Gas liquid separator and associated systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10717024-B2
Application number	US-201715792464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a gas liquid separator that includes a chamber, a fluid mixture inlet, a solvent outlet and a gas outlet. The gas liquid separator can include a phase-change inducing mechanism disposed in or proximate to the fluid mixture inlet. Exemplary methods of improving separation of a fluid mixture in a gas liquid separator and CO2-based chromatography flow systems including a gas liquid separator are also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas liquid separator, comprising:
a chamber for receiving a fluid mixture inlet, the fluid mixture inlet providing an inlet for a fluid mixture into the chamber,
a liquid solvent outlet,
a gas outlet, and
an actively controlled pressure regulator disposed within the fluid mixture inlet, wherein the actively controlled pressure regulator further comprises a sensor and is configured to create a phase change of a substantial part of the fluid mixture within the fluid mixture inlet in response to feedback from the sensor.

2. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein creating the phase change of the substantial part of the fluid mixture within the fluid mixture inlet provides energy to the fluid mixture prior to introduction of the fluid mixture into the chamber to improve separation of the fluid mixture into the solvent and the gas.

3. The gas liquid separator of claim 2 , wherein providing energy to the fluid mixture increases kinetic energy or velocity of the fluid mixture to provide an increased impact force of the fluid mixture against an impinging separator element within the chamber.

4. The gas liquid separator of claim 2 , wherein providing energy to the fluid mixture increases kinetic energy or velocity of the fluid mixture to provide an increased centrifugal vortex of the fluid mixture within a cyclone separator element within the chamber.

5. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein the actively controlled pressure regulator maintains the fluid mixture in a liquid state prior to the phase change within the fluid mixture inlet.

6. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed upstream of the actively controlled pressure regulator.

7. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein the actively controlled pressure regulator is a one stage regulator or a two stage regulator.

8. The gas liquid separator of claim 7 , wherein the one stage regulator is set for a predetermined pressure of the fluid mixture at the fluid mixture inlet.

9. The gas liquid separator of claim 7 , wherein the two stage regulator comprises a first stage for regulating a pressure of the fluid mixture at or within the fluid mixture inlet and a second stage for regulating the phase change of the substantial part of the fluid mixture.

10. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein the phase change of the substantial part of the fluid mixture occurs at or within a nozzle of the fluid mixture inlet.

11. The gas liquid separator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture comprises CO 2 and the solvent.

Assignees

• Shreve Joshua A
• Waters Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Shreve Joshua A

Classifications

• B01D19/0021

  by bringing the liquid in a thin layer · CPC title

• B01D19/0042

  modifying the liquid flow (B01D19/0021 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N30/84

  Preparation of the fraction to be distributed · CPC title

• B01D19/0005

  with one or more auxiliary substances · CPC title

• B01D15/10

  characterised by constructional or operational features · CPC title