Mercury Trap Separator with Deflector for Natural Gas Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for natural gas purification are inefficient and costly in removing mercury, as they either fail to separate mercury effectively or require complex structures that are not practical for mercury removal, and existing separators do not address mercury present at various concentrations in natural gas streams.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage process involving a first separator, an amine treatment unit, a cooler, a dehydrator, and a third separator with a deflector and mercury trap to selectively separate mercury from natural gas by condensing hydrocarbons and mercury vapors, allowing them to settle and be collected at the bottom of the vessel under gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing separator structures are used to remove mercury from natural gas, then mercury removal is attempted, but the separation efficiency is insufficient and complex structures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into distinct functional zones: an upper separation chamber for gas-liquid separation and a lower mercury trap chamber for mercury collection. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring complex integrated structures throughout the entire vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The mercury trap is extracted as a separate, isolated chamber at the bottom of the separator, connected through a mercury removal line. This extraction allows mercury to be collected and removed independently from the main separation process, simplifying the overall structure while improving mercury removal efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If multipurpose separators are used for mercury separation, then separation capability is provided, but mercury contamination spreads throughout the lower portion requiring extensive cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The mercury trap is extracted as a separate, isolated chamber at the bottom of the separator, connected through a mercury removal line. This extraction allows mercury to be collected and removed independently from the main separation process, simplifying the overall structure while improving mercury removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator design concentrates mercury collection functionality in a localized lower chamber rather than allowing mercury to distribute throughout the entire vessel. This local quality approach ensures that mercury is contained in a specific area that can be accessed and cleaned independently, improving maintenance ease.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional separators are used, then basic separation is achieved, but they cannot effectively separate mercury at various concentrations in natural gas streams
Solution Approach 1:
The separator utilizes temperature and pressure parameter changes to condense mercury vapors from natural gas streams at various concentrations. By controlling the thermal conditions in the separation chamber, the system can effectively condense and collect mercury across a range of input concentrations, improving both adaptability and removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator employs a composite approach combining gravitational separation, thermal condensation, and density-based differentiation to handle mercury at various concentrations. This multi-mechanism composite system allows the apparatus to adapt to different mercury concentration levels while maintaining effective removal performance.
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 enables efficient and cost-effective continuous separation of mercury from natural gas streams, reducing the need for complex structures and minimizing the risk of mercury contamination, while producing purified gas suitable for consumer use.
Implementation Method 1
The natural gas is then cooled to condense additional hydrocarbons and water that is removed in the second separator
Implementation Method 2
a mercury trap disposed at the bottom of or below the vessel. The vessel also includes at least one deflector disposed at a position proximate the vessel inlet, in order to provide a surface on which the mercury vapor droplets can collect, coalesce and thereby drop under the effect of gravity from the natural gas stream
Implementation Method 3
The liquid mercury flows to the trap where it is separated from the moving gas stream and the other condensate materials that have settled to the bottom of the vessel according to their respective differences in density
Implementation Method 4
The dehydrator removes any remaining water using triethylene glycol TEG)
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for separating mercury and other undesired constituents from a natural gas stream includes passing the raw gas stream sequentially through a first separator, an amine treatment unit, a cooler, a second separator, a dehydrator, a cooler and a third separator. The first separator receives the natural gas stream and separates hydrocarbon and water condensates from the stream; the amine treatment unit removes acid gases; the cooler reduces the temperature of the gas stream to condense additional hydrocarbons and water that are removed by the second separator; and the dehydrator removes water vapor. Next, the temperature of the stream is reduced by the second cooler to condense the mercury and any remaining hydrocarbon vapors. The third separator includes a vessel having a gas inlet and outlet for discharging processed gas, a deflector disposed proximate the inlet for deflecting mercury and other condensates in the gas stream and a mercury trap disposed at the bottom of the vessel to collect the mercury.