Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing carbon dioxide from a fluid stream by a fluid separation assembly. The fluid separation assembly has a cyclonic fluid separator with a tubular throat portion arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section and a swirl creating device. The separation vessel has a tubular section positioned on and in connection with a collecting tank. In the method, a fluid stream with carbon dioxide is provided. Subsequently, a swirling motion is imparted to the fluid stream so as to induce outward movement. The swirling fluid stream is then expanded such that components of carbon dioxide in a meta-stable state within the fluid stream are formed. Subsequently, the outward fluid stream with the components of carbon dioxide is extracted from the cyclonic fluid separator and provided as a mixture to the separation vessel.

Abstract: A refining system for refining a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide having a first concentration of hydrogen sulfide includes a first part for producing a stream of a first processed feed gas, a second part for producing a second stream of a second processed feed gas from the stream of the first processed feed gas using a separation process for H2S removal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cyclonic separator comprising a throat portion (4) which is arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section, which is arranged to generate a swirling fluid flow in a downstream direction. The diverging fluid outlet section comprises outlets (6, 7) comprising an inner primary outlet (7) for condensables depleted fluid components and an outer secondary outlet for condensables enriched fluid components (6). The cyclonic separator comprises at least one volute diffuser (9, 9?) connected to one of the outlets (6, 7), the at least one volute diffuser (9, 9?) comprising a volute outlet duct (90, 90?) defined by a volute axis (I1), forming a spiral shape around the central axis (I). The outlet duct (90, 90?) comprising a vortex chamber 95, in use the vortex chamber 95 is provided to transform axial momentum of the swirling fluid flow with respect to the central axis (I) into tangential momentum with respect to the volute axis (I1).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for reducing gas hydrate adhesion to the interior surface of a conduit and associated equipment transporting or processing a fluid stream in oil and gas exploration and production, petroleum refining and/or petrochemistry, by providing the conduit interior surface with a coating layer exhibiting a static contact angle of the sessile water drop on the coating layer in air higher than 75° at ambient air conditions, as measured according to ASTM D7334-08, wherein said coating layer comprises diamond like carbon (DLC) comprising fractions of one or more components selected from the group consisting of silicon (Si), oxygen (O) and fluor (F).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing condensation and separation in a fluid separator, wherein: —a fluid mixture is accelerated to a transonic or supersonic velocity in a throat section of a flow channel and thereby expanded and cooled such that at least some initially gaseous components become supersaturated and condense; —at least some condensed components are removed from the fluid mixture in the flow channel at a location downstream of the throat section; and —condensation of at least some supersaturated components is enhanced by illuminating the fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel by a radiation source (10), such as an Ultraviolet (UV) light source which excites and/or ionizes and induces mercury, water, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and/or other components to condense thereby forming condensation nuclei for other supersaturated fluid components.

Abstract: A heat exchanger vessel (1) comprises a tubular outer shell (2) in which a bundle of substantially parallel heat exchanging tubes (7) is arranged between a pair of perforated disk-shaped partitioning walls (5, 6), an inlet (9) and outlet (10) for a first fluid, and at least one inlet (13, 14) and at least one outlet (16) for a second fluid, wherein at least one inlet (14) for the second fluid is provided with particle injection means for injecting cleaning particles into the space between the outer surfaces of the heat exchanger tubes (7) and the inner surface of the tubular shell (2) of the heat exchanger vessel (1) and at least one outlet (16) for the second fluid is connected to means for removing particles from the second fluid and for recirculating particles to at least one inlet (14) of the second fluid.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from a natural gas stream comprising methane (CH4) and H2S comprises:—cooling the natural gas stream in a heat exchanger assembly (13,16,18);—feeding at least part of the cooled natural gas stream through a feed conduit (19,21) into a cyclonic expansion and separation device (1) in which the cooled natural gas stream is expanded in a nozzle (4) and thereby further cooled to a temperature and pressure below the dew point of H2S and is separated by inducing the cooled natural gas stream to swirl in a tubular separation chamber (9) thereby inducing centrifugal forces to separate the cooled natural gas stream into a cooled low density fluid fraction, which is H2S depleted and methane enriched, and a cooled high density fluid fraction, which is H2S enriched and methane depleted;—feeding the cooled low density fluid fraction to a product gas conduit (33) which is connected to the heat exchanger assembly (14) for cooling the natural gas stream fed to the cyclonic expansi

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing carbon dioxide from a fluid stream by a fluid separation assembly. The fluid separation assembly has a cyclonic fluid separator with a tubular throat portion arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section and a swirl creating device. The separation vessel has a tubular section positioned on and in connection with a collecting tank. In the method, a fluid stream with carbon dioxide is provided. Subsequently, a swirling motion is imparted to the fluid stream so as to induce outward movement. The swirling fluid stream is then expanded such that components of carbon dioxide in a meta-stable state within the fluid stream are formed. Subsequently, the outward fluid stream with the components of carbon dioxide is extracted from the cyclonic fluid separator and provided as a mixture to the separation vessel.

Abstract: A cyclonic fluid separator has a tubular housing (10) in which the fluid is accelerated and swirl imparting means (2) for inducing the fluid to swirl through an annular space between the housing and a central body (1) mounted within the housing (10), which central body (1) is provided with resonance abatement means, such as: tensioning means (20,22) which apply a tension load to an elongate tail section (8) of the central body (1) such that the natural frequency of the central body (1) is increased; vibration dampening means (31,50,60), which inhibit vibration of at least part (8) of the central body (1); solid particles (31) arranged in a segmented tubular tail section (8) of the central body (1), a viscous liquid (50) arranged between a tubular tail section (8) of the central body (1) and a tensioning rod (51), apertures (60) drilled radially through a tail section (8) of the central body (1); and/or a low pressure fluid (80) injected through a central opening (82) in the central body (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to fluid separator comprising: —a throat portion (4) which is arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section, the diverging fluid outlet section comprising an inner primary outlet (7) for condensables depleted fluid components and an outer secondary outlet for condensables enriched fluid components (6); and —a central body (10) provided upstream of the throat portion (4) in the fluid inlet section, the central body (10) being arranged substantially coaxial to a central axis I of the fluid separator. The fluid separator is arranged to facilitate a main flow through the converging fluid inlet section, the throat portion towards the diverging fluid outlet section. The central body (10) comprises an outlet (13), directed towards the tubular throat portion (4) and is arranged to add a central flow towards the throat portion (4).

Abstract: A cyclonic fluid separator for separating condensable, liquid and/or solid components from a fluid mixture includes an upstream fluid inlet section in which the fluid mixture is accelerated to a supersonic velocity to expand and cool the fluid mixture such that one or more condensable fluid components are liquefied and/or solidified; a downstream separation section in which condensables depleted and condensables enriched fluid fractions are separated and fed into separate outlets; and a midstream vortex generation section which includes a plurality of tilted wings of which the wing tips are located at relatively large mutual spacings and at a small spacing from the inner wall of the midstream vortex generation section such that during normal operation of the separator adjacent to the various wing tips widely spaced vortices of swirling fluid are generated in the fluid stream flowing through the housing, which vortices are still separated from each other at the entrance of the downstream separation section.

Abstract: A method for cooling a natural gas stream (CxHy) and separating the cooled gas stream into various fractions having different boiling points, such as methane, ethane, propane, butane and condensates, comprises: cooling the gas stream (1,2); and separating the cooled gas stream in an inlet separation tank (4); a fractionating column (7) in which a methane lean rich fluid fraction (CH4) is separated from a methane lean fluid fraction (C2+Hz); feeding at least part of the methane enriched fluid fraction from the inlet separation tank (4) into a cyclonic expansion and separation device (8), which preferably has an isentropic efficiency of expansion of at least 80%, such as a supersonic or transonic cyclone; and feeding the methane depleted fluid fraction from the cyclonic expansion and separation device (8) into the fractionating column (7) for further separation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger vessel (1) comprises a tubular outer shell (2) in which a bundle of heat exchanging tubes (7) is arranged, which bundle of heat exchanger tubes is coupled to an inlet (9) and outlet (10) for a first fluid, such as high-pressure natural gas, and the tubular outer shell (2) comprises at least one inlet (13,14) and at least one outlet (16) for a second fluid, such as seawater, wherein at least one inlet (14) for the second fluid is provided with particle injection means for injecting cleaning particles into the space between the outer surfaces of the heat exchanger tubes (7) and the inner surface of the tubular shell (2) of the heat exchanger vessel (1) and at least one outlet (16) for the second fluid is connected to means for removing particles from the second fluid and for recirculating particles to at least one inlet (14) of the second fluid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing condensation and separation in a fluid separator, wherein: —a fluid mixture is accelerated to a transonic or supersonic velocity in a throat section of a flow channel and thereby expanded and cooled such that at least some initially gaseous components become supersaturated and condense; —at least some condensed components are removed from the fluid mixture in the flow channel at a location downstream of the throat section; and —condensation of at least some supersaturated components is enhanced by illuminating the fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel by a radiation source (10), such as an Ultraviolet (UV) light source which excites and/or ionizes and induces mercury, water, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and/or other components to condense thereby forming condensation nuclei for other supersaturated fluid components.

Abstract: A cyclonic fluid separator for separating one or more condensable components, such as water, and/or solids, such as smoke or sand particles, from a fluid mixture has a tubular housing having a fluid inlet section in which the fluid mixture is accelerated to a supersonic velocity and thereby expanded and cooled such that condensable components condense and/or solidify, one or more wings for inducing the fluid mixture to swirl within a central section of the tubular housing, a fluid separation section in which a tubular vortex finder is movably arranged, a condensables enriched fluid outlet which is connected to an annular space surrounding the tapered tubular vortex finder and a condensables depleted fluid outlet which is connected to the interior of the tapered tubular vortex finder.

Abstract: The separation of liquid and/or solid components from a multiphase fluid stream passing through a supersonic fluid separator is enhanced by injecting a surface active agent into the fluid stream passing through the separator. Preferably the spray is injected via an injection tube that has a positive or negative electrical potential, whereas one of the walls of the separator housing has an opposite electrical potential, so that the injected spray and any liquid droplets and/or particles formed around the injected nuclei are induced to flow towards said electrically loaded wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing condensables from a natural gas stream, at a wellhead, downstream of the wellhead choke thereof. In accordance with the invention there is provided a method for removing condensables from a natural gas stream at a wellhead, the method comprising the steps of: (A) inducing the natural gas stream to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit of a supersonic inertia separator and thereby causing the fluid to cool to a temperature that is below a temperature/pressure at which the condensables will begin to condense, forming separate droplets and/or particles; (B) separating the droplets and/or particles from the gas; and (C) collecting the gas from which the condensables have been removed, wherein the supersonic inertia separator is part of the wellhead assembly downstream of the wellhead choke.

Abstract: The separation of liquid and/or solid components from a multiphase fluid stream passing through a supersonic fluid separator is enhanced by injecting a surface active agent into the fluid stream passing through the separator. Preferably the spray is injected via an injection tube that has a positive or negative electrical potential, whereas one of the walls of the separator housing has an opposite electrical potential, so that the injected spray and any liquid droplets and/or particles formed around the injected nuclei are induced to flow towards said electrically loaded wall.

Abstract: A nozzle of converging-diverging shape for creating mist flow at supersonic velocity comprising: a throat having a characteristic diameter D*; an inlet having a characteristic diameter D1, positioned a distance L1 upstream of the nozzle throat; and an outlet having a characteristic diameter D2, positioned a distance L2 downstream of the nozzle throat, wherein the ratio of L2/(D2−D*) is larger than 4, but smaller than 250; an inertia separator based thereon, and a method for supersonic separation of one or more components of a predominantly gaseous stream.