METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM LIQUID.

Abstract

A gas-liquid separator includes a wet gas feed inlet, a plurality of separation baffles, a dry gas outlet, and a first liquid outlet; a pressurized wet gas feed enters the separator through the wet gas feed inlet; the wet gas feed inlet adiabatically and isentropically converges the wet gas feed and then accelerates it towards the separation baffles; the separation baffles separate the constituents of the wet gas feed; the separated dry gas exits the separator through a dry gas outlet straw extending inside a separation chamber from the top of the separator; the separated liquids exit the separator through the first liquid outlet.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM LIQUID CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The priority of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 028955, filed on May 22, 2020, in the name of Michael Edmund Fisher and Brandon Edward Carringer as inventors, entitled, Method and Apparatus for Separating Gas from Liquid, is incorporated herein pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). This provisional application is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as set forth herein verbatim. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This section of this document introduces various technical information that may be related to or provide context for some aspects of the subject matter described herein and / or claimed below. It provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of what is described and claimed herein. As such, this is a discussion of related technology. The fact that such technology is related in no way implies that it is also prior art. Related technology may or may not be prior art. The discussion in this section should be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. Hydrocarbons extracted from the ground typically contain a mixture of liquids, gases, and particles. For example, a natural gas well might produce a natural gas production stream containing various liquids, known as free liquids. Examples of such free liquids include water, brine, kerosene, oils, condensates, ethylene glycol (MEG), drilling fluids, and so on. The production stream may also include particles, such as sand or other sediments. The production flow moves under pressure through a series of lines for collection and processing. Along its path, the production flow may encounter a variety of equipment, each serving a different purpose. Different types of equipment components may be used depending on the final application of the production flow. In the context of a natural gas well production flow, free liquids and particles can damage the equipment. Over time, this damage can accumulate to a point where repair or replacement of one or more equipment components may be necessary. The technique described herein is intended to resolve, or at least reduce, one or all of the problems mentioned above. Even if acceptable solutions are available within the technique to address these issues, the technique is always open to improvements or modifications, methods, and Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI alternative configurations. Thus, there is a need for a technique such as the one described and claimed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, a gas-liquid separator comprises: a housing adapted to be oriented vertically during use, the housing defining a separation chamber having an inside diameter and an upper and a lower end; a wet gas feed inlet to the separation chamber disposed at the lower end of the housing, the wet gas feed inlet including a Laval nozzle and the wet gas feed including at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid; a plurality of separation baffles disposed within the separation chamber above the wet gas feed inlet for separating the gaseous mixtures from the condensable vapors and the liquid;a dry gas outlet disposed at the upper end of the housing for the separated gas mixtures above the first liquid outlet and the separation baffles, the dry gas outlet including a straw extending into an inner portion of the separation chamber and terminating above the separation baffles; and a first liquid outlet from the separation chamber. In a second aspect, a gas-liquid separator comprises: a housing adapted to be oriented vertically during use, the housing defining a separation chamber having an inside diameter and an upper and a lower end; a plurality of separation baffles arranged within the separation chamber; inlet means arranged at the lower end of the housing for: introducing a wet gas feed material including at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid into the separation chamber; adiabatically and isentropically converging the wet gas feed material as it enters; and accelerating the converging wet gas feed material adiabatically and isentropically, including condensing the condensable vapors into condensed vapors.and directing the accelerated raw material towards the separation baffles to separate the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and the liquid; dry gas outlet means arranged at the upper end of the separation chamber so that the separated gaseous mixtures exit from an inner portion of the separation chamber above the separation baffles; and a first liquid outlet from the separation chamber for the separated liquid. In a third aspect, a method for separating gas from liquid in a wet gas feedstock, the method comprises: introducing a wet gas feedstock containing, therefore, Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ less one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors and a liquid in a separation chamber, which includes: adiabatically and isentropically converging the wet gas feedstock as the wet gas feedstock enters; adiabatically and isentropically accelerating the converging wet gas feedstock, including condensing the condensable vapors into condensed vapors; and directing the accelerated feedstock towards the separation baffles to separate the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and the liquid; separating the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and the liquid in the separation chamber; venting the separated gaseous mixtures from an interior portion of the separation chamber; and draining the separated liquid and condensed vapors from the separation chamber. The foregoing presents a simplified description of the invention to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of it. This summary is not a comprehensive overview of the invention. It does not purport to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description discussed later. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is to be understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numbers identify similar elements. Figure 1 is a conceptualized illustration of a separator according to the techniques described herein, where the separator is shown in a plan view. Figure 2 illustrates a portion of the separator from Figure 1 in isolation. Figure 3 is a cross-section of the separator from Figure 1-Figure 2 taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-section of the separator from Figure 1-Figure 2 taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2. Figure 5 illustrates an example of a pall ring used in a particular modality of the separator in Figure 1-Figure 2. Figure 6 illustrates a particular upper part of the housing for the separator of Figure 1-Figure 2 in a cross-sectional view, the upper part of the housing including a gas outlet and a first liquid outlet. Figure 7A illustrates a particular lower portion of the casing for the separator of Figure 1-Figure 2 in a cross-sectional view, the lower portion of the casing including a wet gas feedstock inlet. Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI Figure 7B illustrates the pressure drop in fluid flow between the tip of a Laval nozzle at the inlet and the inside diameter of the housing. Figure 8 conceptually illustrates a particular modality where the liquid drained through a first liquid outlet and a first separate liquid line and through an optional second liquid outlet and a second optional separate liquid line feed into a single reservoir. Figure 9 conceptually illustrates a modality in which a first liquid outlet and a first line of separated liquid are placed below a plurality of separation baffles at the bottom of the separator. While the various embodiments described herein are susceptible to diverse modifications and alternative forms, the drawings illustrate specific embodiments described herein in detail by way of example. However, it should be understood that the description herein of the specific embodiments is not intended to limit this description to the particular forms described; rather, the embodiments described may vary to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following section will describe illustrative examples of the subject matter in question. For the sake of clarity, not all features of a real-world implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in developing any actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as meeting system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that such a development effort, even if complex and time-consuming, would be a routine task for those with ordinary technical expertise who benefit from this description. The subject matter claimed below will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. Several structures, systems, and devices are represented schematically in the drawings for explanatory purposes only and to avoid obscuring the subject matter claimed with details that are well known to those skilled in the art. However, the accompanying drawings are included to describe and explain the illustrative examples shown herein. Turning to Figure 1, a separator 100, manufactured according to the techniques described herein, is shown in a plan view, partially sectioned for conceptual illustration. The separator 100 is shown installed in a line 105 in a manner more fully described in Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ continued. Line 105 is a portion of a gas well not shown elsewhere. Line 105 carries a wet gas feedstock 110 that moves (i.e., flows) from left to right in the drawing, as indicated by arrow 115. The wet gas feedstock 110 includes, as described above, gas, free liquids, and particles in the form of at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid, none of which are shown separately. More particularly, a liquid state of matter is not a requirement at the inlet. It is possible to have a liquid, but a dual-phase flow stream is not required at the inlet (or three-phase for solid particles in the flow stream). The raw material for wet gas, in this particular configuration, is obtained from a natural gas well. Consequently, the gas is natural gas. The free liquids, therefore, can be, for example, brine or water, and the particles some type of sediment. However, those in the art, having the benefit of this description, will appreciate that the separator described herein will have applications outside the context of hydrocarbon wells. Thus, the identity of the gas, free liquids, and particles will be a function of the context in which the separator is used. The separator 100 separates the wet gas feedstock 110 into constituent parts in a manner more fully described below to obtain a separated gas 120 and a separated liquid 145. The wet gas feedstock 110 includes at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid. In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, particles 130 can also be separated. The separator 100 is mechanically coupled to a separated liquid line 135 and a first separated liquid line 140 through which the separated gas 120 and the separated liquid 145, respectively, exit the separator 100. The illustrated embodiment also mechanically couples to a second separated liquid line 150. The second separated liquid line 150 can drain separated liquid 145 that falls downwards (indicated by arrow 125) through the separator 100, as well as any separated particles 130. Some embodiments not shown may omit either the first separated liquid line 140 or the second separated liquid line 150. Still other embodiments may locate the drain lines in different locations on the separator 100. In the illustrated configuration, the first separated liquid line 140 and the second separated liquid line 150 feed a single reservoir (e.g., an external tank) which is not shown. The continuity between the first separated liquid line 140 and the second separated liquid line 150 thus serves as a recirculation system to draw the condensed and separated liquids back to the liquid reservoir. However, this feature may be omitted in some configurations. Referring now to figure 2, a portion of the separator 100 is shown in Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ insulation and in a sectional view. The separator 100 comprises a housing 200 adapted to be oriented vertically in use. The housing 200 defines a separation chamber 205 in which three permeable fluid flow barriers 230, 235, 240 are placed, all within the housing 200. These permeable fluid flow barriers may be collectively referred to as separation baffles. The first permeable fluid flow barrier 230 is located at the lower end 220 near the wet gas feedstock inlet (discussed below) and comprises a first medium. The second permeable fluid flow barrier 235 is located above and near the first barrier 230 and comprises a second medium. The third fluid flow barrier, permeable 240, is placed inside the housing 200 at the upper end 225 thereof near the dry gas outlet (also discussed below) and comprises the first medium as well.The third barrier 240 is placed so that there is a space 245 between the second and third barriers 235, 240. Referring now to Figure 2 in conjunction with Figure 3 and Figure 4, the first and third barriers 240 are, in this particular embodiment, demisters. The primary means by which they are constructed is a woven metal mesh wound around a central point and then inserted into the housing 200, as best illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 4. In some embodiments, the wound mesh is then placed inside the separation chamber 205 and held in position by a friction fit between the mesh and the wall 247 of the separation chamber 205, and then welded. Some embodiments may utilize a wound sleeve (such as a single layer of roof flashing) (not shown) to axially support the lower demister in place along the longitudinal axis of the housing 200.Furthermore, as an alternative to welding, epoxy or adhesive can serve the purpose without compromising the as-supplied condition of the 200 housing. The size of the openings in the first medium's mesh will be a function of the materials to be separated. The openings must be large enough to separate the constituent gas, free liquid, and particles (if any) as described below without unduly impeding flow through barriers 230, 240. Determining the appropriate size for any given wet gas feedstock can be accomplished, among other techniques, by using a trial-and-error approach. As noted above, the illustrated embodiment is designed for use with natural gas production streams. Therefore, the mesh is a 9# mesh. The mesh length and width, as well as wind resistance, are functions of several factors. These factors include not only achieving the objective of separating the constituents but also considering the available mesh size, the pressure under which the wet raw material 110 enters the separator 100, and the inside diameter of the separation chamber 205, among other things. In the illustrated configuration, the #9 mesh is a strip 68.58 centimeters long by 15.24 centimeters wide, rolled up long enough to fit into the chamber with a 5.08-centimeter opening. Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI wide and maintain a friction fit until welding. Thus, the height of the first and third barriers 230, 240 in Figure 1-Figure 2 is 15.24 centimeters and the diameter of the separation chamber 205 is 5.08 centimeters in the illustrated embodiment. The materials used to construct the mesh also vary. Generally, these meshes are manufactured as an expanded metal. While this is not mandatory, it can influence a particular type. The components of wet gas 110 raw material are typically corrosive and, as mentioned above, include free liquids. Therefore, the material must also be selected to resist rust and corrosion. It must also be ductile enough so that winding does not compromise the mesh's integrity and, when wound, have sufficient spring to create and maintain the friction fit during manufacturing. Suitable materials for mesh in various forms may include ceramics, plastics, metals, etc. In certain forms, the mesh composition may consist of coated filaments, filaments made of a plurality of bonded anisotropic metallic layers, filaments made of a plurality of galvanized materials, filaments made of a plurality of bonded non-metallic layers, or a plurality of interwoven single-filament materials, or combinations thereof, for example. In certain forms, a mesh may be woven, expanded, perforated, welded, etc. Still other forms may implement the mesh in a manner different from that described herein. As mentioned above, the second barrier 235 comprises a second medium that is different from the first medium. In the illustrated modality, this second medium is a random packing in the form of a plurality of Raschig rings, also known as pall rings. Pall rings are known in the art, and the illustrated modality uses 1.58-centimeter pall rings available from AMACS Separation Products, Inc. A 500 pall ring is shown in Figure 5. Pall rings are designed to induce a pressure drop and flow interruption in a fluid flow. According to the manufacturer, AMACS, the particular pall ring design used in the illustrated configuration minimizes contours and crevices that can cause fluid retention and entrainment while providing gas and liquid transfer rates. This pall ring includes open cylindrical walls 505 that define the openings 510 and bent projections 515 to relatively increase capacity and decrease pressure drops compared to standard Raschig rings. The openings also help maintain uniform distribution and resist wall channeling tendencies. The contact surfaces of the walls 505 and projections 515 also provide effective distribution of liquids and gases while resisting fouling and nesting. Although this modality uses pall rings, other modality may use Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI other types of Raschig rings as known in the art. Such rings can be injection-molded plastics, molded ceramics, or pressed from sheet metal. As with mesh, the selection of materials must be considered taking into account the wet and corrosive nature of the materials being separated. In the polished version, pall 500 rings are manufactured from 316L stainless steel and have a size of 1.58 centimeters, although other materials can be used in alternative versions. Referring again to Figure 2, a conceptual illustration of the second fluid flow barrier, permeable 235, comprised of pall rings 250 (such as the pall rings 500 in Figure 5), is included. The pall rings 250 are shown neatly stacked on top of the first barrier 230 and uniformly oriented in the same direction. As a random packing, this is unlikely to be the case in any given configuration. The orientation of the pall rings 250 is not material and, in fact, is most likely random in most configurations. One exception is that the Pall rings 500 are placed and positioned to define the gap 245 between the second and third barriers. The gap 245 helps create the Bernoulli effect, which separates the elements of the wet gas feedstock 110 in the manner described below. The gap 245 also allows the Pall rings to move freely and helps provide more efficient separation. The width of the gap 245 will also be a function of several factors, such as the identity of the elements of the wet gas feedstock 110, the pressure at which the wet gas feedstock 110 enters the separator 100, and the inside diameter of the separation chamber 205, among other things. In the illustrated embodiment, the gap 245 is approximately 5.08 centimeters high. Referring now to Figures 2 through 5 collectively, the casing 200 can be supplied in any number of diameters and lengths and comprises the outer container of the separator 100. The first, second, and third fluid flow barrier components, permeable 230, 235, and 240, make up the filtration medium. These can be supplied in numerous mesh sizes and surface areas depending on the required degree of sediment filtration. In general, each of these components is commercially available, and the specifications for the materials and parts will be determined according to the end use of the separator 100 in any given configuration. Once the length, diameter, and filter media requirements are determined, the components are assembled in the following order. The appropriate media for the third barrier 240 is fitted into the housing 200. The third barrier 240 engages the housing 200 via a friction fit that holds the third barrier 240 in position. The pall rings 250 are then placed inside the housing 200. The first barrier 230 is then fitted into the housing 200. The first barrier 230 also engages the housing 200 via a friction fit that holds it in place. Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ in position. Note that the first barrier 230 is positioned so that the pall rings are free to move and provide space 245. The fabricated separator is then hydrostatically tested for the specified pressure rating before blasting and painting for field installation. The casing 200 defines not only a separation chamber 205, but also a dry gas outlet 600, shown in Figure 6, and a wet gas feedstock inlet 700, shown in Figure 7A. The fluid flow barriers 230, 235, and 240 shown in Figure 2 have been omitted from Figure 6 and Figure 7A for clarity. As indicated in Figure 6 and Figure 7A, the dry gas outlet 600 is located at the top 225 of the casing 200, and the wet gas feedstock inlet 700 is located at the bottom 220 of the casing 200. The structure and functionality of the dry gas outlet 600 and the wet gas feedstock inlet 700 will be discussed in more detail below. The upper end 225 of the housing 200 also defines, as shown in Figure 6, a first liquid outlet 605 and a mechanical coupling 610. The first liquid outlet 605 may include a thread (not shown) for a threaded mechanical connection to the separate fluid line 140 shown in Figure 1. The mechanical coupling 610 may also include a thread (also not shown) for a threaded mechanical connection to the separate gas line 145, also shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 7A, the lower end 220 of the housing 200 also defines a second liquid outlet 705. The second liquid outlet 705 may include a thread (not shown) for a threaded mechanical connection to the second separate liquid line 150 shown in Figure 1. Referring now collectively to Figure 1 and Figure 6-Figure 7A, while the illustrated embodiment may use threaded connections between the first liquid outlet 605 and the separated fluid line 140, the second liquid outlet 705 and the second separated fluid line 150, and the mechanical coupling 610 and the separated gas line 145, this is not necessarily the case in all embodiments. Any suitable mechanical connection may be used provided the connection is leak-proof and durable. As noted above, some embodiments may omit one or the other of the first separated fluid line 140 and the second separated fluid line 150. In these embodiments, the unused first liquid outlet 605 or the unused second liquid outlet 705 may be plugged. Alternatively, the unused first liquid outlet 605 or the unused second liquid outlet 705 may be omitted entirely from the separator 100. Turning now to Figure 6, the dry gas outlet 600 includes an extension or straw, 615, extending from a dry gas outlet port 620 in the housing 200 inside 625 of the separator 100. The wet gas feedstock 700, shown in Figure 7A Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ and is further discussed below, generates turbulence at the bottom of the separator 100. As the separated gas and condensate fluids from the wet gas feedstock 110 move under pressure through the permeable fluid flow barriers 230, 235, 240, all shown in Figure 2, the turbulence dissipates before the separated gas and condensate fluid reach the straw 615. The straw 615 provides a path for the less dense dry gas, or separated gas 120, to the outlet port 620 when there is single-phase flow (no condensate liquids). It should be noted that the straw 615 and the dry gas outlet port 620 are, by way of example and illustration, an implementation of a dry gas outlet means placed at the upper end 225 of the separation chamber 205 so that the separated gas mixtures exit from an inner portion 625 of the separation chamber 200 above the separation baffles (e.g., the permeable fluid flow barriers 230, 235, 240). Other embodiments may employ other means with an equivalent structure while performing the aforementioned function. Turning now to Figure 7A, the wet gas feed inlet 700 includes a Laval nozzle 708 installed in an inlet port 710 in the housing 200. The Laval nozzle 708 includes a converging portion 715 and a diverging portion 720 joined at a neck 725, and can therefore also be called a converging / diverging nozzle. The Laval nozzle 708 allows for a greater difference between the stagnation pressure and the static pressure of the wet gas feed 110. This difference induces a higher mass condensation rate of dispersed gases (humidity or water vapor) into liquid condensate. The widening or divergence of the passage through the Laval nozzle 708 after the neck 725 accelerates the wet gas feed 110 and directs it to the separation baffles. This improves the separation efficiency. More specifically, and referring now to Figure 7B, the fluid flow passing through the nozzle tip 730 of the De Laval nozzle 708 causes a pressure drop in the annular area 735 between the nozzle tip 730 of the De Laval nozzle 708 (i.e., the outlet of the De Laval nozzle 708) and the inner diameter 740 of the housing 200 in the separation chamber 205. In Figure 7B, the arrows represent the fluid flow, and their density represents the pressure. Thus, a higher concentration of arrows represents higher pressure, and a lower concentration represents lower pressure. The pressure drop draws the liquid or condensed vapors toward the liquid outlet. For example, if there is a deposition of solid precipitate (e.g., ice) in the flow stream, it will naturally follow this path, but not as a liquid.In some embodiments, the tip of the nozzle 730 is close enough to the inner diameter 740 to create a vacuum in the annular outlet area of ​​the nozzle / ID, i.e., the annular area 735. It should be noted that the inclination of the outer surface 745 of the Laval 708 nozzle away from the inner diameter 740 can influence the magnitude of the pressure drop. Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ Furthermore, and returning to Figure 7A, the converging portion 715 of the de Laval nozzle 708 accelerates the fluid's Mach number to 1 isentropically and adiabatically. Those skilled in the art who benefit from this description will appreciate that the isentropic and adiabatic aspects will not be 100% isentropic and adiabatic. Some energy will be lost to sources such as friction, etc. However, as a matter of practicality, the acceleration can be considered both isentropic and adiabatic. It should be noted that the Mach number can vary depending on the application for which the apparatus is intended. Mach number values ​​of 1 or lower may be valuable for separating water vapor from compressed air, while other applications may utilize a Mach number greater than 1. The Mach number of 1 is proportional to the fluid temperature. Ambient conditions will alter the temperatures experienced at the nozzle throat of neck 725 at a speed of Mach 1. When they converge adiabatically and isentropically and then diverge, the pressure and temperature of the wet gas feedstock 110 drop in exchange for an increase in velocity, allowing the vapor fluids (e.g., water vapor) to condense. When the system is in a transient phase from startup to steady state (often a system compressor will be intermittent, turning on and off), the Mach number will be less than 1. However, even with the system at less than 1 Mach, the Laval 708 nozzle performs some work as long as there is gas flow. Thus, although the intention of the Laval 708 nozzle is to exceed Mach 1 and gain efficiency, the system can operate at a reduced capacity at less than 1 Mach. Therefore, some configurations cannot accelerate the wet gas feedstock to supersonic speeds, i.e., Mach 1 or higher, and will operate at a lower efficiency. It should be noted that the inlet port 710 and the Laval nozzle 708 constitute, by way of example and illustration, one inlet means. The inlet means is positioned at the lower end of the housing to: admit a wet gas feedstock, including a plurality of gas mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid, into the separation chamber; adiabatically and isentropically converge the wet gas feedstock as it enters; adiabatically and isentropically accelerate the converged wet gas feedstock, including the condensation of condensable vapors into condensed vapors; and direct the accelerated feedstock toward the separation baffles to separate the gas mixtures, condensate vapors, and liquid. Other embodiments may employ other means of equivalent structure while performing the aforementioned function. Returning to Figure 1, in the illustrated configuration, the separator 100 is installed as a branch of the gas well flow line 105. The liquefied gas forms a wet gas feedstock 110 and is pushed into the separator 100 by means of the pressure in the flow line 105. The wet gas feedstock 110 is then accelerated in the separator 100 by means of the wet gas feedstock inlet 700, shown in Figure 7A, and through the separation baffles. The acceleration condenses the vapors. As this wet gas feedstock 110 passes through the separator 100, the separation baffles (i.e., the permeable flow barriers 230, 235, 240, shown in Figure 2) remove free liquids and sediment from the stream, as represented by arrow 25. The separated liquid and sediment 130 are drained from the separator 100. The force of the flow in the flow line 105 and the acceleration through the wet gas feedstock inlet 700, shown in Figure 7A, cause the clean, dry gas 120 to be pushed out of the upper end 225 to operate instruments and other equipment (not shown) without the corrosive liquid or harmful sediment. The process is then repeated for continuous, maintenance-free operation. More specifically, and with reference to Figure 1-Figure 2, the wet gas feedstock 110 flows under pressure through the flow line 105 as mentioned above. This pressure forces a portion of the wet gas feedstock 110 upward and into the separator 100 through a port (not yet shown). The pressure also forces the wet gas feedstock 110 through the barriers 230, 235, 240 and the space 245. The shape of the separator 100's shell 200 naturally creates the Bernoulli effect in conjunction with the permeable barriers 230, 235, 240 and the air space 245, resulting in improved separation of free liquids and particles. The Bernoulli effect in conjunction with barriers 230, 235, 240 operates differently on the constituent gas, free liquid, and particles in the wet gas feedstock 110. They help to create different velocities between the constituents that separate the gas from the free liquid, and particles. A portion of the condensed and separated liquids will collect on a mesh above the baffles and drain through the first water outlet 605 (shown in Figure 6) off the separator side 100 to the top 225. The separated liquids that fall through the separation baffles (e.g., the permeable flow barriers 230, 235, 240) can be drained through the second liquid outlet 705 (shown in Figure 7A) on the bottom 220 of the separator 100. Since the separated liquids are not returned to the line, in configurations where multiple separators are used in parallel, this helps prevent the raw material from becoming increasingly wet as the separators operate within the raw material. The separated liquids, once drained from separator 100, can be poured into a liquid tank (not shown). The connection between the first liquid outlet 605 and the second liquid outlet 705 serves as a recirculation system for drawing the separated liquids into the liquid tanks. Thus, the first liquid outlet 605 and the second liquid outlet 705 can be characterized as recirculation inlet weirs in at least some of the lines. Cb ίη / ΖΖΠΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ modalities. The sizes of the openings in the filter media, the nature of the filter media, and the placement of the filter media (i.e., barriers 230, 235, 240) are determined for this application so that the separator 100 delivers the most efficient clean and dry gas, as tested. By adjusting the opening sizes, the nature of the media, and the media placement, the separator 100 can be used in any pressurized liquid / sediment flow line that requires the operation of instruments or equipment from a pressurized gas or air source. Figure 8 conceptually illustrates a particular embodiment 800 where, as discussed above, the liquid drained through the first liquid outlet (not shown) and the first separate liquid line 140 and through the second optional liquid outlet (also not shown) and the second optional separate liquid line 150 feeds a single reservoir 802. In this embodiment, the reservoir 802 is an external reservoir. However, other embodiments may implement reservoir 802, for example, a relief valve, which is not shown. The separated liquid can be withdrawn from reservoir 802 for recirculation. For example, the separated liquid can be withdrawn from reservoir 802 through a drain 804. Figure 9 conceptually illustrates a 900 embodiment in which the first liquid outlet (not shown) and the first separated liquid line 140 are positioned below the baffles and at the bottom of the separator. In this particular embodiment, the optional second liquid outlet and the optional second separated liquid line 150 are omitted. The separated liquid may or may not be deposited in a tank as shown in Figure 8, depending on the separator design limitations. It may also be desirable, in some configurations, to use multiple 100 separators in some circumstances, either in series or in parallel. The separator described above and claimed below will remove free liquids and, where present, particulates from a gas stream. By doing so, it delivers clean, dry gas to operate processing equipment and protect valuable instrumentation and equipment from damage caused by saltwater or various liquids. It therefore replaces, or at least mitigates, the industry-standard approach of providing maintenance or replacing the instrumentation and equipment that the separator described herein is designed to protect. It should be noted that the described separator is not limited to applications where the wet gas feedstock originates from a wellhead or is a wet gas feedstock containing hydrocarbons. The described separator can be used in many applications where a liquid may need to be separated from a gas in a wet gas feedstock. Examples of such applications include, but are not limited to, air compressors (industrial and small). Cb ίη / ZZΖΠZ / E / YΙΛΙ scale); removing moisture from storage tanks for hygroscopic liquids (for example: diesel absorbs water and would benefit from having a dry air cap recirculating in the storage container, whether in a vehicle, fuel station or any other containment vessel); and distillation of volatile organic compounds from any gaseous fluid stream (aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohol vapors or any type of volatile organic compounds). There are other terms used herein that may be relative in some respects. Examples include vertically oriented, top, bottom, and others. Each of these terms is used with reference to the intended orientation of the separator in its intended use, i.e., as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the technique described herein can be used in separators for a variety of applications, including applications requiring dry lines on the underside of a compressor that would otherwise experience condensation. Furthermore, the phrase "capable of" as used herein acknowledges that some functions described for the various parts of the described device are only performed when the device is powered on and / or in operation. Therefore, sometimes, certain modes of the device are capable of performing the listed functions even when they are not actually performing them, i.e., when they are not in operation. This concludes the detailed description. The particular embodiments described above are merely illustrative, as the apparatus and method described may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent ways obvious to those skilled in the art who have benefited from the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended on the details of construction or design shown herein, other than those described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments described above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the claims. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator, characterized in that it comprises: a housing adapted to be oriented vertically in use, the housing defining a separation chamber having an inside diameter and having an upper end and a lower end; a wet gas feed inlet to the separation chamber disposed at the lower end of the housing, the wet gas feed inlet including a De Laval nozzle and the wet gas feed including at least one of a plurality of gas mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors and a liquid; a plurality of separation baffles disposed within the separation chamber above the wet gas feed inlet for separating the gas mixtures from the condensable vapors and liquid;a dry gas outlet located at the upper end of the housing for the gas mixtures separated above the separation baffles, the dry gas outlet including a straw extending into an inner portion of the separation chamber and terminating above the separation baffles; and a first liquid outlet from the separation chamber above which the dry gas outlet is located. 2.- The gas and liquid separator according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first liquid outlet is placed above the separation baffles.

3. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 2, further characterized in that it also comprises a second liquid outlet.

4. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 3, further characterized in that it further comprises a liquid tank into which the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet discharge the separated liquid, wherein a continuity between the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet also serves as a recirculation system for drawing the separated liquids back into the liquid tank.

5. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 4, further characterized in that the liquid reservoir is an external tank.

6. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first liquid outlet is located at the bottom of the separation chamber.

7. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 1, further characterized in that the wet gas feedstock in operation: converges the wet gas feedstock adiabatically and isentropically as it enters; accelerates the convergent wet gas feedstock adiabatically and isentropically; and directs the accelerated feedstock into the separation baffles.

8. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 7, further characterized in that the wet gas feedstock input, in operation, accelerates the wet gas feedstock to a supersonic speed.

9. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 1, further characterized in that the wet gas feedstock inlet differentiates the stagnation pressure from the static pressure to increase the mass condensation rate of gases dispersed in the wet gas feedstock as the wet gas feedstock passes through the wet gas feedstock inlet into the separation chamber.

10. A gas-liquid separator, characterized in that it comprises: a housing adapted to be oriented vertically in use, the housing defining a separation chamber having an inside diameter and having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of separation baffles positioned within the separation chamber; inlet means positioned at the lower end of the housing for: introducing a wet gas feed material including at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid into the separation chamber; adiabatically and isentropically converging the wet gas feed material as it enters; and accelerating the adiabatically and isentropically converging wet gas feed material, including condensing the condensable vapors to condensed vapors;and directing the accelerated raw material into the separation baffles to separate the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and liquid; dry gas outlet means arranged at the upper end of the separation chamber so that the separated gaseous mixtures exit from an inner portion of the separation chamber above the separation baffles; and a first liquid outlet from the separation chamber for the separated liquid.

11. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 10, further characterized in that the first liquid outlet is placed above the separation baffles.

12. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 11, further characterized in that it also comprises a second liquid outlet.

13. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 12, further characterized in that it further comprises a liquid tank into which the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet discharge the separated liquid and the condensed vapors, wherein a continuity between the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet also serves as a recirculation system for extracting the separated liquids into the liquid tank. 14.- The gas and liquid separator according to claim 13, 71 Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI further characterized in that the liquid reservoir is an external tank.

15. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 10, further characterized in that the first liquid outlet is located at the bottom of the separation chamber and is a second liquid outlet.

16. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 10, further characterized in that the inlet means includes a Laval nozzle.

17. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 10, further characterized in that the inlet medium further differentiates the stagnation pressure from the static pressure to increase the mass condensation rate of gases dispersed in the wet gas feedstock as the wet gas feedstock passes through the wet gas feedstock inlet to the separation chamber.

18. The gas and liquid separator according to claim 10, further characterized in that the dry gas outlet means includes a dry gas port and a straw extending from the dry gas port into the inner portion of the separation chamber.

19. A method for separating gas from liquid in a wet gas feedstock, the method being characterized in that it comprises: introducing a wet gas feedstock containing at least one of a plurality of gaseous mixtures, a plurality of condensable vapors, and a liquid into the separation chamber, including: adiabatically and isentropically converging the wet gas feedstock as it enters; adiabatically and isentropically converging the wet gas feedstock, including condensing the condensable vapors to condensed vapors; and directing the accelerated feedstock into separation baffles to separate the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and the liquid; separating the gaseous mixtures from the condensed vapors and the liquid in the separation chamber; and venting the separated gaseous mixtures from an interior portion of the separation chamber;and drain the separated liquid and condensed vapors from the separation chamber.

20. The method according to claim 19, further characterized in that draining the separated liquid and condensed vapors includes draining the separated liquids and condensed vapors from a point in the separation chamber above the separation point.

21. The method according to claim 20, further characterized in that draining the separated liquid and condensed vapors includes draining the separated liquids and condensed vapors from the bottom of the separation chamber.

22. The method according to claim 19, further characterized in that draining the separated liquid and condensed vapors includes draining the separated liquids from the bottom of the separation chamber. 71 Cb ίη / ZZOZ / E / YILI 23. The method according to claim 19, further characterized in that it also comprises pouring the separated liquid and the condensed vapors into a liquid tank.

24. The method according to claim 19, further characterized in that it further comprises differentiating the stagnation pressure from the static pressure to increase the mass condensation rate of gases dispersed in the wet gas feedstock as the wet gas feedstock passes through the wet gas feedstock inlet to the separation chamber.

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