Identification of Suitable Operational Conditions and Dimensions for Supersonic Water Separation in Exhaust Gases from Offshore Turbines: A Case Study

In offshore environments, where space, weight, and energy efficiency are critical constraints, the effective removal of water from turbine exhaust gases is essential to enhance gas treatment processes. In this context, replacing conventional methods, such as molecular sieves, with supersonic separators (SSRs) emerges as a promising alternative. This study aims to determine the most suitable operating conditions and design parameters for water removal via supersonic separation (SS) in turbine exhaust gases (TxGs) on offshore platforms. Simulations were performed in Aspen HYSYS using a unit operation extension, based on typical TxGs compositions from offshore platforms. Key parameters, including operating conditions, separator dimensions, and shock Mach number, were evaluated to maximize efficiency while minimizing equipment footprint. The results indicated a water capture efficiency of 99.45%, demonstrating that SS technology is not only compact but also a viable and efficient alternative for water removal from exhaust gases, particularly in space-constrained environments.