Add-on system for removing paraffin from a natural gas dehydration system

1. A separating apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger, one or more separators, one or more pumps, one or more collection apparatus, and a plurality of valves;

wherein the separating apparatus is an apparatus for removing paraffin from triethylene glycol, hereinafter TEG;

wherein the separating apparatus is adapted for use with a natural gas dehydrating system;

wherein the first heat exchanger, the one or more separators, and the one or more collection apparatus are interconnected using the one or more pumps and the plurality of valves;

wherein the separating apparatus processes the TEG through the first heat exchanger;

wherein the separating apparatus processes the TEG through the one or more separators to separate the paraffin from the TEG;

wherein the separating apparatus collects the separated paraffin in the one or more collection apparatus;

wherein the specific method used by each of the one or more separators is selected from a group consisting of a coagulation method, a filter method, and an evaporation method;

wherein the TEG is processed sequentially through each of the one or more separators;

wherein the one or more separators further comprises a first separator and a second separator;

wherein the TEG is processed sequentially through the first separator and the second separator;

wherein the one or more pumps comprises a filter pump;

wherein the filter pump transports TEG from the first separator to the second separator.

2. The separating apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the one or more collection apparatus comprises a collection tank;

wherein the one or more pumps further comprises a vacuum pump;

wherein paraffin is transported from the first separator to the collection tank using the vacuum pump.

3. The separating apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the plurality of valves further comprises a TEG inlet valve, a separator valve, a paraffin valve, a pump valve, a filter valve and a TEG outlet valve;

wherein the TEG is transported from the natural gas dehydrating system through the TEG inlet valve into the first heat exchanger;

wherein the first heat exchanger raises or lowers the temperature of the TEG to a previously determined temperature as required by the separation method used by the first separator;

wherein the flow of the TEG into the first separator is controlled by the separator valve;

wherein the first separator separates the paraffin from the TEG;

wherein the paraffin is drawn out of the first separator through the paraffin valve into the collection tank;

wherein the paraffin is drawn out of the first separator using a vacuum generated by the vacuum pump;

wherein the TEG is drawn of the first separator through the pump valve by the filter pump;

wherein the filter pump pumps the TEG from the pump valve through the filter valve into the second separator;

wherein the second separator further separates paraffin from the TEG;

wherein the TEG is returned to the natural gas dehydration system.

4. The separating apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first separator is an evaporation method separator.

5. The separating apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is between 285 C and 340 C.

6. The separating apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second separator is a filter method separator.

7. The separating apparatus according to claim 6

wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is between 285 C and 340 C;

wherein the operating temperature of the second separator is less than 36 C.

8. The separating apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second separator is a coagulation method separator.

9. The separating apparatus according to claim 8

wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is between 285 C and 340 C;

wherein the operating temperature of the second separator between 20 C and 32 C.

10. The separating apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first separator is a coagulation method separator.

11. The separating apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is between 20 C and 32 C.

12. The separating apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the second separator is a filter method separator.

13. The separating apparatus according to claim 12

wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is between 20 C and 32 C;

wherein the operating temperature of the second separator is less than 36 C.

14. The separating apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first separator is a filter method separator.

15. The separating apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the operating temperature of the first separator is less than 36 C.