Variable Cross-Section Nozzle for Wet Gas Compressor Erosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wet gas compressors face erosion and reliability issues due to liquid droplets, which current liquid separation systems attempt to mitigate but often introduce additional complexity and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A wet gas compressor system with a variable cross-section flow conditioning nozzle that accelerates and decelerates gas flow to break up liquid droplets into smaller sizes, reducing their impact on compressor surfaces through convergent and divergent sections and a shock point, minimizing erosion and damage without the need for liquid-gas separators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid separation systems are used to mitigate erosion from liquid droplets, then compressor reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes liquid droplets from the gas stream using a centrifugal separator before the gas enters the compressor. The separator is positioned in the gas inlet line and uses rotational centrifugal force to separate liquid from gas, allowing only cleaned gas to enter the compressor. This extraction approach protects the compressor without requiring complex internal modifications to the compressor itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing the centrifugal separator in the gas inlet line before the gas enters the compressor. This preliminary separation of liquid droplets from the gas stream occurs upstream of the compressor, preventing erosion before it can damage the compressor components. The separator is positioned to intercept and remove liquid droplets in advance, protecting the compressor during subsequent compression operations.
2Device complexity
If liquid droplets are allowed to enter the compressor, then device complexity is reduced, but erosion and damage to compressor surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes liquid droplets from the gas stream using a centrifugal separator before the gas enters the compressor. The separator is positioned in the gas inlet line and uses rotational centrifugal force to separate liquid from gas, allowing only cleaned gas to enter the compressor. This extraction approach protects the compressor without requiring complex internal modifications to the compressor itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by installing the centrifugal separator in the gas inlet line before the gas enters the compressor. This preliminary separation of liquid droplets from the gas stream occurs upstream of the compressor, preventing erosion before it can damage the compressor components. The separator is positioned to intercept and remove liquid droplets in advance, protecting the compressor during subsequent compression operations.
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 effectively reduces the size of liquid droplets, minimizing their impact on compressor surfaces, enhancing compressor reliability and lifetime by promoting intercooling and evaporation, while avoiding the complexity of separate liquid separation systems.
Implementation Method 1
The gas flow accelerates in the converging section such that the liquid droplets breakup from a first size to a second size
Implementation Method 2
The gas flow accelerates in the converging section and the diverging section such that the liquid droplets breakup from a first size to a second size
Implementation Method 3
flowing the gas flow across a shock point such that the liquid droplets breakup to a third size
Implementation Method 4
enhancing compressor reliability and lifetime by promoting intercooling and evaporation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The present application provides for a wet gas compressor system (100). The wet gas compressor system (100) may include a wet gas compressor (10) with an inlet section (110). A variable cross-section nozzle (130) may be positioned about the inlet section (110).