Separation Science and Technology, Vol.50, No.5, 752-759, 2015
Optimal Selection of Supersonic Separators Inlet Velocity Components via Maximization of Swirl Strength and Centrifugal Acceleration
Revolutionary supersonic separator (3S) technology has been used extensively in natural gas dehydration. Static vanes angle of 3S plenum chamber controls various velocity components of rotating fluid and swirl strength. To provide highest swirl numbers and centrifugal accelerations, optimal values of axial, angular, and radial velocity components of entering fluid are found 20 m/s, 70 rps, and 60 m/s, respectively. Various definitions are employed to compute the swirl number. Furthermore, both swirl number and centrifugal acceleration are decreased with increasing of pressure and temperature. Maximum obtained centrifugal acceleration of 606294xg is achieved which enables the 3S unit to separate submicron droplets.
Keywords:centrifugal acceleration;static vanes;swirl number;velocity components;supersonic separator