CO2 Separation Using Vortex Flow and Pressure Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separation techniques are inefficient for isolating carbon dioxide from gaseous oil well effluent, which contains significant quantities of other constituents like water vapor and hydrocarbons, leading to reduced operating efficiency in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a vortex separator or pressure vessel to separate carbon dioxide from other constituents in the gaseous mixture by applying a vortex flow or increasing pressure, resulting in a purified carbon dioxide fraction and a separate fraction of lighter hydrocarbons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing separation techniques (amine separation, solvent separation, molecular sieve separation) are used to separate carbon dioxide from gaseous oil well effluent, then separation can be achieved, but the separation efficiency is low due to the relatively high percentage of carbon dioxide in the effluent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the gaseous mixture by cooling it to below its dew point temperature, causing water vapor and hydrocarbons to condense into liquid phase while carbon dioxide remains in gas phase, enabling efficient separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by cooling the gaseous effluent below its dew point, transforming water vapor and hydrocarbons from gas phase to liquid phase through condensation, while carbon dioxide remains gaseous, allowing for effective separation
2Productivity
If oxygen burning is used to separate carbon dioxide, then separation can be achieved, but hydrocarbon resources in the effluent are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of contaminants (water vapor and hydrocarbons) into a beneficial separation mechanism by utilizing the dew point difference, where cooling causes contaminants to condense while carbon dioxide remains gaseous, enabling separation without combustion and preserving hydrocarbon resources
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 method effectively increases the purity of carbon dioxide to over 95% weight percentage, allowing for its efficient reuse in EOR processes while utilizing the hydrocarbons for energy generation, thereby enhancing operational efficiency without wasting resources.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex separator configured to receive the gaseous mixture and apply a vortex flow to the gaseous mixture to at least partially separate the first constituent from the second constituent
Implementation Method 2
a vortex separator... apply a vortex flow... to separate
Implementation Method 3
a pump pumps the gaseous mixture into the pressure vessel at a pressure sufficient to separate the gaseous mixture into at least a liquid fraction and a gaseous fraction
Implementation Method 4
separate the gaseous mixture into at least a liquid fraction and a gaseous fraction
Data Source
AI summary
A separation system including a source of a gaseous mixture, the gaseous mixture comprising at least a first constituent and a second constituent, and a separation unit in communication with the source to receive the gaseous mixture and at least partially separate the first constituent from the second constituent, wherein the separation unit comprises at least one of a vortex separator and a pressure vessel.