CFD simulation of single-phase and two-phase flow in gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separators
- Univ. of Tulsa, OK (United States)
The petroleum industry has shown interest in utilizing the Gas Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC) separator as an alternative to the vessel-type separator. Thus, it is important to develop predictive tools for design and to be able to improve the technology of the GLCC. Previous studies have resulted in mechanistic models capable of predicting the operational envelope for liquid carry-over. However, these models do not address details of the complex flow field in the GLCC and related phenomena such as gas carry-under. This paper presents computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of single-phase and- two-phase flow in several GLCC configurations. The CFD simulations are compared with experimental data including tangential velocity profiles and tangential velocity decay. Good agreement is observed between the data and the simulations. An axisymmetric flow model for the GLCC is also developed. The axisymmetric model, which is computationally efficient, gives good results as compared to the three-dimensional simulations. Preliminary two-phase flow simulations are also performed to predict the gas void fraction distribution in the GLCC.
- OSTI ID:
- 468263
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961003-; TRN: 96:006577-0068
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 71. annual technical conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Denver, CO (United States), 6-9 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 1996 SPE annual technical conference and exhibition: Production operations and engineering/general; PB: 892 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Design and Development of Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Compact Separators for Three-Phase Flow
Design and development of gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone compact separators for three-phase flow. First quarterly technical progress report, October 1, 1997--December 31, 1997