Tangential Inlet Cans for Gas-Liquid Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet devices for separating gas and liquid phases in fluid streams often suffer from undesired entrainment of liquid in the gas flow due to insufficient static head, which leads to inefficiencies in phase separation.
Innovation Solution
The proposed inlet device features a flow channel with cylindrical separation cans that allow the fluid stream to rotate and swirl, utilizing centrifugal force to separate phases, with slots for liquid exit and an upper gas exit, eliminating the need for a static liquid head to prevent gas breakout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lower end of the cyclone is submerged in liquid to create a static head, then the gas phase is prevented from exiting through the open lower end, but liquid entrainment occurs in the gas flow when the static head is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet device is divided into multiple separation cans arranged in parallel, with each can independently separating gas and liquid phases. This segmentation allows the system to handle larger flow rates while maintaining effective separation, as each can operates at optimized conditions without requiring excessive static head.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-cyclone vertical separation approach to a multi-can horizontal arrangement. The separation cans are positioned horizontally with inlet openings in their cylindrical walls, allowing tangential flow entry and creating a different spatial dimension for phase separation that reduces liquid entrainment.
2Reliability
If a static head of liquid is used to prevent gas breakout, then gas phase is contained, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the requirement for a static liquid head by using multiple separation cans with horizontal inlet openings. The gas and liquid phases are separated within the cans themselves, removing the need for external liquid head management and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation cans are designed to be self-contained units that automatically separate gas and liquid phases without requiring external control systems or complex liquid head management. The tangential flow entry and cylindrical geometry create self-regulating flow patterns that facilitate phase separation.
3Productivity
If the lower end of the cyclone is open for gas exit, then gas phase can escape, but liquid is entrained in the gas flow
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet device is divided into multiple separation cans arranged in parallel, with each can independently separating gas and liquid phases. This segmentation allows the system to handle larger flow rates while maintaining effective separation, as each can operates at optimized conditions without requiring excessive static head.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-cyclone vertical separation approach to a multi-can horizontal arrangement. The separation cans are positioned horizontally with inlet openings in their cylindrical walls, allowing tangential flow entry and creating a different spatial dimension for phase separation that reduces liquid entrainment.
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 design effectively reduces liquid entrainment in the gas flow, enhancing the separation efficiency by allowing the gas phase to ascend directly through the open upper end of the separation cans while the liquid phase is removed through slots, improving the separation process without requiring a submerged lower end.
Implementation Method 1
causing the separate portions of the fluid stream to rotate or swirl within the open interior regions so that a centrifugal force that results from the swirling of the separate portions of the fluid stream causes the liquid phase in the separate portions of the fluid stream to impact against the inner surfaces of the cylindrical walls and the gas phase to separate from the liquid phase and ascend upwardly
Data Source
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AI summary
An inlet device for use in a vessel to facilitate separation of a gas phase from a liquid phase in a fluid stream. The inlet device has separation cans (26a, 26b, 26c) positioned at each of the outlet ends (44a, 44b, 44c) of a flow channel (24). Each separation can has a cylindrical wall (46) and an elongated inlet opening (54) in the cylindrical wall to allow the fluid stream to be introduced in a tangential direction into an open interior region where it swirls to facilitate separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase in the fluid stream. The liquid phase exits the separation can through slots (56) in the cylindrical wall and through an open lower end of the open interior region. The gas phase exits the separation can by ascending upwardly through an open upper end (50) of the open interior region.