GB2523575A

GB2523575A - Oil separator for compressors and oil separation process

Info

Publication number: GB2523575A
Application number: GB1403514.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joachim Conrad
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2014-02-27
Filing date: 2014-02-27
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Also published as: GB201403514D0

Abstract

A gas-liquid stream separator comprises a cylindrical separator body with a conical shaped cascade support plate 11 located within the interior of the body, the conical support plate 11 supporting a plurality of perforated separation plates 12 having cuts or openings 14, such that the plates 12 provide for equal distribution of gas and liquid within the separator, and further comprises a gas outlet 8 at the top of the cylindrical body and a liquid outlet 1 at the bottom of the cylindrical body. The separator can be used to separate several mediums including gas-oil, gas-condensate and gas-liquid so that the resulting gas composition is 80-100% gas. The invention may act as part of a air or gas compressor which may be used in hydrogen plants.

Description

OIL SEPARATOR FOR COMPRESSORS AND OIL SEPARATION PROCESS

FJELL) OF THE INVENTION (001) The present invention relates to air compressors in general and more specifically to air compressors and gas compressors used in hydrogen plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(002) Air that is introduced to an air compressor is not normally free of oil. Therefore, prior to compression, it is known to remove the oil from the air using an oil separator.

This can be carried out in an oil separator that is separate and distinct from the compressor unit or that is connected with the compressor equipment unit as a package unit.

(003) For hydrogen compression it is generally necessary to handle a two-phase process stream; i.e. oil-gas, gas-condensate or similar. These streams are separated into two clean streams; e.g. gas and oil, or gas and condensate streams. In hydrogen plants, demisters are used for this purpose.

(004) Typical separators are shown in prior patents and patent applications such as EP2220347; EP2020485; US3944945; and US6709476.

(005) There remains a need the art for improvements to gas-liquid and gas-oil separators.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION . .

(006) The present invention provides a new oil separator for compressors and also provides new methods of oil separation. One purpose of the invention is to provide an oil

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separator that separates gas streams that contain oil condensate or other liquids into clean gas and liquid streams. The gas stream after separation should be a minimum of eighty percent gas and preferably one hundred percent gas, i.e. free of all liquid. The percentage of liquid left in the gas is dependent on the process requirements for which the separation is being carried out.

(007) In addition, the pressure drop through the separator is kept as low as possible. To accomplish this, the invention provides for equal distribution of the gas and liquid streams within the separator.

(008) The separator of the invention comprises a cylindrical separator body having a conical shaped cascade support plate located within the interior of the body, the conical support plate supporting a plurality of perforated separation plates having cuts or openings therein. These plates provide for the equal distribution of gas and liquid within the separator. The separator is arranged so as to have the gas flow outlet at the top of the cylindrical body and the liquid flow outlet at the bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(009) Figure lisa schematic view of the separator according to the invention.

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r* :* (010) Figure 2 is a detailed view of area I of Figure I. (011) Figure3 isadetailedviewofareall of Figure 1, * (012) Figure 4 is a detailed view of area HI of Figure *SS** (013) Figure 5 is a detailed view of area IV of Figure 1.

(014) Figure 5A is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 5.

(015) Figure 6 is a detailed view of area V of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(016) The invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures.

(017) Figure 1 shows the separator of the invention having a body shell including heads 19, with separated oil or liquid outlet 1, having an oil separator drain 9, located at the bottom of the shell 19, and the separated gas outlet 8, having a vent 18, located at the top of the shell 19. The shell 19 also includes a cascade support plate II in the fonii of a perforated cone, which supports a plurality of separation plates, e.g. perforated plates with separation cuts 12, having perforated plate cuts 14. In addition, near the top of the shell 19, impingement plates for oil lag 17 are provided, as well as spray nozzle 7 for cleaning.

Also located near the top of the shell 19 is a measuring nozzle 6 that may be used to measure the oil content of the separated gas. A channel flange 16 is provided to allow opening of the header portion of the shell 19. Just below the channel flange 16, a *..: perforated cover plate 15 with cuts is installed. Near the middle of the shell 19, an inlet 4 * .* for the mixed gas and liquid stream to be separated is provided and is associated with a gas/liquid distributor 13 having drain holes. Near the bottom of the shell 19 above the liquid outlet I, a support plate 2 having an outside perforated support plate 10 and drainage is installed which also has an outlet dradn 3 for separated oil. The shell 19 may be * encased in insulation 5 (only partially shown). Dark arrows in Figure 1 indicate the flow of separated oil, vertical crosshatched arrojvs indicate the flow of separated gas and * : : diagonal crosshatched arrows indicate the flow of the gas-liquid stream.

(018) Several detailed drawing figures are also included and provide expanded views of important components of the invention.

(019) Figure 2 is an expanded view of the area I from Figure 1 showing details of the support plate 2, and also showing outside perforated support plate 10, perforated plate cuts 14 and shell 19. Arrows in Figure 2 indicate the flow for separated oil (dark arrows) and cleaning stream (light arrows).

(020) Figure 3 is an expanded view of the area II from Figure 1 showing details of the perforated plate cuts 14, and also showing cascade support plate 11, perforated plate with cuts 12 and shell 19. Arrows in Figure 3 indicate the flow for separated oil (dark arrows) through the perforated plate cuts 14.

(021) Figure 4 is an expanded view of the area III from Figure 1 showing details of the inlet 4, and also showing perforated plate cuts 14 and shell 19. Arrows in Figure 4 indicate the flow for the gas-liquid input (crosshatched arrows) and separated oil (dark arrows).

(022) Figure 5 is an expanded view of the area IV from Figure 1 showing details of the * perforated plates with separation cuts 12, and also showing perforated plate cuts 14.

* *.: Arrows in Figure 5 indicate the flow for the gas-liquid input (crosshatched arrows) and separated oil (dark arrows). a. *. * S * * .

(023) Figure 5A is a cross section view taken along line A-A of Figure 5 and shows greater detail of perforated plates with separation cuts 12, perforated plate cuts 14 and * .. shell 19 with the flow of the gs-liquid input (crosshatched arrows) and separated oil (dark arrows) streams also shown.

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(024) Figure 6 is an expanded view of the area V from Figure 1 showing details of the cover plate 15, and also showing perforated plate cuts 14 and shell 19. Arrows in Figure 6 indicate the flow for the gas-liquid input (diagonal crosshatched arrows), separated gas (vertical crosshatched arrows) and separated oil (dark arrows).

(025) As shown in the drawing figures the shell body of the separator of the invention has a generally conical shape supporting a plurality of perforated plates having cuts or openings. The gas-liquid stream to be treated enters the separator and is then distributed equally throughout the body of the separator with the separated gas exiting at the top of the separator and the liquid (oil, etc.) exiting at the bottom of the separator. The gas content of the separated gas can be measured near the top of the separator to assure the desired 80 to 100 percent gas composition. The arrangement of the conical separator achieves a minimum pressure drop and a maximum separation factor for the gas-liquid stream.

(026) The separator can have a diameter of 300 mm to 3000 mm depending on the process. The cuts or peribrations of the perforated plates are arranged in a manner to minimize the pressure drop. In addition the cuts or perforations avoid sharp edges to minimize the pressure drop. The inlet distributor is placed to achieve equal distribution of * the gas-liquid stream and to maximize the separation factor. The separator can be * * ** periodically cleaned by using the spray nozzles.

(027) The invention provides several advantages, including equal distribution of the inlet gas-liquid stream; separation of the gas-liquid stream to achieve an 80 to 100 percent separated gas stream; and minimal pressure drop. The separator of the invention can be **o* : used to separate sefreral different mediums, including gas-oil, gas-condensate, or gs- * liquid. The separator of the invention has a stable design that can process low (m3/hr) or high (Ncm3/hr) volumes and that can be easily cleaned and maintained.

(028) The separator of the invention can be used in processes utilizing compressors, such as olefin processes, refineries, hydrogen plants. etc. Further, the separator of the invention can be used in almost any process where a gas-liquid stream requires separation.

(029) It is anticipated that other embodiments and variations of the present invention will become readily apparent to the skilled artisan in the light of the foregoing description. n.e.. * . ** *. * . C * * C... * . * *. * a