Co-current Contactor for Compact Gas Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas processing systems with counter-current flow schemes require large, heavy contactors that are costly and difficult to transport and set up, especially in offshore and remote locations, for removing acid gases and water from gas streams.

Innovation Solution

A co-current contactor system is used, where a liquid stream is injected into a pipe as fine droplets to efficiently incorporate impurities from a gas stream, allowing for effective separation and purification using a series of co-current contacting systems connected in-line, reducing the need for large equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If counter-current flow schemes are used for gas processing, then acid gases and water can be removed from gas streams, but the contactors become large and heavy, making them costly and difficult to transport and set up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacid gas removal efficiencyVSAvoidcontactor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional counter-current flow scheme by implementing a co-current flow scheme where both gas and liquid streams flow in the same direction. This inversion allows for more compact equipment design while maintaining effective mass transfer for acid gas removal, directly resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and equipment weight/size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the flow regime parameter from counter-current to co-current flow, and optimizes operating parameters such as gas velocity and liquid distribution to achieve effective acid gas removal in a compact configuration. This parameter change enables reduced equipment weight while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacid gas removal efficiencyVSAvoidtransport and setup difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the flow scheme from counter-current to co-current, the patent achieves effective acid gas removal with significantly reduced equipment size and weight, making the contactors easier to manufacture, transport, and set up in remote or offshore locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs segmented liquid distribution through radial nozzles that create multiple contact points along the gas flow path. This segmentation allows for effective mass transfer in a compact configuration, reducing overall equipment size and improving ease of manufacture and deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If co-current contactor system is used with liquid stream injected as fine droplets, then smaller and more efficient gas processing units can be operated at higher fluid velocities, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid processing velocityVSAvoidcontacting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by injecting liquid stream as fine droplets through radial nozzles into the gas flow. This hydraulic approach enables efficient mass transfer at higher fluid velocities while maintaining a relatively simple device structure, resolving the contradiction between productivity and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces liquid distribution in a radial dimension perpendicular to the axial gas flow direction. This dimensional change allows for enhanced contact efficiency without increasing axial equipment length, enabling higher processing velocities while keeping the system compact and manageable in complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach enables smaller, more efficient gas processing units that can operate at higher fluid velocities, effectively removing acid gases and water, and can be easily deployed in challenging environments, while maintaining high purification efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a co-current contactor located in-line within a pipe... configured to contact the gas stream including the impurities with the liquid stream by injecting the liquid stream into the gas stream as a fine mist of droplets. The mist provides a high surface area for the incorporation of the impurities into the liquid stream, for example, by adsorption, dissolution, reaction, and the like.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass transfer:

Data Source

PatentEP3466520B1Co-current contactor for contacting a gas stream with a liquid stream

Publication Date: 2021.12.29 EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY(US)

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AI summary

A co-current contactor is described herein. The co-current contactor includes an annular support ring configured to maintain the co-current contactor in-line within a pipe and a number of radial blades configured to allow a liquid stream to flow into the co-current contactor. The co-current contacts also includes a central gas entry cone configured to allow a gas stream to flow through a hollow section within the co-current contactor, wherein the co-current contactor provides for efficient incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream.