Cascade Vortex Tube Gas Expansion for Hydrate-Free Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas expansion systems are inefficient and prone to accidents due to the formation of gas hydrates during pressure reduction, which can lead to pipeline blockages and safety hazards, especially in municipal or regional supply lines, and they often rely on energy-intensive heating methods or electric heaters that are not climate-neutral.
Innovation Solution
A gas expansion system utilizing a cascade of vortex tubes to manage gas expansion, where the cold fraction from one vortex tube is fed into another, allowing for efficient temperature regulation without the need for external heating or cooling, and optionally incorporating a refrigeration machine or compressor to maintain optimal operating conditions, thereby reducing energy consumption and preventing hydrate formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If gas is strongly heated before the throttle to prevent freezing during expansion, then the gas temperature remains above freezing point, but energy consumption increases and climate-neutral operation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function with the cooling function by using the cold fraction from the vortex tube to pre-cool the incoming gas and the hot fraction to heat the outgoing gas, creating a self-sufficient thermal management system that eliminates external energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internal thermal resources (hot and cold fractions from the vortex tube) to maintain temperature control, making the system self-regulating and independent of external heating or cooling sources
2Temperature
If electric or gas heating systems are used to prevent gas freezing during expansion, then gas temperature is maintained, but safety risks increase due to ignition sources in supply lines
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the inherent thermal separation in the vortex tube to provide self-heating of the gas without requiring external ignition sources, making the system inherently safer for use in gas supply lines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful Joule-Thomson cooling effect (which causes freezing) into a beneficial feature by using the cold fraction for pre-cooling and the hot fraction for heating, eliminating the need for dangerous external heating systems
3Device complexity
If traditional pressure reduction methods are used without temperature control, then the expansion process is simple, but gas hydrates form and clog the pipeline
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex tube acts as an intermediary device that separates the gas flow into hot and cold fractions, which then serve as thermal mediators to prevent hydrate formation during pressure reduction without requiring complex external heating systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the phase transition capabilities of the gas by creating extreme temperature differences (cold fraction for pre-cooling, hot fraction for heating) that control the thermal state of the gas throughout the expansion process, preventing hydrate formation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves efficient gas expansion that maintains temperature within safe limits for pipeline operations, reduces energy consumption, and operates independently of climatic conditions, minimizing the risk of hydrate formation and ensuring safe, reliable gas supply without the need for ignition sources.
Implementation Method 1
gas from the gas source flows into the at least one first vortex tube in a tangential inlet, and flows out of two outlets in the form of a first outlet for a first cold fraction of the gas and in the form of a second outlet for a second hot fraction of the gas
Implementation Method 2
real gases exhibit the well-known Joule-Thomson effect when passing through a throttle. The Joule-Thomson effect is characterized by an observable temperature change of a gas upon isenthalpic pressure reduction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a gas expansion system (100, 200, 300, 400) for expansion and flow control of gas for use between a first upstream gas source (Q), such as a gas tank, a medium-pressure or high-pressure gas network, or a cavern storage facility, and a second downstream gas sink (S), such as a consumer, a low-pressure gas network, or a gas supply line, comprising at least one first vortex tube (10, 20) in flow communication with the first upstream gas source (Q), wherein the gas from the gas source (Q) flows into the at least one first vortex tube (10, 20) into a tangential inlet (11, 21) and out of two outlets in the form of a first outlet (12, 22) for a first cold fraction (KF) of the gas and in the form of a second outlet (13, 23) for a second warm fraction (WF) of the gas escapes.According to the invention, the cold fraction (KF) of the gas flowing from the first outlet (12, 22) of the at least one vortex tube (10, 20) is in flow communication with an inlet (11', 21') of at least one second vortex tube (10', 20') and flows out of two outlets in the form of a first outlet (12', 22') for a first cold fraction (KF') of the gas and in the form of a second outlet (13', 23') for a second warm fraction (WF') of the gas, wherein the warm fraction (WF') of the at least one second vortex tube (10', 20') is in flow communication with the second gas sink (S, S2) located downstream, and wherein the cold fraction (KF') of the at least one second vortex tube (10', 20') is connected with an outlet for liquefied gas (LNG). stands.