Gas separation – Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
Patent
1989-03-15
1990-12-18
Woo, Jay H.
Gas separation
Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
55203, 494 56, 494900, B01D 1900
Patent
active
049783700
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a process for reduction of the pressure in a liquid mixture of hydrocarbon compounds. Such a process is to be found in connection with oil production, when oil flows up of a drill hole with an overpressure which is often very large, for instance in the order of 75-100 bar. The composition of the oil may vary from one oil source to another. For instance the following relatively easily volatile hydrocarbon compounds may be present in the oil: methane, ethane, propane, buthane, isobuthane, penthane, isopentane and hexane.
If the pressure in newly produced oil is reduced momentarily to substantially atmospheric pressure, a large part of the easily volatile hydrocarbon compounds therein will be evaporated. For several reasons this is not desirable. It has proved, however, that the amount of hydrocarbon compounds being evaporated in connection with reduction of the oil pressure may be reduced substantially, if the pressure reduction is performed stepwise. Thus, in practice a method is used in which the pressure reduction is performed in 3-5 steps. Between the pressure reductions, which are performed momentarily in that oil is passed through throttles, the oil is caused to flow through a container in which it exposes a free liquid surface towards a space which contains evaporated hydrocarbon compounds at a thoroughly determined pressure. The evaporated hydrocarbon compounds are removed continuously from the respective containers without the pressures therein being reduced below the predetermined pressures.
It is considered that if the pressure reduction of the oil could be performed in the described manner in even more and smaller steps, even more oil would remain in a liquid form. The additional cost for equipment for reducing the oil pressure in more than 3-5 steps has been considered higher than the profit possible to obtain, however.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new method and an apparatus for reducing the pressure in newly produced oil, i.e. in a liquid mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, enabling that a larger part of the oil can be maintained in a liquid form to acceptable costs.
According to the invention this is possible in a way such, that the liquid mixture is supplied into a chamber, formed by a rotating vessel, at a first radial level in the chamber, the liquid mixture being supplied to the vessel at a predetermined pressure in an area close to the rotational axis of the vessel and being conducted further through a channel radially outward in the vessel to said first radial level in a way such that the pressure of the liquid mixture will not be substantially lower than said pressure, and the pressure of the liquid mixture, when the latter reaches said first radial level, is substantially lower than it would be if the liquid mixture in the channel would be allowed to flow freely therein and simultaneously be completely entrained in the rotation of the vessel; that the liquid mixture being supplied to the chamber is brought into rotation therein by means of the vessel; that a free liquid surface is maintained of the rotating liquid mixture in the chamber at a second level radially inside of said first level; that a gas pressure lower than said predetermined pressure is maintained in the liquid free part of the chamber; that liquid is removed from the chamber at a level radially inside said first level; and that gas is removed from the liquid free part of the chamber.
By this invention it can be avoided that the liquid mixture is subjected to momentary pressure drops. Instead, the pressure in the liquid mixture may be reduced relatively slowly, while a free liquid surface of the liquid mixture is maintained in contact with evaporated hydrocarbon compounds at a desired pressure and at a desired temperature. Within the scope of the invention several chambers of the described kind may be coupled in series, gradually lower gas pressures being maintained in the chambers.
According to the invention the pressure in the liquid mixture should be reduced by br
REFERENCES:
patent: 3752389 (1973-08-01), Nilsson
patent: 3810347 (1974-05-01), Kartinen
patent: 4182480 (1980-01-01), Theyse et al.
patent: 4702837 (1987-10-01), Lecoffre et al.
ALFA-Laval Separation AB
Mackey James P.
Woo Jay H.
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