The Supersonic Gas Separator
A Supersonic Gas Separator consists of several consecutive sections in tubular form, usually designed as flanged pieces of pipe.
The feed gas (consisting of at least two components) first enters a section with an arrangement of static blades or wings, which induce a fast swirl in the gas. Thereafter the gas stream flows through a Laval Nozzle where it accelerates to supersonic speeds and undergoes a deep pressure drop to about 30% of feed pressure. This is a near isentropic process and the corresponding temperature reduction leads to condensation of target components of the mixed feed gas which form a fine mist. The droplets agglomerate to larger drops and the swirl of the gas causes cyclonic separation. The dry gas continues forward while the liquid phase together with some slip gas (about 30% of the total stream) is separated by a concentric divider and exits the device as a separate stream. The final section are diffusers for both streams where the gas is slowed down and about 80% of the feed pressure (depending on application) is recovered. This section might also include another set of static devices to undo the swirling motion.
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