Gas-Liquid Flow Splitting System Using Cylindrical Cyclone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multiphase flow splitting in tee junctions leads to uneven gas-oil ratios, causing operational difficulties in downstream facilities, and conventional manifolds face issues with slug dissipation and require multiple valves for equal distribution.
Innovation Solution
The Gas-Liquid Flow Splitting (GLFS) system employs a Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC) configuration using centrifugal and gravity forces to separate gas and liquid phases, with a tangential inlet to a cylindrical cyclone chamber and recombination locations to ensure equal splitting, and an improved flow mixing manifold to combine and blend fluid flows from various pipelines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tee junctions are used to split multiphase flow, then flow splitting is achieved, but the gas-oil ratio becomes uneven in the split streams
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multiphase flow into separate gas and liquid phases using a cyclone separator, then distributes each phase through dedicated outlets. This segmentation approach ensures uniform distribution of each phase independently, resolving the uneven gas-oil ratio problem that occurs when trying to split mixed multiphase flow directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone separator acts as an intermediary device between the incoming multiphase flow and the distribution outlets. It first separates the gas and liquid phases, then each phase is distributed through controlled outlets, ensuring equal splitting of both phases to downstream facilities.
2Productivity
If conventional manifolds are used to combine and divide production, then flow combination is achieved, but slug dissipation problems occur leading to liquid carry-over and gas carry-under
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator serves as an intermediary that stabilizes phase separation before distribution. By completely separating gas and liquid phases in the cyclone chamber, it prevents slug flow conditions that cause liquid carry-over and gas carry-under in conventional manifolds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters by separating phases at different pressures and velocities through the cyclone outlets. The gas outlet and liquid outlet provide controlled discharge conditions that prevent phase mixing and maintain stable separation, avoiding the slug dissipation problems of conventional manifolds.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional manifolds are used to ensure equal distribution, then flow distribution is achieved, but multiple valves are required increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator is a passive device that uses centrifugal force to separate phases automatically without requiring active control components. The equal distribution of gas and liquid phases is achieved through the geometry of the cyclone and its outlets, eliminating the need for multiple valves that would be required in a conventional manifold system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the valve components from the flow distribution system by using a cyclone separator that provides inherent equal distribution capability. The separation and distribution function is achieved through the cyclone's structural design rather than through multiple controllable valves, simplifying the overall system.
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 GLFS system achieves nearly equal splitting of gas and liquid phases, reducing liquid carry-over and gas carry-under, and allows for accurate measurement of component volumes, enhancing the efficiency of downstream processing facilities without the need for multiple valves.
Implementation Method 1
The GLFS system incorporates a Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC) based system, working on centrifugal and gravity forces to separate the gas and liquid phases
Implementation Method 2
The GLFS system incorporates a Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC) based system, working on centrifugal and gravity forces to separate the gas and liquid phases
Implementation Method 3
The cylindrical cyclone chamber has a lower liquid outlet and an upper gas outlet. A first gas flow line is in fluid communication with the upper gas outlet and a first liquid flow line is in fluid communication with the lower liquid outlet
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a gas-liquid flow separation system configured to separate a fluid stream containing both gas and liquid components into separate gas and liquid streams. The separation of the components permits the collection of data relating to the volume of each stream. In some embodiments, the separation system provides for the subsequent recombination of the streams in a homogeneous mixture for processing by downstream facilities. Also, the present disclosure provides a manifold system configured to receive fluid streams from a plurality of sources, combine the streams into a single blended stream containing both gas and liquid components. Subsequently, the system provides for separation of the gas from the liquid components and optional recombination of the same.