Aerodynamic separation nozzle

Abstract

Multiple designs and methods for aerodynamic separation nozzles and systems for integrating multiple aerodynamic separation nozzles into a single system are disclosed herein. These aerodynamic separation nozzles utilize a combination of aerodynamic forces and separation nozzle structure to induce large centrifugal forces on the fluids that in combination with the structure of the nozzle are used to separate heavier constituents of the fluid from lighter constituents, and more particularly to separate a first or liquid phase from gaseous phases. In some embodiments a number of separation nozzles are combined into a single system suitable for dynamic processing of a process gas. In other embodiments the separation nozzles are temperature controlled to condition the incoming gas to a temperature in order to encourage a phase change in certain constituents of the gas to occur within the nozzle to further enhance separation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 563,301, filed Nov. 23, 2011; U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 583,853, filed Jan. 6, 2012; and U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 590,580, filed Jan. 25, 2012. Each patent application identified above is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The subject matter described herein relates to devices, systems, and methods related to the separation and concentration or depletion of various constituents of a flow or gas, including gas species, particles, phase separation within the same specie of fluid, the separation of compressible fluids from non compressible fluids, and so forth.BACKGROUND[0003]Aerodynamic separation of gas constituents is useful for a number of industrial and commercial applications. An aerodynamic separation nozzle, or, as used herein, a separation nozzle, uses aerodynamic effects and forces...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a nozzle design that improves the performance of a separation process by cooling the body of the nozzle. This reduces shock effects and increases the velocity of the process gas within the nozzle, enhancing the separation effects. The cooled nozzle can also be combined with pre-conditioned or cooled process gas to further improve performance. This design can be used in various thermodynamic cycles, eliminating the need for certain devices such as evaporators and condensers, and preventing deleterious effects on turbines. The patent also provides examples of improved routing for such cycles.

Problems solved by technology

Production of these tiny nozzles by manufacturing is technically demanding, and the overall process typically includes stages having multiple vessels containing hundreds of separation elements, gas distribution manifolds, gas coolers to remove the heat of compression, and centrifugal compressors to pressurize the flow.

Second, the lighter balance gas exerts a differential drag force on the heavier and lighter isotopes.

As a result of these requirements and design constraints, the Becker process nozzle has a number of significant limitations that have reduced its applicability to general purpose gas separation including:1. The small size of the curvature wall requires that the nozzle and skimmer components are also minute in size, requiring the components be made of foil material and bonded to assemble even one nozzle.

Due to the small degree of separation caused by a single probe, the method has not progressed to any commercial degree.

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