Supersonic separator apparatus and method

• US 20030145724A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twister B.V.
• Original Assignee: J. M. Hans M. Van Veen, Marco M. Betting, Theodoore Van Holten
• Inventors: Betting, Marco M., Veen, J. M. Hans M. Van, Holten, Theodoore Van
• Granted Patent: US 6,776,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/29
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/816 Sonic or ultrasonic vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 51/08 by sound or ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/002 by condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 3/00 Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct combined with other devices B04C9/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method of removing a selected component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components is provided. The stream is induced to flow at supersonic velocity through a 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. The conduit is provided with a structure for imparting a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream. A shock wave is created in the stream so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity, and to increase the swirling motion of the particles which are extracted into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone downstream of the shock wave.

Claims

1. A conduit for separating one or more components from a compressible fluid having a plurality of components, 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.

2. The conduit of claim 1 further comprising an axial velocity deceleration zone located downstream of said intermediate member and upstream of said at least one primary outlet, said axial velocity deceleration zone having a surface which varies the fluid flow cross sectional area of said conduit so as to reduce said axial flow relative to said tangential flow component.

3. The conduit of claim 2 further comprising a deceleration zone of both axial and tangential velocity, located downstream of said axial velocity deceleration zone so as to reduce both axial and tangential velocity.

4. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said axial velocity deceleration zone comprises a diffuser.

5. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said deceleration zone further comprises a means for inducing a shock wave.

6. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said deceleration zone comprises a subsonic diffuser.

7. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said deceleration zone comprises a supersonic diffuser.

8. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said deceleration zone comprises an internal body within said conduit.

9. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said collection zone includes a radially outward collection zone for collecting said separated component from said compressible fluid.

10. The conduit of claim 4 wherein said collecting zone is located adjacent the outlet end of the diffuser.

11. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the at least one surface is a wing having a subsonic leading edge and a subsonic trailing edge.

12. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a gas/liquid separator having an inlet in fluid communication with said primary outlet.

13. The conduit of claim 12 wherein the gas/liquid separator has an outlet for the gaseous fraction from said separator and said gas/liquid separator outlet is connected to an inlet of the conduit so as to mix the gaseous fraction with the stream of fluid flowing through the conduit.

14. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid is a gaseous fluid.

15. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a compressible liquid.

16. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a gas/liquid mixture.

17. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a solid particulate matter.

18. The conduit of claim 17 wherein a majority of said solid particulates have a size below 5 microns.

19. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a flue gas and said separated component comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of CO₂, N₂, NO_x, and H₂S.

20. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a gas containing water vapor.

21. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a natural gas produced from an earth formation.

22. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the selected component comprises one or more hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane and octane.

23. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a biologically active material and said separation comprises a disinfection of said stream.

24. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said nozzle comprises a variable throat having a controllable cross-sectional area.

25. The conduit of claim 1 further comprising a means for turndown of flow through said nozzle.

26. The conduit of claim 25 wherein said means for turndown comprises injecting low pressure gas to increase the boundary layer and decrease the volume of fluid flowing through the nozzle.

27. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary outlet includes a channel traversing the exterior of said intermediate member, said intermediate member transferring cooling to said separated component.

28. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said collection zone includes a pressure recovery means selected from the group consisting of vanes and straighteners.

29. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said collection zone includes a pressure recovery means comprising diverging the separated component in a spiral casing to transform the tangential flow to an axial flow.

30. The conduit of claim 1 further comprising a nucleation pulse interruption mechanism to enhance droplet growth.

31. The conduit of claim 1 wherein said collection zone includes a rotating section, said rotating section adapted to generate electricity.

32. A conduit for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, wherein said fluid flows at supersonic velocity in an upstream portion of said conduit and at subsonic velocity within a downstream portion of said conduit, said conduit comprising

an inlet end having an inlet nozzle in fluid communication with the upstream supersonic flow portion of said conduit, said inlet end being adapted to propel said fluid axially into said conduit at at least sonic velocity,

an outlet end in the downstream subsonic flow portion of said conduit and having at least one primary stream outlet, for said one or more separated components, and at least one secondary stream outlet, wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit, and

a wing member having at least one surface protruding into the supersonic fluid portion of said conduit, said surface being positioned to impinge angularly upon said axial flow to create a tangential flow component.

33. The conduit of claim 32 wherein said at least one surface has a half-delta shape, a subsonic leading edge at an angle of about seventy degrees or higher, a span of about one-half to three-quarters the diameter of said conduit, and a subsonic trailing edge at an angle in the range of about thirty degrees to about 50 degrees.

34. The conduit of claim 33 wherein said at least one surface has a span of about two-thirds the diameter of said conduit.

35. The conduit of claim 33 wherein said at least one surface of said wing member is perpendicular to the wall of said conduit.

36. The conduit of claim 33 wherein said surface has an angle of incidence in the range of from about two degrees to about twenty degrees and a cord length of about six diameters or more of said conduit.

37. The conduit of claim 32 wherein said wing member is a distorted wing.

38. An apparatus for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid having a plurality of components, comprising

a conduit having a proximal end having an inlet and a nozzle in fluid communication with said conduit, said inlet being adapted to propel said fluid axially into said conduit at at least sonic axial fluid flow velocity so as to condense said one or more components into particles, and a distal end having at least one primary outlet for said particles and at least one secondary outlet,

wherein one of said primary and secondary outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

an intermediate member having at least one surface protruding into said at least sonic axial fluid flow in said conduit, said surface being adapted to impinge upon said axial flow to create a tangential flow component, and

a nucleation control segment for influencing the number of particles formed in said conduit.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said nucleation control segment comprises at least one inlet for transfer of a selected component into said conduit so as to influence the number of particles forming in said conduit.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the at least one inlet for transfer of a selected component transfers said component into said nozzle.

41. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the, at least one inlet for transfer of a selected component transfers said component into said intermediate member.

42. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said selected component comprises solid particles.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said solid particles are transferred into said conduit to achieve a number density in said conduit of about 10¹² to 10¹⁴ particles per cubic meter.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said density is about 10¹³ particles per cubic meter.

45. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a means for influencing the nucleation process by the use of an electrostatic charge.

46. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a wing having a porous surface through which gas is injected into the conduit.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said injected gas is derived from said secondary outlet.

48. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a means for enlarging droplet size by stimulating the coalescence of particles.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said means for enlarging comprises shock waves to cause static pressure or density discontinuities in said conduit.

50. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said means for enlarging comprises an acoustic source to cause static pressure or density discontinuities in said conduit.

51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said means for enlarging influences particle surface tension.

52. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said nucleation control segment comprises a throat in said conduit.

53. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said nucleation control segment comprises a region in said conduit having a diverging and subsequently converging diameter.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said nucleation control segment has at least one additional flow passageway creating a loop on said conduit.

55. 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.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said perforations comprise slits in the wall of said conduit.

57. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said perforations in the wall of said conduit comprise a porous wall.

58. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said collection zone further comprises a rotating conduit.

59. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said collection zone comprises an outlet for collecting particles from a wake cavity of said conduit.

60. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a second conduit for returning said remaining flow to said inlet end.

61. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said perforations have a geometry adapted to the geometry of the liquid film of particles formed on the inner wall of the conduit.

62. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said outlet has a geometry adapted to the geometry of the liquid film of particles formed on the inner wall of the conduit.

63. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said collection zone comprises a non-axis symmetric drainage section.

64. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a mechanical conveyor for transporting liquid particles outside the conduit.

65. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a rotating outlet to increase vorticity and decrease the pressure of the remaining fluid.

66. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said collection zone further comprises a rotating spiral groove to increase transportation velocity of fluid condensed on the conduit wall.

67. 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.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said at least one surface has a half-delta shape and a sharp subsonic leading edge at an angle of about seventy degrees or higher.

69. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said at least one surface has a span of about one-half to about three-quarters the diameter of said conduit.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said at least one surface has a subsonic trailing edge at an angle in the range of about thirty degrees to about fifty degrees.

71. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a flexible diverging-converging section at said vortex finder to control said remaining fluid flow.

72. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a means for variably shaping said vortex finder.

73. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a means for axially moving said vortex finder.

74. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising means for extracting particles.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said means for extracting comprises perforations in the wall of said conduit.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said means for extracting comprises a membrane through which liquid particles are absorbed by capillary force.

77. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said means for extracting comprises a boundary layer with an extracting solvent.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said solvent comprises glycol.

79. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said solvent is injected through a porous wall.

80. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said solvent is sweated through the wall.

81. 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 velocity reducing section of said conduit.

82. The conduit of claim 81 wherein the axial velocity reducing section comprises a diffuser.

83. The conduit of claim 81 wherein the nozzle comprises a Laval-type inlet.

84. The conduit of claim 81 wherein the at least one outlet is located adjacent the downstream end of the axial velocity reducing section.

85. The conduit of claim 81 further comprising a gas/liquid separator having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet stream and an outlet for a gaseous fraction of said outlet stream.

86. The conduit of claim 85 wherein the outlet for the gaseous fraction is connected to an inlet of the conduit so as to mix the gaseous fraction with the stream of fluid flowing at supersonic velocity through the conduit.

87. The conduit of claim 81 wherein said at least one outlet comprises a perforation in the wall of said conduit.

88. The conduit of claim 81 further comprising a heat exchanging unit located upstream of the nozzle.

89. The conduit of claim 81 further comprising an axial temperature isolation mechanism located at the throat of said nozzle.

90. The conduit of claim 81 further comprising an axial temperature isolation mechanism located at said axial velocity reducing section.

91. The conduit of claim 81 further comprising an axial temperature isolation mechanism located at at least one outlet.

92. A method of removing a selected component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of

inducing said stream to flow at supersonic velocity through a 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;

imparting a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of the stream;

creating a shock wave in the stream so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid; and

extracting the particles into an outlet stream from said radially outer section of the stream downstream of the shock wave.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein the fluid is a natural gas produced from an earth formation, and said selected temperature is the condensation temperature of the selected component whereby condensed particles of the selected component are formed.

94. The method of claim 92 wherein the selected component comprises one or more hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane and octane.

95. The method of claim 92 wherein the shock wave is created by inducing the stream of fluid to flow through a diffuser.

96. The method of claim 92 wherein said outlet stream is introduced into a gas/liquid separator to separate a gaseous fraction of the outlet stream from a liquid fraction thereof.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein said gaseous fraction is mixed with the stream of fluid induced to flow at supersonic velocity through the conduit.

98. The method of claim 92 wherein said swirling motion is imparted by one or more wings in said conduit.

99. The method of claim 97 wherein said shock wave is created downstream said one or more wings.

100. The method of claim 92 further comprising the step of converting the velocity of the fluid into rotational energy.

101. The method of claim 100 further comprising the step of dissipating the velocity of the fluid by throttling.

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

means for providing a non-isenthalpic expansion of said fluid stream 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,

swirl imparting means to impart a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream;

means for enforcing a swirling motion in said fluid stream; and

means for extracting the particles into an outlet stream from said radially outer section of the collecting zone, wherein the means for enforcing the swirling motion is downstream the swirl imparting means and upstream the collecting zone.

103. The device of claim 102 wherein said means for providing a non-isenthalpic expansion comprises a Laval inlet.

104. The device of claim 102 wherein said means for providing a non-isenthalpic expansion comprises a nozzle with a controllable variable diameter.

105. The device of claim 102 wherein said means to provide a non-isenthalpic expansion comprises a nozzle having an internal body.

106. The device of claim 104 wherein said internal body comprises a wing forming a throat in said nozzle.

107. The device of claim 105 wherein said internal body comprises a throat in the shape of a ring.

108. The device of claim 102 wherein said means for providing a non-isenthalpic expansion comprises an injector.

109. The device of claim 102 wherein said means for providing a non-isenthalpic expansion comprises a centrifuge.

110. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means is in said nozzle.

111. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means is upstream of said nozzle.

112. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a tangential vortex tube.

113. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a spirally wound conduit wall.

114. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a spirally wound inner body.

115. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a stator wheel upstream of said nozzle.

116. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a wing within said nozzle.

117. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a tangential inlet to said nozzle.

118. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a distorted wing.

119. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a baffle with blades.

120. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a rotating central body.

121. The device of claim 102 wherein said swirl imparting means comprises a rotating section of said conduit.

122. The device of claim 102 further comprising an electrically charged core wire to exert a radial force on said particles.

123. The device of claim 102 further comprising an electromagnetic element for attracting particles to the conduit wall.

124. The device of claim 102 wherein the means for enforcing a swirling motion comprises a diffuser.

125. The device of claim 124 wherein said collecting zone is located adjacent the outlet end of the diffuser.

126. The device of claim 102 further comprising a gas/liquid separator having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet stream and an outlet for a gaseous fraction of said outlet stream.

127. The device of claim 126 wherein the outlet for the gaseous fraction is connected to an inlet of the conduit so as to mix the gaseous fraction with the stream of fluid flowing at supersonic velocity through the conduit.

128. 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 droplets of the selected component,

a mechanism adapted to exert radial force on charged droplets so as to propel the droplets radially for extraction,

an axial velocity reducing section downstream of said nozzle to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity; and

a collecting zone having at least one outlet for extracting the droplets into an outlet stream from a radial section of the collecting zone, wherein the outlet is downstream from the axial velocity reducing section of said conduit.

129. The conduit of claim 128 wherein said mechanism is an electrically charged core wire.

130. The conduit of claim 129 wherein said electrically charged core wire propels the droplets centrally for central extraction.

131. The conduit of claim 129 wherein said electrically charged core wire propels the droplets radially outwardly for extraction through a wall of the conduit.

132. The conduit of claim 128 wherein said mechanism includes at least one magnet.

133. The conduit of claim 132 wherein said at least one magnet propels the droplets radially outwardly for extraction through a wall of the conduit.

134. 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.

135. The system of claim 134 further comprising an adsorption unit in fluid connection with said at least one primary outlet.

136. The system of claim 135 wherein said adsorption unit is adapted for the adsorption of lighter hydrocarbons from said at least one primary outlet into heavier hydrocarbons.

137. The system of claim 135 wherein said adsorption unit is adapted for the adsorption of heavier hydrocarbons from said at least one primary outlet into lighter hydrocarbons.

138. The system of claim 134 wherein said system separates liquids from the compressible fluid.

139. The system of claim 134 further comprising electricity generation equipment and wherein said compressible fluid comprises the combustion gas of said generation equipment.

140. The system of claim 134 wherein said compressible fluid source comprises a fuel cell.

141. The system of claim 134 wherein said source comprises a dryer selected from the group consisting of convection and adsorption dryers.

142. The system of claim 134 further comprising a distillation column.

143. The system of claim 142 wherein said distillation column is selected from the group consisting of de-propanizers and de-ethanizer.

144. The system of claim 134 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a catalyst and said primary outlet stream comprises a separated catalyst component.

145. The system of claim 134 wherein said compressible fluid comprises a biologically active material and said separation comprises a disinfection of said stream.

146. The system of claim 145 comprising the inactivation of said biologically active materials.

147. The system of claim 134 further comprising a means for generating electricity through a rotating drainage section.

148. The system of claim 134 further comprising a means for creating torque for a pneumatic motor.

149. The system of claim 134 wherein the compressible fluid source includes water, said system further comprising a heat pump adapted to superheat steam-formed from said water.

150. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises a flue stack.

151. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises a combustion chamber.

152. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises an exhaust duct.

153. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises an incinerator.

154. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises a pipeline.

155. The system of claim 154 where the pipeline is adapted to receive natural gas.

156. The system of claim 154 where the pipeline is adapted to receive petroleum.

157. The system of claim 134 where the compressible fluid source comprises an air-conditioning unit.

158. A method for making an apparatus for separating a component from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

providing a conduit with a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end having an inlet nozzle in fluid communication with said conduit, said distal end having at least one primary stream outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary stream outlet, wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial position of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

providing an intermediate member between said proximal and distal ends having at least one surface protruding into the axial fluid flow, said surface impinging upon said axial flow to impart a swirling motion having an axial and a tangential flow component,

providing a decelerating zone for decelerating said axial flow component relative to said tangential flow component in a deceleration zone located between said intermediate member and said primary outlet stream, and

providing a collecting zone downstream of said decelerating zone for collecting said separated component.

159. The method of claim 158 further comprising providing means for propelling said compressible fluid into said conduit at at least sonic velocity.

160. A method for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

propelling said fluid into a conduit from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components,

providing an outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

impinging upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow and a tangential supersonic flow component, and

decelerating said axial flow component upstream of said primary and secondary outlets.

161. The method of claim 160 wherein the fluid comprises a natural gas produced from an earth formation, and said selected temperature is the condensation point of the selected component whereby condensed particles of the selected component are formed.

162. The method of claim 161 wherein the separated component is one or more of nitrogen, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane and octane.

163. The method of claim 160 wherein the deceleration is created by a shock wave.

164. The method of claim 163 wherein said shock wave is caused by inducing the stream of fluid to flow through a diffuser.

165. The method of claim 160 wherein said outlet stream is introduced into a gas/liquid separator to separate a gaseous fraction of the outlet stream from a liquid fraction thereof.

166. The method of claim 165 wherein said gaseous fraction is mixed with the stream of fluid induced to flow at supersonic velocity through the conduit.

167. A method for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

propelling said fluid into a conduit from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components,

providing an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

impinging upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component,

wherein said step of impinging comprises placing at least one half-delta sharp edge wing in said conduit, said wing having a span of about one-half to three-quarters the diameter of said conduit, an incidence angle in the range of about two degrees to about twenty degrees, and a trailing edge in the range of about thirty degrees to about 50 degrees,

extracting said one or more separated components from said outlet in the radial portion of said conduit.

168. A method for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

propelling said fluid into a conduit from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components,

interrupting the nucleation of said droplets to reduce the number of droplets being formed,

impinging upon said supersonic flow to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component, the tangential flow imparting a centrifugal force to said droplets,

providing an outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit, and

extracting said droplets from said radially outer outlet.

169. A method for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

propelling said fluid into a conduit from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components,

providing an outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

impinging angularly upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component, and

extracting said droplets from the radial outlet located in a subsonic flow section of said conduit.

170. A method for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

propelling said fluid into a conduit from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components,

interrupting the nucleation of said droplets to reduce the number of droplets being formed,

providing an outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

impinging angularly upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component,

wherein said step of impinging comprises placing at least one half-delta sharp edge wing, in said conduit, said wing having a span of about one-half to three-quarters the diameter of said conduit, an incidence angle in the range of about two degrees to about twenty degrees, and a sweepback angle of the leading edge of more than 70 degrees, and a sweepback angle of the trailing edge in the range of about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, and

extracting said droplets from the radial outlet located in a subsonic flow section of said conduit.

171. An apparatus for separating a component from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

a conduit adapted to propel said fluid from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components, said conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit, and

a one half-delta sharp edge wing impinging upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component, said wing having a span of about one-half to about three-quarters the diameter of said conduit, an incidence angle in the range of about two degrees to about twenty degrees, and a trailing edge in the range of about thirty degrees to about 50 degrees.

172. An apparatus for separating a component from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

a conduit adapted to propel said fluid from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components, said conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

a nucleation control segment positioned between said inlet and outlet ends and adapted to influence the number of droplets formed, and

a swirl imparting means adapted to impinge upon said supersonic flow to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component, the tangential flow imparting a centrifugal force to said droplets.

173. The apparatus of claim 172 wherein said nucleation control segment reduces the number of droplets formed.

174. The apparatus of claim 172 wherein said nucleation control segment increases the number of droplets formed.

175. An apparatus for separating one or more components from a stream of compressible fluid, comprising

a conduit adapted to propel said fluid from a supersonic upstream velocity to a downstream subsonic velocity, whereby cooling of said fluid in the upstream supersonic velocity causes condensation of droplets of said one or more components, said conduit including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end having at least one primary outlet for said one or more separated components and at least one secondary outlet wherein one of said primary and secondary stream outlets is located in a radial portion of said conduit and the other of said outlets is located in a central portion of said conduit,

a swirl imparting surface adapted to impinge angularly upon said supersonic flow between said inlet end and outlet end to cause a swirling motion of said flow, said swirling motion having an axial supersonic flow component and a tangential supersonic flow component, the tangential flow imparting a centrifugal force to said droplets, and

a subsonic flow section of the conduit adapted for the extraction of said droplets from the radial outlet.