Swirl generating pipe element and process for gas-liquid separation using the same

Abstract

A swirl generating pipe element for providing a rotational movement to a fluid, comprising a reluctance motor and a pipe section (), wherein the reluctance motor comprises a stator element () and a rotor element (); the stator element comprises multiple stator poles (); the rotor element comprises a vane assembly having multiple rotor poles () and arranged to rotate around a rotor shaft () situated along the centerline of the pipe section (), and each rotor pole has a first end () rotatably connected to the rotor shaft () and a second end () arranged close enough to one of the multiple stator poles () for a magnetic polarization to be induced in the rotor pole; and the pipe section () comprises a wall, having an external and an internal circumferential surface, and an inlet and an outlet for a fluid; wherein the stator element () and the rotor element () is separated by the wall () of the pipe section (), and the multiple stator poles () are arranged at the external circumferential surface of the pipe section, and the second end () of the multiple rotor poles () are arranged adjacent to the internal circumferential surface of the pipe section, such that the vane assembly may provide a rotational movement to a fluid entering the inlet () of the pipe section ().