Mass Transfer Apparatus and Method for Separation of Gases
First Claim
1. A separation apparatus comprising a mass transfer stage that has an upper end and a lower end, the mass transfer stage including:
- a gas injector module at the upper end of the mass transfer stage, the gas injector module including a first inlet for supplying a gaseous flow into the mass transfer stage, the gaseous flow being supplied into the gas injector module in the form of bubbles, the gas injector module including a second inlet at the upper end of the mass transfer stage for supplying an aqueous liquid flow into the gas injector module;
a gas absorption module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas injector module and proximal to the lower end of the mass transfer stage as compared to the gas injector module such that liquid flow out of the gas injector module flows into the gas absorption module;
a gas separation module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas absorption module and is at the lower end of the mass transfer stage such that liquid flow out of the gas absorption module flows into the gas separation module, the gas separation module including a gas trap, a first outlet in fluid communication with the gas trap, and a second outlet for aqueous liquid flow out of the mass transfer stage.
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for separating components of a source gas is provided in which more soluble components of the source gas are dissolved in an aqueous solvent at high pressure. The system can utilize hydrostatic pressure to increase solubility of the components of the source gas. The apparatus includes gas recycle throughout multiple mass transfer stages to improve mass transfer of the targeted components from the liquid to gas phase. Separated components can be recovered for use in a value added application or can be processed for long-term storage, for instance in an underwater reservoir.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A separation apparatus comprising a mass transfer stage that has an upper end and a lower end, the mass transfer stage including:
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a gas injector module at the upper end of the mass transfer stage, the gas injector module including a first inlet for supplying a gaseous flow into the mass transfer stage, the gaseous flow being supplied into the gas injector module in the form of bubbles, the gas injector module including a second inlet at the upper end of the mass transfer stage for supplying an aqueous liquid flow into the gas injector module; a gas absorption module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas injector module and proximal to the lower end of the mass transfer stage as compared to the gas injector module such that liquid flow out of the gas injector module flows into the gas absorption module; a gas separation module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas absorption module and is at the lower end of the mass transfer stage such that liquid flow out of the gas absorption module flows into the gas separation module, the gas separation module including a gas trap, a first outlet in fluid communication with the gas trap, and a second outlet for aqueous liquid flow out of the mass transfer stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for separating components of a gaseous stream comprising:
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supplying a first gaseous stream to a gas injection module of a mass transfer stage of a separation apparatus, the first gaseous stream being supplied in the form of bubbles, the first gaseous stream including a first component and a second component, the first component being more soluble in an aqueous liquid than the second component, wherein upon entry to the gas injection module, the bubbles of the first gaseous stream contact a stream of the aqueous liquid, providing a gas absorption module of the mass transfer stage downstream of the gas injection module, the aqueous liquid flowing through the gas absorption module following contact between the aqueous liquid and the first gaseous stream, the aqueous liquid being in contact with the bubbles as the aqueous liquid flows through the gas absorption module, at least a portion of the first component of the gaseous stream dissolving into the aqueous liquid during this contact such that the aqueous liquid carries at least a portion of the first component, the second component being retained in the bubbles; and providing a gas separation module of the mass transfer stage downstream of the gas absorption module, the bubbles collecting at the gas trap and forming a second gaseous stream, a gas outlet at the gas trap allowing the second gaseous stream to exit the gas separation module, a second outlet in the gas separation module allowing the aqueous liquid carrying at least a portion of the first component to exit the mass transfer stage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for separating gases from one another, the system comprising:
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a compressor; a flow line extending from a water or land surface to a depth of about 1000 feet or more; a gas separation apparatus within the flow line, the gas separation apparatus comprising a plurality of mass transfer stages in series with one another and including a top-most mass transfer stage and a bottom-most mass transfer stage, each mass transfer stage including a gas injector module at the upper end of the mass transfer stage, the gas injector module including a first inlet for supplying a gaseous flow into the mass transfer stage, the gaseous flow being supplied into the gas injector module in the form of bubbles, the gas injector module including a second inlet at the upper end of the mass transfer stage for supplying an aqueous flow into the gas injector module; a gas absorption module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas injector module and proximal to the lower end of the mass transfer stage as compared to the gas injector module such that liquid flow out of the gas injector module flows into the gas absorption module; a gas separation module that is downstream of and adjacent to the gas absorption module and is at the lower end of the mass transfer stage such that liquid flow out of the gas absorption module flows into the gas separation module, the gas separation module including a gas trap, a first outlet in fluid communication with the gas trap, and a second outlet for aqueous flow out of the mass transfer stage; and a first gas supply line extending from the compressor to the first inlet of the gas injector module of the bottom-most mass transfer stage;
whereinevery mass transfer stage of the gas separation apparatus is paired with another mass transfer stage of the gas separation apparatus such that the first outlet of the gas separation module of the lower mass transfer stage of the pair is in fluid communication with the first inlet of the gas injector module of the upper mass transfer stage of the pair. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification