Multi-Phase Flow Conditioning Apparatus for High Gas Volume Fraction Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-phase fluid homogenizers face challenges in handling high gas volume fraction flows due to blockage issues from solid particles, limiting their efficiency and operational range, especially in applications like Wet Gas, where the gas volume fraction exceeds 95%.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features an inner reservoir surrounded by an outer receptacle with a venturi outlet and gas apertures in the roof, allowing for automatic regulation of gas volume fraction and incorporating an internal partition to manage phase separation and flow, ensuring efficient mixing without compromising on liquid flow clearance to prevent blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the liquid flow area is reduced to handle high GVF flows, then the gas volume fraction handling capability is improved, but the apparatus becomes prone to blockage from solid particles
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet conduit is segmented into multiple separate outlets: a first outlet for liquid phase flow and a second outlet for gaseous phase flow. This segmentation allows each outlet to be optimized independently - the liquid outlet maintains sufficient size (at least 5mm clearance) to prevent solid blockages, while the gas outlet can be sized appropriately for high GVF applications. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for a single outlet to serve both functions with conflicting size requirements.
2Reliability
If large flow areas are used to prevent solid blockage, then reliability is improved, but the efficiency of homogenization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the outlet into separate liquid and gas outlets, the liquid outlet can maintain large flow area for reliable solid particle passage, while the gas outlet is optimized for efficient gas-liquid mixing. This segmentation allows each outlet to be sized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between large area for reliability and optimized area for productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the liquid outlet cross-sectional area is made small for high GVF applications, then the gas volume fraction handling is improved, but the liquid flow becomes more prone to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet conduit is divided into separate first and second outlets for liquid and gas phases respectively. This segmentation allows the liquid outlet to maintain sufficient cross-sectional area (at least 5mm clearance) to prevent solid particle blockages, while the gas outlet can be optimized for high GVF applications. The harmful effect of blockage susceptibility is eliminated by preventing solids from entering the gas outlet path.
4Reliability
If the apparatus is designed with large flow areas to accommodate solids, then blockage resistance is improved, but the maximum achievable Gas Liquid Ratio is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the outlet into separate liquid and gas outlets, the apparatus can accommodate solids in the liquid outlet path with adequate clearance, while the gas outlet is optimized for high GLR applications. This segmentation removes the constraint that previously limited GLR to 10-50, enabling the apparatus to handle GLR above 50 efficiently while maintaining blockage resistance through the properly sized liquid 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 enables efficient homogenization of high GVF flows, significantly increasing the maximum achievable Gas Liquid Ratio (GLR) by up to 100 times compared to prior art, effectively handling Wet Gas fluids without blockages, and allows for accurate sampling and measurement of fluid properties.
Implementation Method 1
A venturi restriction in the outlet conduit creates suction to draw the gaseous phase into the liquid phase flow at the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a multi-phase fluid is supplied to a reservoir in which it tends to separate into a body of predominantly gaseous phase fluid adjacent to a pool of predominantly liquid phase fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for homogenization of multi-phase fluid; the fluid including at least a first phase and a second phase a gaseous phase and a liquid phase; the apparatus including an inner reservoir fluidly communicative with an outer receptacle; the inner reservoir including an inlet for multiphase fluid, an outlet having a smaller cross sectional area than the body for outflow of the first phase and at least one opening into the outer receptacle for outflow of the second phase, the opening being spaced from the first phase outlet; wherein the outer receptacle has an inlet conduit having a neck which at least partially surrounds the inner reservoir outlet.