Gas separation – Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
Patent
1990-06-21
1992-10-27
Chiesa, Richard L.
Gas separation
Means within gas stream for conducting concentrate to collector
554591, B01D 4516
Patent
active
051585790
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method for smoothing out varying occurrences of substances with different degrees of density in a fluid flow, and also a construction, which in the following paragraphs is called a slug catcher, for the purpose of carrying out this smoothing out process.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to smoothing out a fluid flow which comprises one or more fluids in at least two phases, and where occurrence of one phase can dominate during certain periods of time whilst while the occurrence of another phase can dominate during other periods of time. Fundamentally, concentrations of components are present in different densities in a fluid flow, and it is desirable that the fluid flow is distributed so that the density of the fluid flow becomes relatively uniform.
An example of an area where this technique can be very useful, is in underwater pipelines for the transport of oil and gas. Oil and gas can be present in different phases, but there can also be water, sand particles and other extraneous matter which simultaneously exists in the current flow. The invention is directed towards the objective of distributing components in the current flow so that the mean density does not vary too much and the current flow can pass through pumps, compressors, valves and other equipment without damaging the equipment.
Since the transport of oil and gas is considered to be the most important area for this invention, oil and gas will, in the following paragraphs, be used as an example of two different phases in a fluid flow. This manner of expression is chosen only for practical purposes and is not intended to limit the invention which covers the handling of all types of multiple phase fluids.
The present invention aims at finding a method and equipment for smoothing out the density of the fluid in a transport system for the multiple phase transport of fluids.
Great economic advantages are involved in switching to multiple phase transport of untreated oil and gas since one common transport arrangement is sufficient for the various phases of the oil products. Multiphase process units which can supply increased pressure height for oil and gas of varying mixture proportions already exist. But, there is much to be gained by having a multiphase flow where the distribution of the various phases is as uniform as possible. The efficiency and the reliability of such units are greatly decreased when large variations in the oil/gas relationship have to be accepted. Mechanical strains when long liquid slugs plunge into the system always represent a threat for pumps, motors, compressors and an optional frequency control.
By constructive means, for example diameter optimization, the most serious slug problems will be avoided. But in the case of operational disturbances such as pigging, shut-down or reduction in production, slug formation will occur. The slugs will normally grow until there is a state or equilibrium between friction loss and available differential pressure.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for even distribution of a fluid flow, where the above mentioned disadvantages are avoided. It must be particularly mentioned that slug catchers according to the present invention are small in size, and in many embodiments, without electronic or motor-driven auxiliary components, they can lead the slugs back to the fluid flow in a uniform state. All this is achieved by a method or an apparatus according to the invention as described in the following paragraphs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order to give a clearer understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed descriptions of examples of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a principle sketch for a so-called slug-catcher according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the principle for a vortex chamber utilized as a flow inducing device.
FIG. 3 shows a conical vortex chamber incorporating a conically s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3155431 (1964-11-01), Baldwin
patent: 4169714 (1979-10-01), Calvert
patent: 4344538 (1982-08-01), Fujisawa et al.
patent: 4519822 (1985-05-01), Hatano et al.
"Drosselstrecken une Wirbeldrossein an Regenbecken", No. 33/34, 1982, pp. 670-674.
Chiesa Richard L.
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S
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