Inline Separator Movable Extraction Pipe Vortex Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inline separators for separating oil-seawater or gas-seawater mixed fluids face inefficiencies due to varying vortex diameters of low and high density fluids, leading to remixing of seawater with separated oil or gas, which affects production rates and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An inline separator with a movable extraction pipe that adjusts its position based on detected vortex diameters to match the extraction pipe's diameter, ensuring effective separation of oil or gas from seawater, utilizing a vortex-generating rotor, pressure compensation, and a pipe driving unit to optimize vortex formation and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed extraction pipe is used in conventional inline separators, then the structure is simple, but the separation efficiency decreases when vortex diameter varies
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction pipe is changed from a fixed structure to a movable structure that can dynamically adjust its position along the pipeline. The pipe driving unit moves the extraction pipe to different locations based on detected vortex diameter, allowing the system to adapt to varying separation conditions and maintain high separation efficiency without overly complicating the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If the extraction pipe position is fixed, then the device operation is simple, but remixing of seawater with separated oil or gas occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A vortex diameter detection unit continuously monitors the diameter of the vortex formed by the centrifugal separator. This detection information is fed back to the pipe driving unit, which automatically adjusts the extraction pipe position to match the detected vortex diameter. This closed-loop feedback system prevents remixing of separated fluids while eliminating the need for manual operation and observation.
3Productivity
If a movable extraction pipe with adjustment mechanism is added, then separation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves automatic self-adjustment through the combination of the vortex diameter detection unit and the pipe driving unit. The detection unit automatically identifies the optimal extraction position, and the pipe driving unit autonomously moves the extraction pipe to that position without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism improves extraction rate while keeping the added complexity minimal.
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 solution significantly enhances the separation efficiency and prevents remixing of seawater with separated oil or gas, improving the extraction rate and overall efficiency of oil or gas production by dynamically adjusting the extraction pipe's position to match the vortex diameters.
Implementation Method 1
separates it into oil or gas and seawater using centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
the vortex-generating rotor 14 swirls the well fluid or gas-dominant fluid introduced into the outer pipe 13, thereby forming a vortex of well fluid or gas-dominant fluid
Implementation Method 3
the low density fluid vortex 50 is extracted through the extraction pipe 18 and accelerated by the extraction pipe rotor 19 installed in the extraction pipe 18. Then, the low density fluid vortex 50 gains pressure
Implementation Method 4
an inlet 120 equipped with a diffuser 110
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an inline separator for separating well fluid or gas-dominant fluid using centrifugal force. The inline separator includes: an outer pipe provided with an inlet; a vortex-generating rotor installed in the outer pipe; a fixed extraction pipe having an external diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the outer pipe and installed in the outer pipe at a downstream side of the vortex-generating rotor; a movable extraction pipe connected to an end of the fixed extraction pipe, close to the vortex-generating rotor, and having an extendable and retractable structure such that a position of an introduction hole of the movable extraction pipe is changeable; a pressure compensation pipe that applies pressure to oil or gas separated in a downstream end of the fixed extraction pipe; and a seawater discharge pipe connected to a portion of the outer pipe at which the fixed extraction pipe is disposed.