriate gas separation technologies based on feed composition, operating conditions, product purity, and process economics.
3. Apply advanced membrane separation techniques to natural gas processing, hydrogen purification, and carbon dioxide removal.
4. Analyse pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and temperature swing adsorption (TSA) systems for efficient gas purification and recovery.
5. Optimise absorption, stripping, and solvent-based separation processes for acid gas removal and natural gas sweetening.
6. Assess cryogenic gas separation systems for nitrogen rejection, helium recovery, and hydrocarbon fractionation.
7. Design and evaluate gas dehydration systems using glycol absorption, molecular sieves, and other advanced drying technologies.
8. Apply process simulation tools and digital modelling techniques to improve gas separation efficiency and equipment performance.
9. Identify operational challenges such as membrane fouling, solvent degradation, adsorbent ageing, and separation inefficiencies.
10. Implement energy optimisation strategies to reduce power consumption, operating expenditure, and carbon intensity.
11. Evaluate carbon capture and CO₂ separation technologies for industrial decarbonisation and CCUS applications.
12. Strengthen process safety, risk assessment, environmental compliance, and reliability management across separation facilities.
13. Develop integrated gas separation strategies that enhance product recovery, process flexibility, plant profitability, and sustainability.

Target Audience

1. Process engineers and chemical engineers working in gas processing and petrochemical facilities.
2. Natural gas processing engineers and gas plant operations specialists.
3. Petroleum engineers and production engineers involved in upstream gas production.
4. Separation technology specialists and membrane system engineers.
5. Refinery, LNG, and gas treatment plant managers and supervisors.
6. Instrumentation, control, and process optimisation engineers.
7. CCUS, hydrogen production, and industrial decarbonisation professionals.
8. Technical consultants, project engineers, researchers, and engineering managers involved in gas processing technology selection and implementation.

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of Advanced Gas Separation Technologies

• Principles of gas mixtures, partial pressure, fugacity, and phase equilibrium.
• Gas composition analysis and physical property estimation.
• Mass transfer, diffusion, and separation selectivity.
• Thermodynamic principles governing gas separation efficiency.
• Technology selection based on purity, recovery, throughput, and cost.
• Case study: Evaluating alternative separation technologies for a natural gas processing facility handling variable feed compositions.

Module 2: Gas Separation Process Design and Technology Selection

• Defining feed gas characteristics and product specifications.
• Comparing absorption, adsorption, membrane, and cryogenic processes.
• Developing preliminary process flow diagrams and heat and material balances.
• Evaluating capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX).
• Conducting technology screening and lifecycle cost analysis.
• Case study: Selecting the most cost-effective separation technology for a remote gas processing plant with limited utilities.

Module 3: Membrane Gas Separation Technologies

• Fundamentals of membrane permeability, selectivity, and diffusion.
• Polymeric, inorganic, and mixed-matrix membrane materials.
• Membrane modules, staging, and multistage separation configurations.
• CO₂ removal, hydrogen recovery, and methane enrichment.
• Membrane ageing, fouling, plasticisation, and performance monitoring.
• Case study: Improving CO₂ removal from high-pressure natural gas using a multistage membrane system.

Module 4: Pressure Swing and Temperature Swing Adsorption

• Adsorption equilibria, isotherms, and breakthrough behaviour.
• PSA cycle configuration, depressurisation, purge, and regeneration.
• TSA heating, cooling, and adsorbent regeneration strategies.
• Selection of activated carbon, zeolites, silica gel, and molecular sieves.
• Cycle optimisation, product purity, and adsorbent life management.
• Case study: Optimising a PSA unit to increase hydrogen recovery while maintaining fuel-cell-grade hydrogen purity.

Module 5: Absorption and Solvent-Based Gas Separation

• Physical and chemical absorption mechanisms.
• Solvent selection for selective gas removal.
• Gas–liquid contacting equipment and mass transfer performance.
• Absorber and stripper design principles.
• Solvent circulation, regeneration energy, degradation, and losses.
• Case study: Reducing solvent consumption and regeneration energy in an amine-based natural gas sweetening plant.

Module 6: Acid Gas Removal and Natural Gas Sweetening

• Removal of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• Amine-based gas sweetening technologies.
• Physical solvents and hybrid solvent systems.
• Selective H₂S removal and sulphur recovery integration.
• Corrosion management, foaming control, and process monitoring.
• Case study: Troubleshooting excessive H₂S breakthrough and rising solvent losses in a gas treatment facility.

Module 7: Cryogenic Gas Separation Technologies

• Principles of low-temperature gas separation and phase change.
• Refrigeration cycles, heat exchangers, and cold-box systems.
• Nitrogen rejection and natural gas liquid recovery.
• Cryogenic distillation and low-temperature hydrocarbon separation.
• Equipment reliability, thermal integration, and energy consumption.
• Case study: Evaluating a cryogenic nitrogen rejection unit to meet pipeline gas heating-value specifications.

Module 8: Advanced Gas Dehydration Technologies

• Water vapour equilibrium and hydrate formation.
• Triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration systems.
• Molecular sieve dehydration for stringent moisture specifications.
• Regeneration optimisation and water dew-point control.
• Hydrate prevention, corrosion mitigation, and dehydration system troubleshooting.
• Case study: Upgrading a gas dehydration unit to achieve the moisture specification required for LNG feed gas.

Module 9: Hydrogen Separation and Purification

• Hydrogen recovery from refinery and petrochemical off-gases.
• Hydrogen-selective membranes and PSA purification.
• Hydrogen purity, recovery rate, and compression requirements.
• Integration with steam methane reforming and electrolyser systems.
• Hydrogen embrittlement awareness and safe operating practices.
• Case study: Comparing membrane separation and PSA for hydrogen recovery from a refinery off-gas stream.

Module 10: Carbon Dioxide Separation and CCUS Technologies

• Post-combustion, pre-combustion, and natural gas CO₂ separation.
• Solvent absorption and advanced membrane capture.
• Adsorption-based carbon capture and emerging separation materials.
• CO₂ dehydration, compression, and transport requirements.
• Integration with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) systems.
• Case study: Comparing amine absorption and membrane separation for CO₂ removal at a gas processing facility with a carbon reduction target.

Module 11: Helium Recovery and Nitrogen Rejection

• Feed gas assessment for helium recovery.
• Cryogenic helium concentration and purification processes.
• Membrane-based helium enrichment.
• Nitrogen rejection from natural gas streams.
• Product recovery, purity requirements, and process integration.
• Case study: Developing a preliminary helium recovery scheme for a natural gas reservoir containing commercially significant helium concentrations.

Module 12: Process Simulation and Digital Optimisation

• Developing gas separation models using process simulation software.
• Defining thermodynamic packages and component properties.
• Simulating absorbers, strippers, membranes, and adsorption cycles.
• Sensitivity analysis, scenario testing, and process optimisation.
• Digital twins, predictive analytics, and AI-assisted performance monitoring.
• Case study: Using process simulation to identify operating conditions that improve methane recovery and reduce compressor energy demand.

Module 13: Energy Efficiency and Process Integration

• Identifying energy-intensive separation operations.
• Heat integration, waste heat recovery, and process heat optimisation.
• Compressor, pump, and refrigeration system efficiency.
• Minimising pressure losses and unnecessary recompression.
• Evaluating energy intensity, operating cost, and emissions performance.
• Case study: Reducing energy consumption in an integrated gas processing facility through heat recovery and operating pressure optimisation.

Module 14: Troubleshooting, Reliability, and Process Safety

• Diagnosing separation inefficiencies and off-specification products.
• Identifying membrane fouling, adsorbent degradation, and solvent contamination.
• Managing corrosion, erosion, leaks, and equipment deterioration.
• Applying hazard identification, HAZOP, and process risk assessment.
• Developing preventive maintenance and performance monitoring plans.
• Case study: Investigating repeated gas purity failures caused by a combination of solvent foaming, equipment fouling, and unstable operating conditions.

Module 15: Emerging Technologies and Integrated Gas Separation Solutions

• Advanced membranes, nanomaterials, and mixed-matrix separation materials.
• Hybrid membrane–adsorption and membrane–absorption systems.
• Electrification and low-carbon process integration.
• Modular gas separation, automation, and intelligent process control.
• Technology commercialisation, lifecycle assessment, and future industry trends.
• Case study: Designing a conceptual hybrid separation system for a remote gas facility seeking higher methane recovery, lower emissions, and reduced utility consumption.

Training Methodology

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
• Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
• Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
• Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
• Expert-led Q&A sessions.
• Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.