A SEPARATION UNIT FOR SEPARATING OFF LIQUID COMPONENTS FROM A GAS STREAM

Abstract

The invention relates to a separation unit for separating off liquid components from a gas stream comprising liquid components, the separation unit (1) comprising a metallic tube (3) and a baffler (19), the metallic tube (3) having a first end (5) and a second end (7) and being closed at the first and second ends (5, 7), the baffler (19) being placed inside the metallic tube (3), the metallic tube (3) having a side feed (35) at the first end (5) and a gas outlet (13) at the second end (7). The invention further relates to the use of the separation unit and a process for determining the amount of liquid components in a two phase stream comprising a gaseous phase and liquid components.

Claims

1. A separation unit for separating off liquid components from a gas stream comprising liquid components, the separation unit comprising: a metallic tube and a baffler, the metallic tube having a first end and a second end and being closed at the first and second ends, the baffler being placed inside the metallic tube, and the metallic tube having a side feed at the first end and a gas outlet at the second end, wherein a supply pipe is connected to the side feed, the supply pipe having a length which is at least twice as long as the length of a pipe which runs parallel to the axis of the metallic tube from the second end to the side feed.

2. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein a liquid separator is placed between the baffler and the gas outlet.

3. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the baffler comprises a central axis and 1 to 20 baffle plates.

4. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the supply pipe is spirally wound around the metallic tube.

5. The separation unit according to claim 3, wherein the central axis and the side of the baffle plates showing to the first end enclose an angle (α) of 90°.

6. The separation unit according to claim 3, wherein the axis and the side of the baffle plates showing to the second end enclose an angle (β) of 90 to 150°.

7. The separation unit according to claim 3, wherein a gap of 0.05 and 1 mm is formed between each baffle plate and the inner wall of the metallic tube.

8. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of length of the metallic tube to inner diameter of the metallic tube is in the range from 1 to 125.

9. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator is made of mineral wool.

10. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the second end is closed by a detachable cover and the gas outlet is formed in the detachable cover, and wherein the liquid separator preferably is placed in the detachable cover and fixed with the axis of the baffler.

11. The separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first end is closed by a detachable cover and a liquid outlet is formed in the detachable cover.

12. The separation unit according to claim 9, wherein a sealing element, preferably an O-ring, is placed between the metallic tube and the detachable cover to obtain a sealed connection.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A process for determining the amount of liquid components in a two phase stream comprising a gaseous phase and liquid components, comprising: passing the two phase stream through the separation unit according to claim 1 wherein the liquid components are captured in the separation unit; weighing the separation unit before and after passing the two phase stream through the separation unit on a precision balance; determining the amount of liquid in the separation unit by the difference in weight before and after passing the two phase stream though the separation unit.

Description

[0046] An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the FIGURE and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0047] The only the FIGURE shows a separation unit according to the invention.

[0048] A separation unit 1 comprises a metallic tube 3 having a first end 5 and a second end 7. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the metallic tube 3 is closed on its first end 5. The second end 7 is closed with a detachable cover 9. The detachable cover 9 can be fixed by any method known to a skilled person, for example by screwing or by using a bayonet coupling or a clamp. For a gastight connection, a sealing element 11 is placed between the metallic tube 3 and the detachable cover 9. A suitable sealing element 11 particularly is an O-ring.

[0049] In the detachable cover 9 a gas outlet 13 is formed. On the side which shows into the metallic tube 3, the gas outlet 13 is provided with a liquid separator 15. The liquid separator preferably is glass wool on which liquid droplets deposit when the gas flows through the liquid separator into the gas outlet 13.

[0050] The liquid separator 15 is hold in its position in the cover 9 by an axis 17 of a baffler 19. The baffler which is shown in the figure comprises 3 baffle plates 21. However, besides 3 baffles plates 21 as shown in the figure, the baffler 19 also may comprise more or less baffle plates 21, for example 1 to 20 baffle plates 21, preferably 1 to 10 baffle plates 21 and particularly 3 to 6 baffle plates 21. The side 23 showing to the first end 5 of the metallic tube 3 of each baffle plate encloses an angle α of 90° with the axis 17 of the baffler 19.

[0051] The side 25 of the baffle plates 21 showing to the second end 7 of the metallic tube 3 encloses an angle β between 90 and 150° with the axis 17 of the baffler 19, wherein the angle preferably is above 90°.

[0052] Each baffle plate 21 is designed such that there is a gap 27 between the rim 29 of each baffle plate 21 and the inner wall 31 of the metallic tube 3 in the range from 0.05 to 1 mm.

[0053] The separation unit 1 further comprises a supply pipe 33 through which a gas stream comprising liquid components or condensable components is fed to a side feed 35 in the metallic tube 3. The supply pipe 33 is spirally wound around the metallic tube 3.

[0054] During operation, a gas stream which comprises liquid components or condensable components enters the supply pipe 33 and flows through the supply pipe 33 to the side feed 35 where it enters the interior of the metallic tube 3. Particularly if the gas stream comprises condensable components, the gas stream is cooled in the supply pipe 33 such that the condensable components start to condense and form liquid droplets. For cooling it is for example possible to place the whole separation unit 1 into a cooling bath.

[0055] After having entered the interior of the metallic tube 3, the gas stream flows in direction of the gas outlet 13. To reach the gas outlet 13, the gas stream must pass the baffle plates 21 by flowing through the gap 27. This results in a deviation and acceleration of the gas stream. After passing the gap 27, the gas stream decelerates and opens into the whole space above the baffle plate 21. This repeats on each baffle plate 21. Due to their mass, the droplets formed in the gas stream deposit on the side 23 of the baffle plates 21 which shows to the first end 5 of the metallic tube 3. The droplets which deposited on the baffle plates 21 and further on the axis 17 of the baffler 19 and the inner wall 31 of the metallic tube 3 agglomerate and flow to the bottom 37 of the metallic tube 3. From the bottom 37 of the metallic tube 3, the liquid may be removed via a liquid outlet 39.

[0056] To avoid gas being removed from the separation unit 1 via the liquid outlet 39 or if the separation is carried out at elevated pressure or a pressure below atmospheric pressure, the liquid outlet 39 may be closed by a suitable valve 41. The valve 41 for example allows to remove liquid at predetermined times or when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined value. If liquid shall be removed after a predetermined level is exceeded, it is particularly preferred to provide a level sensor by which the liquid level can be determined. Such a liquid sensor either can be a sensor which measures the liquid level in the bottom 37 of the metallic tube 3 or a sensor which only provides a signal when the liquid level is such that the sensor comes into contact with the sensor. To withdraw the liquid from the separation unit in these cases the valve 41 either can be operated manually or automatically. If an automatic valve is used, it is particularly preferred when it closes as soon as a predetermined lower level is reached.

[0057] Particularly if not all of the liquid components have been separated off by the baffler, remaining droplets are separated from the gas stream in the liquid separator when the gas stream flows through the liquid separator into the gas outlet 13.

[0058] If the liquid remains in the liquid separator 15 and thus the liquid separator 15 becomes soaked with liquid or when the liquid separator 15 may become blocked by fouling, it will be necessary to change the liquid separator 15. Soaking or blocking by fouling of the liquid separator 15 for example can be determined by increasing pressure loss in the separation unit or by a reduced gas flow.

[0059] To change the liquid separator 15, the detachable cover 9 is removed and thus the liquid separator 15 is accessible and can be removed from the cover and be cleaned or replaced by a new liquid separator 15.

[0060] Besides a detachable cover 9 on the second end 7 of the metallic tube, it is also possible to close the metallic tube 3 on its first end with a detachable cover and on the second end with a fixed cover or to close the metallic tube 3 on its first end 5 and second end 7 with a detachable cover 9.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 separation unit 3 metallic tube 5 first end 7 second end 9 detachable cover 11 sealing element 13 gas outlet 15 liquid separator 17 axis 19 baffler 21 baffle plate 23 side showing to the first end 5 25 side showing to the second end 7 27 gap 29 rim 31 inner wall 33 supply pipe 35 side feed 37 bottom 39 liquid outlet 41 valve