Hydrocarbon recovery by condensed rotational separation

Abstract

Condensed rotational separation (CRS) is a novel method of gas-gas separation. It is based on pressure distillation at semi-cryogenic temperatures whereby one of the components is condensed, thereby forming a mist of micron-sized droplets. These are separated by applying the rotational particle separator (RPS). The RPS is a compact device for separating micron-sized particles from gases by centrifugation. In this paper, CRS is presented as an efficient method to upgrade natural gas fields contaminated with H 2S/CO 2. The process consists of two pressure reduction steps. The first step results in maximizing the methane concentration of the gas. The pressure of the separated liquid is further reduced to maximize the concentration of liquid H 2S/CO 2 whereby the released gas is re-fed to the inlet of the first step. Basic principles, process lay-outs and equipment are discussed. Compared to conventional processes, CRS excels in compactness and minimum usage of energy. © 2012 The Author(s).