Liquid Ring Compressor for Subsea Wet Gas Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea compression systems face challenges in efficiently compressing wet gases with high liquid volume fractions, as existing technologies often require complex and costly vapor-liquid separators, and conventional compressors are prone to fluctuations in liquid intake, which affects operational efficiency and cost.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ring compressor system that separates and removes liquid from wet gases to form a liquid ring for positive displacement compression, reducing the liquid volume fraction and integrating with conventional compressors to stabilize the flow, potentially replacing vapor-liquid separators and reducing operational complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional compressors are used to compress wet gases with high liquid volume fractions, then compression function is provided, but liquid intake fluctuations occur which reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid ring compressor is introduced as an intermediary device between the wet gas source and the conventional compressor. This liquid ring compressor removes a portion of the liquid from the wet gas before it enters the conventional compressor, thereby stabilizing the liquid volume fraction and preventing intake fluctuations that would otherwise reduce operational efficiency and reliability.
2Reliability
If vapor-liquid separators are used to remove liquid from wet gases, then liquid removal is achieved, but the system becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ring compressor combines two functions into a single device: it acts as both a liquid-removal mechanism and a compression device. The liquid ring formed by the impeller not only separates liquid from the wet gas but also compresses the gas, eliminating the need for separate vapor-liquid separators and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining liquid removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid ring compressor serves multiple functions simultaneously: it removes liquid from wet gas, compresses the gas, and stabilizes the flow to downstream equipment. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate pieces of equipment, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while achieving reliable liquid removal.
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 reduces the liquid volume fraction of wet gases by up to 100% and stabilizes the flow to conventional compressors, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs by simplifying the compression process in subsea environments.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller rotatably disposed within the chamber and configured to direct a remaining portion of the liquid in the wet gas out towards the main body inner casing to form a liquid ring within the chamber to compress the wet gas
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to liquid ring compressors that can be employed to remove liquid from a wet gas and/or to compress a wet gas. In one embodiment, a liquid ring compressor (22) includes a shaft (64), a main body inner casing (62) disposed about the shaft (64) to form a chamber (72) between the shaft (64) and the main body inner casing (62), and an inlet (42) configured to remove a portion of liquid from a wet gas and to direct the wet gas into the chamber (72). The liquid ring compressor (22) also includes an impeller (66) rotatably disposed within the chamber (72) and configured to direct a remaining portion of the liquid in the wet gas out towards the main body inner casing (62) to form a liquid ring (96) within the chamber to compress the wet gas.