Patent ID: 8002878
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: B01D,B04C

Abstract:
1. A method for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and one or more gaseous or vaporizable components in a cyclonic separator, the method comprising the steps of: accelerating the fluid mixture in a throat section of a vortex tube such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase; inducing the fluid mixture to swirl within the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction (L) and a gas enriched fraction (G); inducing the degassed liquid fraction (L) to flow into a liquid outlet conduit which is located at or near the outer circumference of the vortex tube; and inducing the gas enriched fraction (G) to flow into a gas outlet conduit, which is located at or near a central axis of the vortex tube; wherein the fluid mixture comprises crude oil as carrier liquid and the gaseous or vaporizable components comprise components selected from the group consisting of natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.