A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator

In the offshore oil and gas environment, there is usually the challenge with regards to available space offshore platforms for equipment installation; hence, compact separators are more attractive due to their small footprint. Also, in subsea oil and gas production, compact separators are attractive because of their light weight and ease of installation. A good understanding of the flow regimes in the upper part of the separator is essential for a robust design and operation. The performance of gas-liquid compact separator in terms of liquid carryover (LCO) and pressure drop depends on the type of flow regime in the upper part of the separator. However, there is a lack of experimental data on flow regimes in the upper part gas-liquid cyclone separators. In this research, data on flow regimes in the upper part of a 1.5-inch horizontal-inlet gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator was acquired using electrical resistance Tomography (ERT), wire mesh sensor (WMS), pressure transducer and visual observation. Based on flow imagining, observations and statistical analysis, the flow regimes were classified as swirling-annular, light-mist, heavy-mist and churn flow. A flow regime map for the separator was proposed based on a modified liquid and gas-Froude number. The work would be a useful guide to process engineers during the preliminary design and sizing of separators with similar geometry configuration.