Cyclonic Separator Involute Inlet Phase Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cyclonic separators in the oil and gas industry face inefficiencies in separating immiscible gas and liquid phases due to entrainment of liquid phases in the gaseous phase, leading to contamination and reduced separation efficiency, which is often mitigated by reducing flow rates or increasing chamber volume, limiting capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an involute chamber adjacent to cyclonic chambers with a laterally separated involute inlet and gas outlet, allowing the process stream to swirl and separate phases effectively, with the involute inlet guiding the stream to reduce interference and enhance centrifugal separation, enabling higher flow rates without contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the process stream flows at high velocity to create greater centrifugal force for separation, then the separation efficiency of heavy phase from light phase is improved, but the momentum of the fluid becomes greater than the force of gravity acting on the heavier liquid phase, preventing it from flowing down to the liquid outlet and causing entrainment of liquid in the gaseous phase
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclonic separator is divided into multiple cyclonic chambers (typically 2-8 chambers) arranged in parallel, each handling a portion of the process stream. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high velocity flow for effective separation while distributing the total flow rate across multiple chambers, preventing any single chamber from experiencing excessive momentum that would cause liquid entrainment in the gas outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single large cyclonic chamber to multiple smaller chambers arranged in a parallel configuration. This dimensional change from one large separation zone to multiple smaller zones allows the system to maintain high centrifugal forces for effective separation while reducing the flow rate per chamber to prevent liquid entrainment in the gas outlet.
2Reliability
If the flow rate of the process stream is reduced to prevent liquid entrainment in the gaseous phase, then the separation quality is improved, but the volume of process stream that can be separated in a given timeframe is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclonic separator is divided into multiple cyclonic chambers (typically 2-8 chambers) arranged in parallel, each handling a portion of the process stream. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high velocity flow for effective separation while distributing the total flow rate across multiple chambers, preventing any single chamber from experiencing excessive momentum that would cause liquid entrainment in the gas outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple cyclonic chambers are merged into a single parallel arrangement that processes the total process stream simultaneously. Each chamber performs the separation function independently, and the combined output of all chambers provides both high separation quality and high overall capacity.
3Productivity
If the volume of cyclonic chamber is increased to meet capacity requirements, then the separation capacity is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclonic separator is divided into multiple cyclonic chambers (typically 2-8 chambers) arranged in parallel, each handling a portion of the process stream. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high velocity flow for effective separation while distributing the total flow rate across multiple chambers, preventing any single chamber from experiencing excessive momentum that would cause liquid entrainment in the gas outlet.
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
This design improves the separation efficiency and capacity of cyclonic separators by reducing interference between liquid and gas phases, allowing for increased process stream volume without reducing flow rates, thus enhancing the separation of heavy and light phases.
Implementation Method 1
As a result of the velocity and the tangential angle at which the liquid/gas process stream enters the cyclonic chamber, centrifugal forces act on the process stream and cause it to spin around the curvature of the cyclonic chamber.
Implementation Method 2
A difference in the mass and densities of phases of the process stream cause the heavier phases (such as the one or more liquids of the liquid phase) to coalesce on the inner wall of the cyclonic chamber and travel in a downwards direction through the cyclonic chamber due to the force of gravity
Implementation Method 3
the lighter, or gaseous, phase(s) of the gas phase tend to remain closer to the centre of the cyclonic chamber forming a central upward moving column of lighter phase that exit through an aperture positioned in the upper covering of the cyclonic chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A cyclonic separator is provided, comprising at least one cyclonic chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube, having an upper inlet end and a lower liquid outlet end, at least one involute chamber located adjacent to and in fluid communication with the upper end of each of the at least one cyclonic chambers. The involute chamber comprises an involute inlet and a gas outlet proximal an upper end of the involute chamber. An inlet manifold is in fluid communication with said at least one involute chamber via the involute inlet. Said involute inlet of said involute chamber is laterally separated from said gas outlet. A method is further provided for separation of a mixed heavy phase/light phase process stream.