| FILTAN GmbH |
| Gänsgasse 9 |
| 63505 Langenselbold |
| Tel. +49 6184 - 7081 |
| Fax:+49 6184 - 7123 |
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| The
Vortex
Tube
Separator |
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The Vortex Tube Separator
was developed by the Ruhrgas AG and FILTAN GmbH
and has been patented. The VTS is conditioning
natural gas by removing water and hydrocarbons in one single
process.
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The Vortex Tube Separator
for dehydration was installed by the Thyssengas GmbH
worldwide for the first time in the year 2000 and is in
operation since March 2001.
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| Typical R
+ I diagram of a Vortex Tube Separator dehydration unit. |
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Working
pressure max/ min.: 210 / 36 barg
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Gasflow
max / min.: 20.000 / 140.000 Nm³/h
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Dewpoint:
-10°C ati 36barg
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| Process
description (short version) |
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| The natural gas is stored in underground
caverns to cover the peak load services. The stored natural
has components such as water, hydrocarbons and lubrications.
The natural gas from the cavern enters at first the inlet
separator to remove slugs of water and small mechanical parts.
After passing the inlet separator the gas will be heated up
in the preheater to appr. 45°C. The warm natural gas enters
the Vortex Tube Separator to remove water and hydrocarbon
contents and depressurizes the gas down to the sales gas pipeline
pressure. Ahead of the VTS glycol is inhibited to avoid formation
of hydrates. The cold gas and warm gas streams are recombined
after a cold separator, where the water and hydrocarbons are
collected. The liquids are discharged to the glycol regeneration
unit As a precaution an after-separator was installed downstream
in the gas stream to remove glycol possible. It was proven
that the after separator is not necessary in future installations.
The temperature of the dry sales gas will be increased in
the after heater from appr. -10°C up to appr. 5°C. |
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| Advantages
of the Vortex Tube Separator |
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A "turn
down ratio" of 15%. The gas throughput is variable
from 20.000 to 140.000 Vnm³/h.
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A short
start up phase. (no preheating of the regeneration is
required)
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A very
small glycol circulation rate (appr. 15% of the adsorber
tower technique)
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Significant
smaller emissions due to the small glycol circulation
rate.
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| Advantages
during operation of the Vortex Tube Separator |
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To
operate the Vortex Tube Separator without any inhibitors,
since hydrates will not form due to the very small residence
time within the device. This fact has been proven by
the manufacturer Twister
B.V. of the superb "Twister Supersonic
Separator".
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Detailed
description of the Vortx Tube Separator process on a special page.
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