The separator is only using a part of the field pressure as energy and has technical and commercial advantages when compared to commonly used conventional technologies.
A supersonic gas separator consists of several consecutive sections in tubular form, usually designed as flanged pieces of pipe.
This is a near isentropic process and the corresponding temperature reduction leads to condensation of target components of the mixed feed gas, which form a fine mist.
[3] The supersonic gas separator recovers part of the pressure drop needed for cooling and as such has a higher efficiency than a JT valve in all conditions of operation.
The technology has been researched and proven in laboratory installations since about 1998, special HYSYS modules have been developed as well as 3D gas computer modeling.
The supersonic gas separation technology has meanwhile moved successfully into industrial applications (e.g. in Nigeria, Malaysia and Russia) for dehydration as well as for LPG extraction.