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Controlled dispersion multi-phase nozzle and method of making the same

  • US 7,237,574 B2
  • Filed: 05/12/2005
  • Issued: 07/03/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of designing a flash nozzle, wherein said flash nozzle comprises a choke inlet, a throat, and an expanding choke outlet, wherein the choke inlet is upstream from the throat, which is upstream from the expanding choke outlet, wherein the flash nozzle is used to introduce slurry at supersonic flow rates into a flash vessel at a given operating pressure downstream from said nozzle, and wherein the flash vessel is configured to accumulate slurry in a slurry pool contained therein, wherein the method comprises:

  • specifying a choke angle, X, representing the angle from an axis of the flash nozzle at which said expanding choke outlet expands;

    defining slurry flow properties at a point located before the slurry enters said flash nozzle, wherein said slurry flow properties comprise at least one of density, flow rate, pressure, temperature, solid fraction, and vapor fraction;

    modeling the slurry expansion in the flash vessel starting at the point where the slurry exits the expanding choke outlet, wherein said modeling is based on said flash vessel operating pressure, said choke angle, X, and thermodynamic characteristics of said slurry, wherein said expansion of the slurry past the end of said expanding choke outlet is defined by a slurry expansion angle, Y;

    repeating the above steps with a new choke angle, X, until a total dispersion angle, X plus Y, is achieved, wherein said total dispersion angle, X plus Y, is greater than said choke outlet angle, X; and

    producing a flash nozzle from said model having a choke outlet angle of X, wherein said total dispersion angle, X plus Y, is greater than said choke outlet angle, X, for said defined slurry flow properties and said flash vessel operating pressure.

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