Experimental and numerical study on the performance of a new dual-inlet gas–liquid cylindrical cyclone (GLCC) based on flow pattern conditioning

Abstract

Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC) is a compact and efficient separation device used in oil and gas separation field. A new dual-inlet GLCC which can change the flow area ratio was designed and examined. The liquid separation efficiencies under five flow area ratios were experimentally measured. The liquid film velocity distribution was measured by MATLAB PIVlab. The finite volume method (FVM) was used to discretize the control equations. The liquid film thickness, gas–liquid flow distribution ratio and liquid flow streamline were obtained. The simulated liquid film velocities were seen to be consistent with experimental observations. Experimental and simulation results showed that by changing the flow area ratio of the upper and lower inlet pipes, the flow distribution in the upper and lower inlet pipes changed, liquid entering the upper GLCC cylinder reduced, the liquid film tangential velocity near the lower inlet increased and the change of liquid film axial velocity tended to be stable. The new type of GLCC expanded the safe operational separation envelop (envelop of the no LCO).