集冷凝和离心分离功能于一体的天然气超音速旋流分离技术

Natural gas supersonic cyclone separation technology with the integration of condensation and centrifugation

天然气超音速旋流分离技术具有结构简单紧凑、无转动部件、可靠性高、无化学添加剂、投资和维护费用低等优点,工业应用前景广阔,但由于其过程的复杂性,理论研究还不成熟。为了推进该技术的大规模工业化应用,在介绍天然气超音速旋流分离器的结构及其工作原理的基础上,阐述了其旋流流动过程、内部凝结过程和内部流动过程等数值模拟的研究新进展,分析了近年来国内外有关的实验研究现状,总结了相关数值模拟和实验研究的进展,并对未来天然气超音速旋流分离技术亟待解决的关键问题进行了展望。研究结果表明:(1)目前关于超音速旋流分离器的数值模拟研究主要集中在旋流流动过程、内部凝结过程和内部流动过程等方面,并取得了一定成果;(2)国内对超音速旋流分离器的实验研究主要集中在低压实验,而在高压天然气的凝结机理及分离机理研究等方面则可能尚存在着一定的差距。结论认为:(1)解决超音速喷管的收缩段曲线和扩张段曲线的匹配、旋流器的结构优化设计与安装位置等问题,有助于气体凝结和提高气液分离效率;(2)开展符合天然气实际操作工况的高压实验,有助于探究天然气旋流分离的凝结和分离机理;(3)亟待在准确揭示高压天然气跨音速流动时其中水分及重烃的凝结机理和分离过程方面进行深入研究,确定影响分离性能的因素,以期为天然气旋流分离器的工程设计与应用奠定坚实的理论基础。

The supersonic cyclone separation technology for natural gas has the advantages of simple and compact structures, no rotating components, high reliability, no chemical additives, low investment and maintenance costs, etc., and its industrial application prospect is broad. Due to its complex process, however, its theoretical research is not mature yet. In this paper, a series of investigation were conducted on this technology to promote its large-scale industrial application. First, the structure and working principle of a natural gas supersonic cyclone separator were introduced. Then, the latest progress of numerical simulation on its cyclone flow process, internal condensation process and internal flow process was described. Finally, the related experimental research status at home and abroad in recent years was analyzed, and the progress in numerical simulation and experimental research was summarized. Furthermore, the key issues were discussed related to the development of natural-gas supersonic cyclone separation technology in the future that need to be solved urgently. And the following research results were obtained. First, current numerical simulation researches on the supersonic cyclone separators mainly focus on its cyclone flow process, internal condensation process and internal flow process, and have obtained some achievements. Second, domestic experimental researches on the supersonic cyclone separators mainly focus on low-pressure experiments and fall behind in terms of condensation mechanism and separation mechanism of high-pressure natural gas. The following conclusions were reached. First, the curve match between the shrinkage section and the expansion section of supersonic jet and the structurally optimal design and installation position of cyclone are beneficial to gas condensation and gas–liquid separating efficiency improvement. Second, the high-pressure experiment in line with the actual working conditions of natural gas helps to explore the condensation and separation mechanisms of cyclonic gas separation. Third, it is in urgent need to carry out a thorough study to reveal the condensation mechanism and separation process of water and heavy hydrocarbons during the transonic flow of high-pressure natural gas and determine the factors influencing separation performance, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the engineering design and application of natural-gas cyclone separators.