Simulation and experimental investigation on gas-liquid two-phase flow separation behaviors in multitube T-Junction separator

Abstract

A specially designed separator for gas-liquid two-phase flow separation and measurement is proposed. The flow characteristics and working scope are studied under different gas/liquid superficial velocities and different flow patterns through FLUENT numerical simulation and experimental research. The working scope of the separator is related to both the gas and liquid superficial velocity. The separator work well under the when the gas superficial velocity ranges from 0.65 to 21 m/s, and the liquid superficial velocity ranges from 0.01 to 0.31 m/s. When the actual working condition is beyond this range, the performance is not so outstanding in case of partial slug flow and annular. Under the working range of the separator, the measurement error of gas and liquid mass flow rates is less than ±2.5%. The special structure provides a buffer space for liquid slug, which shows good shock resistance capacity under high liquid superficial velocity. The investigation offers a valuable guidance for multiphase flow rates measurement.