Subsea Gas-Liquid Separator with Descending Branch Pipes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea gas-liquid separators face challenges with sand accumulation, particularly in horizontal separators, where upstream sand removal and jetting introduce complexities and potential failures, leading to less than desirable separation efficiency, especially in deepwater applications.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal gas-liquid separator design featuring a main pipe with descending branch pipes at non-rectangular angles, coupled to a flush conduit and liquid withdrawal conduit, allowing sand to settle and be removed at the bottom, eliminating the need for upstream sand removal devices and reducing system components, with a cross-flow conduit configured to prevent sand deposition and a flushing system for sand removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If upstream sand removal devices are used, then sand accumulation is prevented, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sand removal function from separate upstream devices and integrates it into the separator's internal structure through descending branch pipes that guide sand to collection points, eliminating the need for external sand removal equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The separator performs self-cleaning through its internal geometry where descending branch pipes naturally guide sand to collection points using gravity and flow patterns, allowing the system to maintain itself without external intervention or additional components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If jetting systems are used for sand removal, then sand accumulation is prevented, but reliability decreases due to potential points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the jetting system entirely and replaces it with a passive geometric structure that uses the fluid flow itself to transport sand, eliminating pumps, valves, and control systems that could fail
Solution Approach 2:
The separator uses its own fluid flow to automatically transport sand through the descending branch pipes to collection points, requiring no external energy input or moving parts, thereby maximizing reliability
3Productivity
If horizontal separators are used, then separation efficiency is reduced, but device complexity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is segmented into a horizontal main pipe with multiple descending branch pipes attached, creating localized vertical separation zones within an overall horizontal configuration to improve sand-liquid separation while maintaining the simplicity of horizontal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies vertical separation geometry locally at specific points along the horizontal pipe through descending branch pipes, allowing efficient sand-liquid separation in those localized zones while the overall system remains a simple horizontal separator
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 design effectively prevents sand deposition in critical areas, allowing for efficient gas-liquid separation while simplifying sand removal, reducing the number of system components, and enhancing separation efficiency in subsea environments.
Implementation Method 1
the branch pipes are fluidly coupled to each other such as to allow the liquid to segregate from the main pipe into a first branch pipe and to migrate from the first into at least a second branch pipes while the gas remains in the main pipe
Implementation Method 2
the sand removal can be achieved with a flushing system that is appreciably simpler than most known jetting systems
Implementation Method 3
allowing sand to settle at or near a location where the so isolated sand can be removed from the separator, typically together with the separated liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Contemplated gas-liquid separators and especially subsea gas-liquid separators have a main pipe with a plurality of descending branch pipes that are fluidly coupled to the main pipe and each other such as to allow disengagement of the gas into the main pipe while liquid and sand descend into the lower ends of the branch pipes. Sand accumulation in the lower ends of the branch pipes is preferably prevented by lateral serial flow of liquid and sand from one branch pipe to the next and use of a flush liquid that is drawn from one or more branch pipes.