Abstract:
A device and system for removing contaminants, such as vapors or condensibles, from gas. Such device particularly includes a tortious or spiral path-forming member, wherein such contaminated gas is caused to repeatedly pass through a layer of absorbent fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the present energy crisis, it has become increasingly desirable, or necessary to make more effective use of energy sources, such as natural gas. One of the problems dealt with is that of removing contaminants present in gas, such as unwanted fluid vapors. Various drying techniques have been utilized, particularly the passing of gas upwardly in a tower, and through drying agents, such as glycol. While such prior art devices have served to remove substantial portions of contaminants, a higher degree of efficiency has been sought. Applicant has achieved such efficiency by causing a greater degree of contact between the gas and absorbing fluid - thus the reference to applicant&#39;s device as being a contactor. Such greater degree of contact is effected primarily by causing the gas to course a spiralar path, a substantial portion of which is through the absorbing fluid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The focal point of the invention includes a container or cylinder with an inlet for gas and contaminant-absorbing fluid, and one or more exits for the dried gas and contaminant-containing fluid. Centrally of such cylinder is an axially disposed shaft having a fin or fins spirally wrapped around and affixed thereto. Connected to adjacent reaches of the spiral, and to the shaft, are segments of plates, which may be notched. Such plates assure that the gas dips into portions of the absorbent fluid present in the cylinder. The cylinder, and its contents, may form a portion of a system, which system essentially recycles the absorbent fluid. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a generally schematic illustration of a system, with the contactor portion shown in vertical section; 
     FIG. 2 is a section through the contactor taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a modification of the system of FIG. 1, with the contactor cylinder also serving as a separator. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A source of wet gas, which may be a conduit leading from a production well, is illustrated in both embodiments as 10. Line 21 would link such source 10 to inlet 23 of a contactor, generally shown as 20. Inasmuch as the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 are so similar, like numerals will identify like parts. Differentiating structure in FIG. 3 will have a subscript &#34;a&#34; added to the numeral. Contactor 20 includes a central cylinder 22 which has inlet portions 23 and outlets 24 at opposite ends thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, cylinder 22 is centrally mounted within an outer cylinder or vessel 25a, with inlet 23 fixed to, journaled in, or sealingly engaged with an opening 26a, near one end of the outer cylinder. 
     Axially positioned with cylinder 22 is shaft 26. Spirally wound around, and fixed to such shaft is member 27, which member may be a continuous plate. The transverse distance between adjacent fin portions of member 27 may be referred to as a &#34;reach&#34;. Also connected to and depending from shaft 26, and secured to adjacent fins of member 27, is relatively flat plate 28. Such plate contains a plurality of notches 29, and may be a continuous length extending through cutouts (not shown) in spiral member 27, or may comprise a plurality of segments, each fixed to adjacent fin portions of said spiral member. 
     In FIG. 3, one end 31a may be journaled for rotation in bushing 32a provided outer cylinder 25a. In such figure, said outer cylinder also includes outlets 33a and 34a whose function will be described hereinafter. 
     In both embodiments, cylinder 22 may be initially provided with a reservoir 35 of absorbent fluid, such as ethelene glycol, to a level approximating midway of such cylinder. Moisture laden gas, from source 10, and dry absorbent fluid would enter cylinder 22 through inlet 23. Within such cylinder 22, moving from left to right in the drawings, the gas would follow a tortuous path around shaft 26, guided by the fins of member 27, toward exit 24. By virtue of such fin portions substantially blocking passage between their edges and the I.D. of cylinder 22, the gas must be immersed in and pass through the absorbent fluid 25, such intimate contact resulting in substantial decontamination. The presence of plate member 28, insures such immersion. A mixture of dry gas and wet or somewhat saturated absorbent fluid leaves exit 24. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, such mixture enters a separator 40, of generally known construction. The dry gas, may first pass through heat exchanger 41 to enter a distribution line. After passing through separator 40, the wet fluid enters still 50, heated by reboiler 60, where contaminants such as fluid vapor is expelled, thence as dry fluid to storage tank 70, through heat exchanger then to pump 80. Such pump, which may be of a specialized type, provides the force to drive the absorbent fluid and gas through the system. On exiting pump 80, the now dry absorbent fluid reenters cylinder inlet 23 to restart the cycle. 
     The substantial modification of FIG. 3 comprises outer cylinder 25a essentially performing as a separator, removing the necessity of a separate separator, such as 40. In this embodiment, on the mixture of &#34;dry&#34; gas and &#34;wet&#34; absorbent fluid leaving exit 24 of cylinder 22, such fluid will gravitate downwardly to leave exit 33a while the dry gas will tend to rise and leave exit 34a. Otherwise, the embodiments are similar. It should be noted, that in contradistinction to most present day systems, the contactor is adapted to be horizontally disposed, rather than being of tower configuration. The space and time conservation is substantial, during all of transportation, installation and use. Such savings are permitted by virtue of applicant&#39;s structure causing intimate contact through his spiral arrangement. 
     Although limited embodiments have been described, it should be obvious that numerous modifications would be possible by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.