Research on the optimization design of supersonic swirling separator

Supersonic swirling separator had a good ability in separating gas-liquid. In this paper, the Laval-nozzle and straight-tube of the non-central cone supersonic swirling separator were optimized designing. The separation performance of the optimized supersonic swirling separator was researched by CFX. The results show that, with the relative pressure ratio decreasing, the shock waves which occurred in the diffuser moved towards the extraction device, the maximum Mach number decreasing. When the relative pressure ratio down to 1.4, the outlet total pressure recovered to 73% of the inlet total pressure, the flow in the divergent section of Laval-nozzle and the straight-tube was supersonic, the lowest temperature can be down to -84.5°C and the maximum centrifugal acceleration was 261,800g, which provided a swirling and cold environment for the separation of gas-liquid; With the straight-tube's length-diameter ratio increased, a normal shock wave occurred in the straight-tube. Further increased the length-diameter ratio, the normal shock wave moved towards the throat and the strength of the shock wave was increasing, which was a disadvantage to the separation of the gas-liquid.