Oilfield Liquid-Gas Separation Systems - Review of Conventional and New Technologies

Liquid-gas separators are applicable in many applications and in some cases, use of them are obligatory. For instance, the use of separators in two-phase flows in the suction line of pumps and compressors is necesary. Separators are also used to enhance the required fluid condition, to boost the measurement accuracy and to split the two phases. With regard to the wide spread need of liquid-gas separators and different process requirements, like droplet diameter, desired pressure drop, efficiency, available space and applicability, different models have been designed based on their operating conditions and each one is suggested for a specific situation. Evidently, for proper and optimum use of these separators, a precise investigation of different models of separators is required. As a result, in this study the structure and separating mechanism of conventional technologies in industry have been investigated. Together with a move to the recently suggested technologies which were designed with regard to the better fit the different process conditions have been introduced. Consequently, by taking these parameters into account, an approach to the selection of appropriate separator is suggested for each specific application.

Keywords:

Liquid-gas separator , two-phase flow , New separation technologies , droplet size , separating efficiency