Rotating Mesh Gas-Liquid Separator for Droplet Re-entrainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-liquid separators face challenges such as large volume requirements, slow separation times, re-entrainment of droplets, and pressure peaks, especially in confined spaces like subsea petroleum production or downhole separation, due to high gas flow rates and shear effects.
Innovation Solution
A rotor with a mesh that coalesces droplets and transports coalesced liquid laterally to a surrounding wall, reducing re-entrainment by centrifugal force and avoiding flooding, while allowing gas to pass axially, thus minimizing pressure peaks and improving separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a static coalescing mesh is used in a large volume separator tank, then droplet coalescence is effective, but the separator requires large volume and time for gravitational separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a rotating mesh instead of a static one, introducing dynamic motion to the separation process. The rotation creates centrifugal force that enhances droplet coalescence and removal efficiency, allowing effective separation in a compact volume without requiring large tank space for gravitational settling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the mesh from static to rotating, altering the operational parameters of the separator. This dynamic parameter change enables more efficient droplet capture and removal while reducing the required separator volume, as the rotating mesh actively removes droplets rather than passively collecting them for gravitational settling.
2Productivity
If gas flow rate is increased to improve productivity, then separation time is reduced, but liquid may be carried over the mesh causing flooding and pressure peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mesh dynamically adapts to high gas flow rates by using centrifugal force to actively remove liquid droplets from the gas stream. This dynamic mechanism prevents liquid carryover even at high productivity flow rates, eliminating the flooding and pressure peak problems associated with static meshes.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating mesh continuously removes liquid droplets from the gas flow without interruption, maintaining effective separation across varying flow rates. This continuous action ensures that liquid is constantly removed before it can accumulate or be carried over, enabling stable operation at high productivity levels.
3Volume of stationary object
If a cyclone separator is used to utilize fluid flow velocity for separation, then separation can occur without large volume, but gas flow velocity shears liquid causing re-entrainment of droplets
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mesh uses centrifugal force generated by its rotation to remove droplets, rather than relying on high-velocity gas flow to create cyclonic separation. This dynamic mechanical action separates droplets without the shear forces that cause re-entrainment, achieving effective separation in compact volume while preventing droplet re-entrainment.
4Ease of manufacture
If the mesh is stationary to simplify the device, then manufacturing is easier, but droplet removal efficiency is reduced compared to rotating configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mesh configuration, while slightly more complex than a static mesh, provides significantly enhanced droplet removal efficiency through centrifugal force. The rotation enables active droplet ejection from the mesh surface, dramatically improving productivity and making the added complexity worthwhile for high-performance separation applications.
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 solution significantly reduces re-entrainment of droplets, enhances separation efficiency, and maintains low pressure drop across the separator, even at high gas flow rates, with the ability to remove droplets effectively at low or zero rotational speeds.
Implementation Method 1
A rotor with a mesh that coalesces droplets and transports coalesced liquid laterally to a surrounding wall, reducing re-entrainment by centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
a rotor with a mesh for being passed by the initially mixed gas and coalescing the droplets
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is separator for separating a fluid flow of gas with droplets (G, L), comprising an inlet (10) for the gas to be separated to a rotor (4) with a mesh (5) for coalescing the droplets (L) and releasing coalesced liquid (L′) from a peripheral part (50) of the rotor (4). Novel features of the separator is that—the mesh (5) generally forms an axial passage for said gas (G) from the inlet (10), through said rotor (4), to an outlet (20) for liquid depleted gas (G′), and—the rotor (4) with the mesh (5) is arranged for transporting the coalesced liquid (L′) laterally out of the axial passage to a wall (6) arranged for receiving the coalesced liquid (L′).