Vortex Technology of Gases Stratification for Solving Ecological Issues of Oil, Gas and Chemical Industries

Abstract

One of the important tasks of the Russian economy and ecology is development and realization of energy-saving technologies, allowing the most efficient use of both primary and secondary energy resources. In oil, gas and chemical industries, there are processes, in which the potential energy of pressure of hydrocarbon or waste gases is either lost, either recycled with minimum efficiency. The energy lost should be used for low-temperature purification of waste and prepared gases, thus reducing environmental pollution. One way to solve this problem is to develop a vortex technology based on the Rank-Hilsch effect. By efficiency this method of purification exceeds standard throttling systems. This review presents an analysis of both theoretical and technological aspects of research of the vortex effect. different constructions of vortex tube are considered along with the one of the important conditions of its operation and realization in the industry - regulation of the incoming flow. It is shown that the realization of the regenerative scheme with vortex tubes will improve ecological and economic indicators of the core technology. A critical review of existing theories of the Ranque-Hilsch effect is provided. The article reviews the prospects of development of shock-wave mechanism that allows to explain the excessive cooling capacity of triple-flow vortex tubes used for associated petroleum gas treatment.