Supersonic separator apparatus and method

An apparatus for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid flowing at supersonic and subsonic velocities within a conduit, said apparatus comprising

• a conduit having an inlet end adapted to propel said fluid into said conduit at supersonic velocity so as to condense particles of said one or more components in a supersonic flow section of said conduit,
• at least one surface protruding into the supersonic fluid flow, said surface being adapted to impinge upon said flow to create a tangential flow component and centrifugal force acting upon said particles,
• a collection zone having a plurality of perforations in the wall of said conduit for collecting said particles of one or more separated components from a radially outer portion of the subsonic flow section of said conduit, and
• an outlet for remaining fluid flow through a radially inner portion of said conduit after separation of said one or more separated components.

An apparatus for separating one or more selected components from a compressible fluid, comprising

• a conduit having an inlet end adapted to propel said fluid axially into said conduit at supersonic velocity,
• at least one surface protruding into the supersonic fluid flow, said surface being adapted to impinge upon said flow to create a tangential supersonic flow component,
• a collection zone having a plurality of perforations for removing at least a portion of said one or more selected components in a subsonic flow section of said conduit, and
• a vortex finder for collection of the remaining fluid flow after removal of said one or more selected components.

A conduit for removing a selected gaseous component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components, comprising:

• a nozzle for inducing said stream to flow at supersonic velocity through said conduit so as to decrease the temperature of the fluid to below a selected temperature at which one of condensation and solidification of the selected component occurs thereby forming particles of the selected component,
• at least one internal surface which imparts a swirling motion to the stream of fluid, thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of the stream,
• an axial velocity reducing section downstream of said at least one internal surface so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity, and
• at least one outlet for extracting the particles into an outlet stream from said radially outer section of the collecting zone, wherein the outlet is downstream from the axial yelocity reducing section of said conduit.

A system for transfer of a compressible fluid and separation of one or more components of said fluid, comprising:

• a compressible fluid source having a plurality of components;
• a conduit for separating a component from said compressible fluid source, said conduit comprising
• a proximal end having an inlet and a nozzle in fluid communication with said conduit, said nozzle being adapted to propel said fluid axially into said conduit at at least sonic velocity,
• a distal subsonic velocity flow end having at least one primary outlet for said separated component, and at least one secondary outlet, one of said primary and secondary outlets being located in a radially outer portion of said conduit and the other of said primary and secondary outlets being located in a radially inner portion of said conduit,
• an intermediate member located between said proximal and distal ends and having at least one surface protruding into said at least sonic axial flow so as to impinge angularly upon said flow and impart a tangential flow component to said flow, and
• a collection zone located downstream of said intermediate member and having said at least one primary outlet for collecting said separated component from said distal subsonic velocity end of said conduit.