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Keywords

T-junction, liquid-gas separation, separation efficiency

Document Type

Research Article

Abstract

T-junction is commonly used in distributing two-phase flow in a piping system, especially in oil and gas industries. In offshore Malaysia, T-junction is installed at the production header as a compact separator to tap produced gas from reservoir as fuel gas for power generation. However, the splitting nature of two-phase flow with significant differential density at the junction is a major challenge. Excessive liquid carryover in T-junction present a serious operational issue because it trips the whole production platform. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the liquid carryover due to formation of slug, subsequently its separation efficiency at different diameter ratio. The analysis was carried out on a model with 0.0254 m (1 inch) diameter horizontal main arm and a vertically upward side arm using Volume of Fluid Method from Fluent 16.1. Three different side to main arm diameter ratio of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.3 were investigated with different gas and liquid superficial velocities. The inlet boundary is a prescribed mass flow rate and atmospheric pressure is assumed at the two outlets of the T-junction. Pressure velocity coupling was achieved by using the SIMPLE coupling scheme. The results showed that, when the flow regime in the main arm is slug flow, a combination of high liquid superficial velocity and very small diameter ratio leads to higher liquid holdup frequency or liquid carryover.

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Publication Date

31-7-2017

First Page

44

Last Page

65

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