Optimization of vortex tube to remove condensates from flare gas

condensate recovery from gas-liquid two phase flow in vortex tubes is studied. the optimum geometry and operating conditions of vortex tube is first found using computational fluid dynamics. The parameters influencing the efficiency of separation were first selected as vortex tube diameter, length, cold outlet diameter and pressure, hot outlet diameter and pressure, diameter and angle of the cone valve, and inlet velocity. Using a design of experiments procedure at seven steps which totaled at 137 experiments the optimum parameters were identified.The vortex tube with this optimum geometry is then built and put under experimental tests to obtain a 91% separation efficiency.