PROCESS FOR THE DEPRESSURIZATION OF FLUIDS AND DEVICE SUITABLE FOR THE PURPOSE

A process and device to reduce the pressure of fluid containing liquid and possibly a gaseous phase or solid particles without reducing the cross sectional area or using moving parts. The pressure reduction is obtained by passing the fluid to be depressurized, in sequence, through a plurality of pairs of steps. In the first step of each pair, part of the pressure energy of the fluid is converted to gravitational potential; in the second step the gravitational potential is converted into thermal energy, so as to prevent the reconversion of the same into pressure energy.