Horizontal Liquid Gas Separator With Adjustable Pipe Inclination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas/liquid separation devices for deep-sea oil production are cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to install due to the need for thick, heavy components to withstand high pressures, making them impractical for use at great depths.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal liquid/gas separator system with inclined pipes and adjustable inclinations, featuring a cylindrical diffuser reservoir and collectors, along with a system of jacks for precise adjustment, allows for efficient separation of crude oil phases at deep-sea pressures without the need for thick, heavy components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional large volume tanks are used for gas/liquid separation at deep sea, then separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to requirement of thick walls to resist high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into multiple functional sections: a conical section for initial separation, a cylindrical section for continued separation, and a coalescer section with horizontal pipes for final phase separation. This segmentation allows each section to perform a specific separation function, achieving high separation efficiency while using thinner walls compared to a single large pressure-resistant tank
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional vertical separation to horizontal separation by arranging pipes and phases in a horizontal configuration. The conical section directs liquid downward while gas rises horizontally through the cylindrical section, utilizing horizontal dimension for phase separation and reducing the need for thick pressure-resistant walls
2Strength
If thick-walled tanks are used to withstand deep sea pressure, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into multiple functional sections: a conical section for initial separation, a cylindrical section for continued separation, and a coalescer section with horizontal pipes for final phase separation. This segmentation allows each section to perform a specific separation function, achieving high separation efficiency while using thinner walls compared to a single large pressure-resistant tank
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by operating at high pressure (deep sea conditions) without requiring thick walls. The high pressure itself becomes part of the separation mechanism, allowing the use of thinner-walled structures that would normally be insufficient for pressure containment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
3Reliability
If horizontal pipes with slight inclination are used for phase separation, then separation efficiency is improved by optimizing flow, but device complexity increases due to adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal pipes are designed with adjustable inclination angles that can be dynamically optimized based on the specific crude oil properties being processed. This dynamic adjustability allows the separation efficiency to be optimized for different oil viscosities and compositions, while the adjustment mechanism itself remains relatively simple, involving only mechanical positioning of the pipes
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 enables efficient separation of oil, gas, and water phases at deep-sea pressures with reduced material thickness and cost, facilitating easier installation and operation by optimizing pipe inclinations based on crude oil viscosity and composition.
Implementation Method 1
said first separation pipes being inclined at an angle α of 1 to 5° relative to the horizontal with a slight downward slope from said first tank towards a first substantially horizontal cylindrical collector
Implementation Method 2
at least one, preferably a plurality of first separation ducts extending from a first elongated cylindrical diffuser reservoir of circular cross-section disposed horizontally to which they are connected upstream
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2B~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the liquid/gas separation of two phases, liquid and gas respectively, of a fluid, in particular crude oil. The device includes a grid of first and second horizontal separation pipes (20, 30) which are connected by third vertical linking pipes (40a). The first separation pipes are supplied from, and connected upstream to a horizontal cylindrical diffuser (2) and downstream to a first horizontal cylindrical collector (20a). The second separation pipes are connected upstream to the same diffuser (2) and downstream to a second horizontal cylindrical collector (30a).