Annular Axial Mixing System for Severe-Slugging Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the energy industry, particularly in the petroleum sector, gas-liquid two-phase flow applications often experience severe-slugging and multiphase pump failures due to inadequate mixing of gas and liquid phases, leading to operational issues like cyclic flow behavior and pump breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
An annular axial mixing system utilizing a gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator that employs both centrifugal and gravity forces to separate phases, with a liquid control valve and differential pressure transducer to maintain a desired liquid level, and perforations in the static liquid chamber to break gas into small bubbles for efficient mixing, suitable for various multiphase flow patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas and liquid phases are not properly mixed in pipeline/riser systems, then severe-slugging occurs causing cyclic flow behavior, but implementing mixing systems increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The annular mixing chamber is nested within the separator body structure, with the static liquid chamber positioned concentrically inside the annular region. The gas inlet is nested within the annular mixing chamber, creating a compact nested configuration that achieves effective mixing without adding external complex equipment to the separator system.
2Reliability
If gas void fraction is high in multiphase pumps, then pump breakdown occurs due to heating and locking, but increasing mixing to prevent this increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing system performs preliminary action by thoroughly mixing gas and liquid phases upstream of the multiphase pump inlet. The annular mixing chamber with its perforated bottom structure creates fine gas-liquid dispersion before the fluid enters the pump, preventing high gas void fraction conditions that would cause pump heating and locking, thereby protecting the pump from breakdown before it occurs.
3Reliability
If conventional separators are used without dedicated mixing chambers, then structure is simpler, but they cannot effectively eliminate severe-slugging or protect multiphase pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The separator structure is designed with multi-functionality by integrating the annular mixing chamber and static liquid chamber directly into the separator body. This single structure simultaneously performs phase separation, gas-liquid mixing, and flow pattern control functions, eliminating the need for separate external mixing equipment while providing effective severe-slugging elimination and multiphase pump protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures continuous, non-cyclic multiphase flow in pipelines and prevents pump failures by thoroughly mixing gas and liquid phases, eliminating severe-slugging and ensuring proper pump operation.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator which utilizes both centrifugal forces and gravity forces to separate the gas and liquid phases
Implementation Method 2
a gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator which utilizes both centrifugal forces and gravity forces to separate the gas and liquid phases
Implementation Method 3
Gas in the annular mixing chamber bubbles up into the liquid phase in the static liquid chamber through a series of perforations located at the bottom of the horizontal tubular portion inside the annular mixing chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An annular axial mixing system for combined gas and liquid flow. The system includes a gas-liquid separator to separate a multiphase gas and liquid into a gas flow and a liquid flow. A lower leg in communication with the gas-liquid separator is configured to receive liquid flow. An upper leg in communication with the gas-liquid separator is configured to receive gas flow. An annular mixing chamber receives gas from the upper leg. A static liquid chamber, at least a portion of which is within the mixing chamber, is in communication with the lower leg and includes perforations therein to receive gas bubbles from the gas in the annular mixing section chamber in order to mix the flows.