A/T Armington Technologies, LLC - A Tenoroc, LLC Affiliate– Aerodynamic Centrifugal Energy Separator

A/T Armington Technologies LLC - A Tenoroc LLC Affiliate

ACES™ Patent Pending

Introduction

Prototype

Results/Conclusion

Introduction

Innovative process for separating gas species from one another, in particular the processing of natural gas

Under ambient conditions the ACES nozzle achieves preferential condensation of the target specie
The gas mix may be conditioned to a specific temperature which when combined with the dynamics of the nozzle may enhance preferential condensation of the target specie.
This two phase flow is then separated due to mass difference of liquid/solid versus gas and exposure to extraordinary centrifugal forces developed in the curved nozzle.

Advantages

Single stage enrichment of 22% on ambient gas “increase of 2.7x CO2 concentration”
Little to no energy required, uses the thermodynamic energy of temperature and pressure
Separated CO2 available under pressure for injection and flooding
Prototype generates 2.4 million gravity
Solid state, no moving parts, making use of source pressure
Extremely small size and easily integrated with other technologies
Low equipment cost
Superior to:

See phase diagram below of an N2/CO2 mixture:

Prototype Removal of Natural Gas Contaminants via ACES

The process and method may pre-cool the gas mix if desirable. The pressure and temperature drop produced by expansion through the ACES nozzle cause the targeted specie (CO2) to change phase/condense thereby increasing its weight/mass. The non-targeted specie (N2) remains gaseous. Mass difference of the gaseous and condensed phases exposed to extreme centrifugal forces cause particles of condensate to be forced to the outer wall of the nozzle thereby diffusing the lighter, gaseous phase inward. Separation is finalized when the different phases are divided as they exit the nozzle via a skimmer. The gravitational force generated can be in the multiple millions, depending upon the size of the nozzle.

1. The mix may be pre-cooled.

Nozzle Full W Cutouts.1246.tif

Key:

yellow=ambient
green=colder
aqua= colder still
red=CO2
deep blue=N2

For demonstration/lab purposes mixes of 80/20 percent N2/CO2 were used.

2. The temperature drop that occurs in the nozzle achieves preferential condensation of the targeted specie, carbon dioxide. Gravitational forces cause carbon dioxide particles to coalesce against the outer wall forming a thin film of condensate.

Nozzle Full W Cutouts.1246.tif

3. The film of the condensed target specie (CO2) leaves the nozzle at the skimmer location. The clean natural gas CH4 (gaseous nitrogen/N2 for the purpose of this demonstration) leaves the nozzle for distribution. The separated CO2 can be used as a cooling media and is easily gathered for sequestration or reinjection. If required, various cooling methods, other than the auto-refrigeration method shown, may be used for the purpose of pre-cooling the mix. For demonstration/lab purposes mixes of 80/20 and 70/30 percent N2/CO2 were used.

Nozzle Full W Cutouts.1246.tif

Results

The method and processes have been developed by Tenoroc, LLC via a working bench top prototype, CFD profiles, and thermodynamic modeling of gas mixtures.

Prototype pressures range from 24 to 103 bar.
Scale up in size has no apparent challenges.
In addition to the separation described, the method has the potential for many other separations including air.
Single stage enrichment of 22% on ambient gas (increase of 2.7x CO2 concentration)
The process and method can achieve condensable as well as gas to gas separations.

Conclusions/Direction

The process, method and device are available for commercialization.
Opportunities are available for cooperation with universities, governmental agencies, and industry.

Contact:

Paul Donovan,
Director of Technology Development

Armington Technologies, LLC
530 E. Central Blvd., Unit 1601
Orlando, FL 32801

Tel 407-236-7023
Fax 407-648-3662
Email Form

From The Researcher

ACES nozzles have the potential to be used in a compact gas separation system that can extract contaminants like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. There are many other potential applications in other industrial gas processes. A theoretical and experimental investigation of the operating conditions of a two-phase flow centrifugal separation nozzle system is being carried out to optimize its contaminant separation capabilities. Computer modeling and empirical data indicate that the ACES nozzle performance may meet saleable natural gas specifications for gas that has contaminant levels exceeding 20% and efficiencies for natural gas liquids recovery.

An ACES nozzle is a device with no moving parts that will convert an incoming compressed gas flow, such as natural gas, of a given temperature into a supersonic flow for causing preferential condensation of components of the flow, and during this process imparts large centrifugal effect on the supersonic flow causing condensing fractions to concentrate together. The supersonic flow is split into two streams of different phase, one having primarily a gaseous content and the other having concentrated condensate. The ACES nozzle system devised in this technology development process has included in-depth research into temperature-control of process gases, expansion enhancement, and the design and operation of the ACES nozzle geometry.

By far, the majority of past research concerning separation nozzles has been on single-phase gaseous processes, primarily for isotope enrichment. However, the ability of these nozzles to separate a common incoming gas flow into two distinctly different phase outflows has been overlooked. This new ACES nozzle could be likened to the process of distillation without both the massive plant footprint and capital investment, and the technical challenges that result from reliance on refrigeration. We believe that this new work will bring ACES nozzles to the attention of researchers interested in the separation of contaminated natural gas and other industrial gases.