Numerical Simulation of the Separation Flow Field in a Gravitational Oil-water Separator

Abstract

The RNG k-ε model and Euler model are used to simulate the internal flow field of the corrugated plate separator. By comparing the pressure drop and the interfacial distribution of oil and water at different opening ratios, we obtain the coalescence characteristics of corrugated plates. The results show that the corrugated plate pressure drop decrease with the increase of the opening ratio. The higher the opening ratio is, the slower change of pressure drop along the flow channel is. The interfacial area of oil and water decreases first and then slowly increases with the increase of opening ratio, and reaches the maximum after the corrugated plate with opening ratio of 0%, and gets the minimum after the corrugated plate with opening ratio of 10%, which means the best opening ratio is about 10%. The hole in the corrugated plate can eliminate the barrier of the corrugated plate to the oil phase and promote the floating rise of the oil phase which means the corrugated plate with holes has good separation effect.