Wet Gas Flow Conditioning via Droplet Breakup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow conditioning systems for compressors in oil and gas production systems fail to effectively manage large liquid droplets in wet gas streams, leading to erosion and embrittlement of impellers, which degrade compressor performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A flow conditioning device with a nozzle system that creates differential velocities between liquid droplets and gas flow by varying cross-sectional areas, breaking down large droplets into smaller ones using convergent-divergent nozzle configurations to minimize impact on compressor surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large tank liquid-gas separator is positioned upstream of the compressor to separate liquid droplets from the natural gas stream, then the liquid separation is achieved, but the system complexity increases and maintenance issues are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful liquid droplets from the gas stream using a centrifugal separator that removes liquid components before they reach the compressor, eliminating the need for complex large tank separators while maintaining compressor reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a centrifugal separator that utilizes rotational fluid dynamics and centrifugal force to separate liquid droplets from the gas stream, providing an efficient separation mechanism without requiring complex mechanical structures
2Productivity
If liquid droplets with significant liquid volume fraction are provided to the compressor, then the natural gas can be compressed, but erosion and embrittlement of impellers occur leading to performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary separation of liquid droplets from the gas stream before compression using a centrifugal separator, preventing the liquid droplets from causing erosion and embrittlement of impeller blades during the compression process
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal separator acts as an intermediary device between the gas source and compressor, removing harmful liquid components before they can damage the compressor impellers while allowing continuous gas compression operation
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 solution significantly reduces erosion and embrittlement of compressor impellers, enhancing compressor performance, reliability, and extending their lifetime by minimizing the size of liquid droplets before they reach the compressor.
Implementation Method 1
creating differential velocities between a plurality of liquid droplets and a gas flow by varying cross-sectional areas
Implementation Method 2
breaking down large droplets into smaller ones using convergent-divergent nozzle configurations
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A flow conditioning device for conditioning a wet gas stream having a plurality of liquid droplets and a gas flow is presented. The flow conditioning device includes a first segment including a first convergent section configured to break the plurality of liquid droplets from a first size to a second size. Further, the flow conditioning device includes a second segment coupled to the first segment and including a second convergent section configured to break the plurality of liquid droplets from the second size to a third size.