US6524368B2 — Supersonic separator apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

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.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

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.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 59 words

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.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

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.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

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

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

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

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

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

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

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

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

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

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

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

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 185 words

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.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 185 words

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.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

The conduit of claim 10 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 at an angle in the range of about thirty degrees to about 50 degrees.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The conduit of claim 11 wherein said at least one surface has a span of about two-thirds the diameter of said conduit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The conduit of claim 11 wherein said at least one surface of said wing member is perpendicular to the wall of said conduit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The conduit of claim 11 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.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 155 words

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.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 155 words

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.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 107 words

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.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 107 words

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.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 16 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.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said at least one surface has a span of about one half to about three-quarters the diameter of said conduit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 16 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.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 157 words

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 yelocity reducing section of said conduit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 157 words

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 yelocity reducing section of said conduit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The conduit of claim 20 wherein the axial velocity reducing section comprises a diffuser.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

The conduit of claim 20 wherein the at least one outlet is located adjacent the downstream end of the axial velocity reducing section.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The conduit of claim 20 wherein said at least one outlet comprises a perforation in the wall of said conduit.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 205 words

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.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 205 words

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.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 202 words

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.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 202 words

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.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 188 words

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.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 188 words

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.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-02-24	2006-08-26	2007-02-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-02-24	2010-08-26	2011-02-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-02-24	2014-08-26	2015-02-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Supersonic separator apparatus and method

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