CO2 Separation Using Vortex Flow and Pressure-Induced Liquefaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separation techniques are inefficient for separating carbon dioxide from gaseous oil well effluent, which contains significant quantities of other constituents like water vapor and hydrocarbons, reducing the effectiveness of the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a vortex separator or pressure vessel to separate carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons and water vapor in the gaseous mixture, involving a pump to facilitate separation and achieving high purity of carbon dioxide through vortex-induced separation or liquefaction, allowing for efficient reuse of carbon dioxide in EOR processes.
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 system by introducing a condenser that lowers the temperature of the gaseous effluent. This temperature parameter change causes carbon dioxide to condense into liquid form while lighter hydrocarbons remain gaseous, enabling efficient separation based on phase differences rather than relying on conventional separation methods that struggle with high CO2 concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of carbon dioxide from gas to liquid state through cooling in the condenser. By transitioning CO2 to liquid phase while maintaining hydrocarbons in gas phase, the system achieves effective separation that overcomes the limitation of conventional techniques when dealing with high carbon dioxide content effluent
2Productivity
If oxygen burning is used to remove carbon dioxide from the effluent, then carbon dioxide removal can be achieved, but hydrocarbon resources in the effluent are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition through condensation rather than combustion. By cooling the effluent to condense carbon dioxide into liquid form, the system achieves CO2 removal without burning the hydrocarbon constituents, thereby preserving the hydrocarbon resource for potential reuse or beneficial disposal while still achieving effective carbon dioxide separation
3Adaptability or versatility
If carbon dioxide contaminated with water vapor, methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane is reused in the EOR process, then the carbon dioxide can be reused, but the operating efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses condensation phase transition to separate carbon dioxide from lighter hydrocarbon contaminants. By condensing CO2 into liquid form while keeping methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane in gaseous state, the system produces high-purity liquid CO2 suitable for EOR reuse, thereby maintaining operating efficiency while enabling carbon dioxide recycling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts carbon dioxide from the contaminated gaseous mixture by condensing it into liquid form in the condenser. This extraction process separates CO2 from the gaseous hydrocarbon contaminants, producing purified liquid CO2 that can be reused in EOR processes without the efficiency-reducing contaminants
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 effectively separates carbon dioxide from gaseous mixtures with high efficiency, enabling its reuse in EOR processes and allowing for the generation of electrical energy from hydrocarbons, thereby enhancing oil recovery and energy production.
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 separation unit including at least one of a vortex separator and a pressure vessel
Implementation Method 3
a pressure vessel in communication with the source, and a pump in fluid communication with the source and the pressure vessel, wherein the 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
the 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
Data Source
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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.