Fluid handling – Processes – With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a...
Patent
1996-05-24
1998-01-27
Drodge, Joseph W.
Fluid handling
Processes
With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a...
137 88, 137110, 210 97, 210790, 166 53, F15D 100
Patent
active
057113386
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a regulating drum for multiphase fluids and associated draw-off means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The flow of fluids consisting of a mixture of gas, liquid and possibly solid matter entails considerable flow regulation problems. In fact, the behaviour of multiphase fluids is much more complex than that of single-phase flows. These flow regulation problems are all the more critical since the fluid has to be compressed in a rotating or reciprocating machine.
The prior art can be illustrated by French Patent 2,642,539 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,292). The means for drawing off the multiphase effluent described in the French Patent has sections of flow that are constant in time and that do not allow a good adjustment to the conditions of flow of the multiphase fluid. This will be explained hereafter in the detailed description in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a device allowing multiphase flows to be better controlled.
The principal concept of the invention lies in the fact that draw-off assembly have adjustable draw-off sections. Furthermore, the adjustable sections of flow are distributed at different heights, for example on a vertical or an inclined line, on either side of the gas-liquid separation zone or interface under normal working conditions. An interlace position variation thus leads to an automatic level regulation effect. According to the present invention, it is not necessary to stop the multiphase flow and to disassemble elements of the drum plus draw-off assembly in order to adjust the sections of flow of the draw-off assembly. The draw-off assembly according to am present invention can be called a variable geometry means.
Furthermore, the regulating drum functions as a surge drum on account of the residence time of the multiphase fluid within the capacity it represents.
Since the dimensions of the regulating system utilize only simplified fluid mechanics equations, it will be easy to determine the size and the transfer laws of this drum.
The present invention provides satisfactory running of a multiphase pumping device, although the physical conditions of the multiphase fluid to be pumped (notably the GLR, the pressure, etc.) vary within a wide range.
The GLR (Gas to Liquid Ratio) is a volumetric ratio that characterizes a multiphase flow. The GLR is equal to the ratio of the volume of gas to the volume of liquid.
The present invention is well suited to the field of petroleum exploration. In fact, certain producing wells produce a mixture of liquid (oil and/or water) and gas that has to be transferred onto a site where it is used or stored. It is traditionally transferred by separating the gas and the liquid, then by compressing the gas and by pumping the liquid separately. The use of a multiphase pump allows the gas and the liquid to be pumped together by means of a single operation. The multiphase pumps used for performing this type of transfer accept a limited GLR variation at their inlet. In order to adapt the running of these pumps to the characteristics of the fluid coming from producing wells, a regulating drum has to be interposed between the wells and the pump.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved regulating drum allowing a possibly permanent adjustment of the draw-off assembly to the variations in the conditions of flow of the well, notably to its composition variation.
The present invention relates to a drum comprising at least one the draw-off assembly for drawing off the fluid contained in the drum the draw-off assembly comprises a section of flow for taking the said fluid out, that extends over a substantial portion of the height of drum. The drum according to the according to the invention is characterized in that the draw-of assembly comprises means for modifying the section of flow.
The draw-off and flow section modification assembly can comprise at least two perforated surfaces that move with respect to one another so as to
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patent: 5375618 (1994-12-01), Giannesini
patent: 5377714 (1995-01-01), Giannesini et al.
patent: 5421357 (1995-06-01), Levallois
Drodge Joseph W.
Institut Francais du Pe'trole
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