Three-Phase Separation Device with Baffle Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional separation devices for oilfield produced liquids suffer from high energy consumption, low efficiency, and high oil content in discharged water, requiring complex post-treatment processes, as they struggle to effectively separate oil, water, and solids from high-moisture content mixtures.
Innovation Solution
A separation device with longitudinal and transverse baffle plates that create flow channels and collection chambers, allowing for efficient separation of phases by density differences, with inclined lateral baffle plates and strategically placed guiding holes to shorten migration distances and prevent interphase interference, enhancing the separation of oil, water, and solids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional dewatering devices are used to separate oil and water from oilfield produced liquid, then moisture content in oil can be controlled, but energy consumption is high and separation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The separation device divides the flow channel into multiple sub-channels using lateral baffle plates, creating numerous small separation zones. This segmentation increases the total separation area and improves separation efficiency without requiring high energy input, as each sub-channel provides independent separation pathways for oil-water-solids mixture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical stratification by arranging lateral baffle plates at different heights, creating three-dimensional separation zones. This multi-dimensional approach allows simultaneous separation of different phases (oil, water, solids) at different vertical levels, enhancing separation efficiency without increasing energy consumption
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional dewatering devices are used, then oil can be separated from water, but oil content in discharged water remains high (>500 mg/L)
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the separation device are designed with specific functions: upper regions collect oil phase, middle regions handle water phase, and lower regions separate solids. The longitudinal baffle plates create distinct collection zones with optimized local characteristics for capturing specific phases, ensuring thorough separation and reducing oil content in discharged water
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral baffle plates act as intermediary structures between the flow channel and collection chambers. These plates with guiding holes facilitate controlled phase separation by allowing different phases to pass through at different rates, enhancing separation precision and reducing harmful oil content in effluent
3Productivity
If traditional dewatering devices are used, then phase separation can be performed, but the discharged water requires complex post-treatment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The separation device simultaneously performs multiple functions: oil separation, water clarification, and solids removal in a single integrated system. The longitudinal and lateral baffle plates work together to achieve comprehensive phase separation, producing discharged water with low oil content that requires minimal or no additional post-treatment, thereby simplifying the overall treatment process while maintaining high processing capacity
4Productivity
If wing-shaped plate components are used to improve separation, then some separation is achieved, but oil content in discharged water is still greater than 500 mg/L and only about 80% mud is separated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple longitudinal baffle plates that divide the flow channel into numerous sub-channels, creating extensive separation surfaces. This fine segmentation ensures thorough separation of all phases, achieving complete mud separation and reducing oil content in discharged water below 500 mg/L, overcoming the limitations of fewer large-scale separation surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses excessive separation surfaces by implementing multiple lateral baffle plates in each sub-channel, creating more separation zones than the minimum required. This excessive action ensures that even difficult-to-separate phases are fully separated, achieving separation completeness exceeding 95% and reducing oil content below 500 mg/L
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
Significantly improves separation efficiency by aggregating phases based on density, reducing the oil content in discharged water and simplifying post-treatment processes, while reducing energy consumption and increasing processing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the separation of oil, water and solids is realized through density differences
Implementation Method 2
After settlement and delamination, the crude oil produced liquid with an extremely high content of moisture enters the wing-shaped plate component
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herewith a separation device for performing phase separation on a three-phase liquid. The device includes: a housing; at least one pair of longitudinal baffle plates; a flow channel formed between every pair of longitudinal baffle plates; and collection chambers formed between adjacent pairs of longitudinal baffle plates. Each collection chamber is provided with a transverse baffle plate to separate the collection chamber into a first phase and a second phase collection cells. Each flow channel is provided with multiple lateral baffle plates to separate the flow channel into multiple sub-channels. In the areas of each longitudinal baffle plate where the first phase and second phase collection cells are located respectively, said longitudinal baffle plate is provided with a first and a second phase guiding holes in communication with the first phase and the second collection cells respectively.