Multiphase pumping system with recuperative cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea multiphase pumps face reduced service life due to gas slugs and high gas volume fractions, which exceed operating parameters, leading to instability and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A multiphase pumping system incorporating a recuperator and cooler to remove thermal energy from the production fluid, condensing gas and reducing the gas volume fraction, while the multiphase pump operates within specified limits, and adding thermal energy downstream to prevent deposit formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the multiphase pump operates with production fluids having high gas volume fraction, then the pump can handle more varied fluid compositions, but the service life of the pump is reduced due to exceeding operating parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the production fluid before it enters the multiphase pump. By removing thermal energy upstream, the fluid temperature is reduced, causing gas to condense into liquid form. This preliminary action ensures that the fluid entering the pump has a lower gas volume fraction, preventing damage while maintaining pump versatility for handling varied fluid compositions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the production fluid by introducing a cooler upstream of the pump. This parameter change (temperature reduction) directly affects the phase state of the fluid, condensing gas bubbles into liquid and thereby reducing the gas volume fraction to within safe operating limits for the pump
2Stability of the object's composition
If thermal energy is removed from the fluid upstream of the pump, then the gas volume fraction is reduced and pump operation is stabilized, but additional equipment (cooler) is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the cooling function with the existing subsea infrastructure by integrating the cooler into the subsea boosting station. Rather than adding a completely separate system, the cooling functionality is combined with the pump station's existing structure and control systems, reducing overall system complexity while achieving gas volume fraction stabilization
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler is configured to use the surrounding subsea environment (cold seawater) as a heat sink, allowing the system to cool the production fluid without requiring active refrigeration equipment. The ambient environment provides the cooling effect automatically, reducing the need for additional complex thermal management equipment
3Productivity
If the pump is designed to operate with low gas volume fraction, then pump performance is optimized, but it cannot handle production fluids with varying and higher GVF
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler performs a preliminary action by conditioning the fluid before it reaches the pump. By pre-cooling the production fluid and condensing gas bubbles upstream, the system ensures that the pump always receives fluid within its optimal operating parameters, maintaining high efficiency while enabling the system to handle a wider range of fluid compositions that would otherwise contain excessive gas
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler acts as an intermediary device between the production fluid source and the multiphase pump. It mediates the transition by modifying the fluid's thermal state and phase composition, transforming high-GVF production fluids into low-GVF pumpable fluid, thereby allowing the pump to maintain optimal performance across varying fluid compositions
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 increases pump efficiency and life-cycle, reduces system size, and integrates well with existing subsea systems by maintaining gas volume fractions within pump specifications and preventing deposit buildup.
Implementation Method 1
The recuperator is configured to remove thermal energy from a production fluid upstream of the multiphase pump
Implementation Method 2
a cooler configured to remove thermal energy from the production fluid upstream of the multiphase pump
Implementation Method 3
The recuperator is configured to add thermal energy to a production fluid downstream of the multiphase pump
Data Source
AI summary
A multiphase pumping system for transporting a fluid includes a multiphase pump configured to increase pressure within the fluid and a recuperator in fluid communication with the multiphase pump. The recuperator is configured to remove thermal energy from a fluid upstream of the multiphase pump and is further configured to add thermal energy to a fluid downstream of the multiphase pump. The multiphase pumping system further includes a cooler configured to remove thermal energy from the fluid upstream of the multiphase pump.