Innovative process design : laminar counterflow recuperator rotational phase separator

Development and application of two inventions in the field of process technology, the laminar counterflow recuperator and the rotational phase separator are described. Both innovations stem from ongoing scientific research and are examples of succesfull innovations through combined university and industry research.Apart from the underlying body of knowledge, attention is paid to the interaction between research, market impulses and the intellectual property position of the inventor. The conclusion drawn is that while the first stage of development is characterised by open scientific discussions with the concept being protected by patents, technology development is more often than not screened from public disclosure

Condensed rotational separation

Condensed Rotational Separation is based on partial condensation of components of gas-gas mixtures. Condensation is induced by flash evaporation or pressure distillation. The rotational particle separator removes the micron sized particles formed by condensation from the gas. Yields and purities are enhanced by adding a next stage of liquid flash and relooping the gas to the first stage. A great improvement in separation performance, in both yields and purities, is achieved by allowance for operation of CRS within the vapour-liquid-solid region. Condensed rotational separation is shown to be an economically attractive process for upgrading sour gas fields contaminated with CO2 and/or H2S

Condensed rotational separation

Condensed Rotational Separation is based on partial condensation of components of gas-gas mixtures. Condensation is induced by flash evaporation or pressure distillation. The rotational particle separator removes the micron sized particles formed by condensation from the gas. Yields and purities are enhanced by adding a next stage of liquid flash and relooping the gas to the first stage. A great improvement in separation performance, in both yields and purities, is achieved by allowance for operation of CRS within the vapour-liquid-solid region. Condensed rotational separation is shown to be an economically attractive process for upgrading sour gas fields contaminated with CO2 and/or H2S

Rotational particle separator : an efficient method to separate micron-sized droplets and particles from fluids

The rotational particle separator (RPS) has a cyclone type house within which a rotating cylinder is placed. The rotating cylinder is an assembly of a large number of axially oriented channels, e.g. small diameter pipes. Micron-sized particles entrained in the fluid flowing through the channels are centrifugated towards the walls of the channels. Here they form a layer or film of particles material which is removed by applying pressure pulses or by flowing of the film itself. Compared to conventional cyclones the RPS is an order of magnitude smaller in size at equal separation performance, while at equal size it separates particles ten times smaller. Applications of the RPS considered are: ash removal from hot flue gases in small scale combustion installations, product recovery in stainless environment for pharma/food, oil water separation and demisting of gases. Elementary formulae for separation performance are presented and compared with measurements performed with various RPS design

Combustion heated thermionic systems

Thermionic energy cogeneration is developing as a new energy conservation option. The characteristics of thermionic systems using combustion of natural gas as heat scource are studied. The -until now unused- high temperature potential of fuels can be applied in order to extract work using the high temperature thermionic conversion process. The high temperature of the emitter and the required large heat flux to it demand a high radiation temperature of the burner walls. As natural gas can only just reach these requirements the resulting system efficiency drops to an intolerable low level if the combustion air is not preheated and the heat from the flue gasses is not recuperated. An analytical study shows the effects of using the collector cooling air to preheat the combustion air and the influence of the heat exchanging capacities of the recuperator and burner walls. It is shown that using the collector cooling air leads to a partial increase in the system performance and that using a recuperator increases performance to the maximum attainable value. The geometry of the recuperator is discussed