ENSURING WORK SAFETY DURING PREPARATION OF RAW GAS USING LOW TEMPERATURE SEPARATION UNIT

Abstract

A host of complex gas, which is composed of an apparatus for implementing the process of low-temperature separation, is characterized by high pressures. So, gas coming from gas fields may reach values of pressure 12 MPa, which in the event of an accident, creates a risk of harm to the staff servicing this node. Thus, the necessary calculation of wall thickness of pipelines and gas equipment. Besides, the condensation of the heavy components of the gas stream is accompanied by a significant release of cold, which can cause adverse effects on personnel working with this equipment. Supersonic separation involves the expansion of pre-cleaned from mechanical impurities downhole products in a supersonic nozzle profile, which is accompanied by temperature decrease. When passing the critical section of the nozzle the gas flow reaches the speed of sound and later in the diffuser is cooled to the desired temperature. From the point of view of ensuring safety of the working personnel, the implementation method of low-temperature separation allows to avoid unwanted negative effects. This is because this technology does not involve the participation of employees, during the implementation of technological operations, as required, for example, the expander technology. The paper discusses promising from the point of view of modernization of existing installations of complex preparation of gas of low-temperature separation of a supersonic technology based on the use of isentropic expansion, followed by isentropic compression of the gas stream instead of the classic isoenthalpic cooling. For analysis of the nozzle was realized a mathematical model of the supersonic nozzle. Numerical simulation plays an important role in accelerating the development of the method necessary to optimize and improve the separation efficiency and reduce the cost of this method. To ensure trouble-free operation of the technology in question was used to calculate the thickness of the wall based on the loads acting on the profile, caused by the pressure of the medium inside the nozzle, and stresses in the metal from temperature changes.