Aerodynamic separation nozzle

Abstract

Multiple designs and methods for aerodynamic separation nozzles and systems for integrating multiple aerodynamic separation nozzles into a single system are disclosed herein. These aerodynamic separation nozzles utilize a combination of aerodynamic forces and separation nozzle structure to induce large centrifugal forces on the fluids that in combination with the structure of the nozzle are used to separate heavier constituents of the fluid from lighter constituents, and more particularly to separate a first or liquid phase from gaseous phases. In some embodiments a number of separation nozzles are combined into a single system suitable for dynamic processing of a process gas. In other embodiments the separation nozzles are temperature controlled to condition the incoming gas to a temperature in order to encourage a phase change in certain constituents of the gas to occur within the nozzle to further enhance separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for expanding liquid fluid refrigerants while simultaneously separating generated flash gas comprising:
 an inlet adapted to accept the fluid;   a throat fluidicly coupled to said inlet at a first location; and   a skimmer at a second location fluidicly coupled to said throat via a separation flow path,   said separation flow path comprising an expansion nozzle disposed along said separation flow path fluidicly coupling said throat and a third location, wherein said third location is fluidicly coupled to said second location via said separation flow path and said expansion nozzle is adapted to cause the fluid to manifest a first phase and a second phase within said separation flow path,   said expansion nozzle adapted to rotate a first mean velocity vector associated with the flow at said first location to a third mean velocity vector associated with the flow at said third location, wherein the difference between the direction of said first mean velocity vector and the direction of said third mean velocity vector is greater than about 120 degrees,   wherein the mean pressure of the flow at said first location is greater than the mean pressure of the flow at said third location, and the magnitude of said first mean velocity vector is less than the magnitude of said third mean velocity vector.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , whereby the separated flash gas is directed to re-compression and the expanded liquid is directed for use in the refrigeration cycle. 
     
     
         3 . A device for re-condensing organic rankine cycle fluids while separating phases within that fluid, comprising:
 an inlet adapted to accept the flow;   a throat fluidicly coupled to said inlet at a first location; and   a skimmer at a second location fluidicly coupled to said throat via a separation flow path,   said separation flow path comprising an expansion nozzle disposed along said separation flow path fluidicly coupling said throat and a third location, wherein said third location is fluidicly coupled to said second location via said separation flow path   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , whereby the single phase gaseous component is directed to the turbine and the re-condensed liquid phase is directed to heat source for gasification and pressure generation.
 said expansion nozzle adapted to rotate a first mean velocity vector associated with the flow at said first location to a third mean velocity vector associated with the flow at said third location, wherein the difference between the direction of said first mean velocity vector and the direction of said third mean velocity vector is greater than about 120 degrees,   wherein the mean pressure of the flow at said first location is greater than the mean pressure of the flow at said third location, and the magnitude of said first mean velocity vector is less than the magnitude of said third mean velocity vector.