American Journal of Chemical Engineering

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An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in Gas-Liquid Compact Separator

Received: 06 August 2019    Accepted: 21 August 2019    Published: 03 September 2019
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Abstract

Compact separators have significant application for subsea separation and offshore application. However, their operating envelope is usually narrow due to physical phenomena such as liquid carryover and gas carry-under. Before the occurrence of liquid carryover, the separator operates in what is termed zero-net liquid flow (ZNLF). Though there is an efficient separation during ZNLF; there is also liquid holdup in the upper section of the separator, which is termed as ZNLF holdup. The ZNLF holdup in a cyclonic separator during an actual gas-liquid separation was studied experimentally. The ZNLF holdup was measured directly using electrical resistance tomography (ERT). The direct measurement approach is an improvement of the existing method, which depends on measuring the pressure drop across the stagnant liquid column. The results showed that increasing gas flow rate at a constant liquid flow rate increase zero-net liquid holdup in the upper part of the separator. An empirical correction was developed, and the correlation predicted the experimental results with a ±10% error margin. The correlation could be useful as part of the input into a pressure drop model for calculating pressure drop across the gas leg of the cylindrical cyclonic separator. This correlation will be useful to process engineers for optimum design and operation of a gas-liquid compact separator.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11
Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 7, Issue 3, May 2019)
Page(s) 81-89
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gas-liquid Separator, Zero-net Liquid Flow, Liquid Holdup, Liquid Carry-over, Oil and Gas Production

References
[1] S. M. M. Sarshar, “The Applications of a Novel Compact Separation System in UBD and MPD Operations,” IADC/SPE Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers, San Antonio, Texas, USA, p. 12, 2013.
[2] C. A. Capela Moraes and S. Shaiek, “Subsea Separation: The Way to Go for Increasing Water Production and NPV Optimization,” Offshore Technology Conference. Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, p. 19, 2019.
[3] H. Li, J. Chen, J. Wang, J. Gong, and B. Yu, “An improved design method for compact vertical separator combined with the theoretical method and numerical simulation,” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., vol. 173, pp. 758–769, 2019.
[4] H. Refsnes, M. Diaz, and M. Stanko, “Performance evaluation of a multi-branch gas–liquid pipe separator using computational fluid dynamics,” J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol., no. 0123456789, 2019.
[5] H. S. Skjefstad and M. Stanko, “Experimental performance evaluation and design optimization of a horizontal multi-pipe separator for subsea oil-water bulk separation,” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., vol. 176, pp. 203–219, 2019.
[6] T. Krebs et al., “Debottlenecking of FPSO Facilities by Compact Separators,” Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Abu Dhabi, UAE, p. 14, 2016.
[7] L. Kanshio, Sunday., Yeung, Hoi., Liyun, “The Experimental Study of Liquid Holdup in Gas-Liquid Pipe Cyclonic Separator using Electrical Resistance Tomography and Wire Mesh Sensor,” in 17th International Conference Multiphase Production Technology, 2015.
[8] G. E. Kouba, O. Shoham, and S. Shirazi, “Design and performance of gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separators,” in Proceedings of the BHR Group 7th International Meeting on Multiphase Flow., Cannes, France, 1995, pp. 307–327.
[9] S. S. Kolla, M. P. Karpurapu, R. S. Mohan, and O. Shoham, “Mechanistic Modeling of Dynamic Zero-Net Liquid Holdup (ZNLH) in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC©) Separator,” no. 52101. p. V007T09A016, 2018.
[10] I. Arpandi, A. R. Joshi, O. Shoham, S. Shirazi, and G. E. Kouba, “Hydrodynamics of Two-Phase Flow in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separators,” in SPE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition held in Dallas, U. S. A., 22-25 October 1995., 1996.
[11] E. Fransolet, M. Crine, G. L’Homme, D. Toye, and P. Marchot, “Analysis of electrical resistance tomography measurements obtained on a bubble column,” Meas. Sci. Technol., vol. 12, no. 8, pp. 1055–1060, 2001.
[12] R. W. Duncan and S. L. Scott, “Vertical zero net liquid flow: effects of high-pressure on holdup,” in BHR group conference publication, 1998, vol. 31, pp. 43–60.
[13] S. Movafaghian, J. a Jaua-marturet, R. S. Mohan, and O. Shoham, “The effects of geometry, fluid properties and pressure on the hydrodynamics of gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separators,” vol. 26, pp. 999–1018, 2000.
[14] R. Hreiz, R. Lainé, J. Wu, C. Lemaitre, C. Gentric, and D. Fünfschilling, “On the effect of the nozzle design on the performances of gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separators,” Int. J. Multiph. Flow, vol. 58, pp. 15–26, Jan. 2014.
[15] S. S. Kolla, “Liquid carry-over in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC©) compact separators for three-phase flow,” The University of Tulsa, 2007.
[16] M. Bothamley, “Gas/Liquid Separators: Quantifying Separation Performance,” Oil Gas Facil., no. February, 2013.
Author Information
  • Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria

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  • APA Style

    Sunday Kanshio. (2019). An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in Gas-Liquid Compact Separator. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 7(3), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11

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    Sunday Kanshio. An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in Gas-Liquid Compact Separator. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2019, 7(3), 81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11

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    AMA Style

    Sunday Kanshio. An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in Gas-Liquid Compact Separator. Am J Chem Eng. 2019;7(3):81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11,
      author = {Sunday Kanshio},
      title = {An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in  Gas-Liquid Compact Separator},
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {81-89},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.20190703.11},
      abstract = {Compact separators have significant application for subsea separation and offshore application. However, their operating envelope is usually narrow due to physical phenomena such as liquid carryover and gas carry-under. Before the occurrence of liquid carryover, the separator operates in what is termed zero-net liquid flow (ZNLF). Though there is an efficient separation during ZNLF; there is also liquid holdup in the upper section of the separator, which is termed as ZNLF holdup. The ZNLF holdup in a cyclonic separator during an actual gas-liquid separation was studied experimentally. The ZNLF holdup was measured directly using electrical resistance tomography (ERT). The direct measurement approach is an improvement of the existing method, which depends on measuring the pressure drop across the stagnant liquid column. The results showed that increasing gas flow rate at a constant liquid flow rate increase zero-net liquid holdup in the upper part of the separator. An empirical correction was developed, and the correlation predicted the experimental results with a ±10% error margin. The correlation could be useful as part of the input into a pressure drop model for calculating pressure drop across the gas leg of the cylindrical cyclonic separator. This correlation will be useful to process engineers for optimum design and operation of a gas-liquid compact separator.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    T1  - An Empirical Correlation for Zero-Net Liquid Flow in  Gas-Liquid Compact Separator
    AU  - Sunday Kanshio
    Y1  - 2019/09/03
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11
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    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20190703.11
    AB  - Compact separators have significant application for subsea separation and offshore application. However, their operating envelope is usually narrow due to physical phenomena such as liquid carryover and gas carry-under. Before the occurrence of liquid carryover, the separator operates in what is termed zero-net liquid flow (ZNLF). Though there is an efficient separation during ZNLF; there is also liquid holdup in the upper section of the separator, which is termed as ZNLF holdup. The ZNLF holdup in a cyclonic separator during an actual gas-liquid separation was studied experimentally. The ZNLF holdup was measured directly using electrical resistance tomography (ERT). The direct measurement approach is an improvement of the existing method, which depends on measuring the pressure drop across the stagnant liquid column. The results showed that increasing gas flow rate at a constant liquid flow rate increase zero-net liquid holdup in the upper part of the separator. An empirical correction was developed, and the correlation predicted the experimental results with a ±10% error margin. The correlation could be useful as part of the input into a pressure drop model for calculating pressure drop across the gas leg of the cylindrical cyclonic separator. This correlation will be useful to process engineers for optimum design and operation of a gas-liquid compact separator.
    VL  - 7
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