CFD Simulation of the Parameters Affecting the Performance of Downhole De-oiling Hydrocyclone

Among the all parameters affecting the performance of a downhole de-oiling hydrocyclone, theinvestigation of internal flow field deserves more attempts especially in the petroleum industry. In thisstudy, the effects of inlet flow rate, inlet oil volume fraction, and oil droplet diameter on theseparation efficiency and pressure drop ratio have been investigated along the hydrocyclone body. Allthe simulations were performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques, in which theEulerian multiphase model and the Reynolds stress turbulent model were employed for the predictionof multiphase and turbulent flow parameters through the hydrocyclone. The velocity componentprofiles, separation efficiency, pressure drop, and volume fraction are also other parameters whichhave been considered in this work. The results of the simulations illustrate good agreement with thereported experimental data. Furthermore, the simulations indicate that the separation efficiency almostincreases twofold, when the droplet diameter increases from 25 to 50 micron. The effect of inlet flowrate on the separation efficiency is so significant that an increase in inlet flow rate from 5 to 25 l/mincauses a sharp increase in the separation efficiency and raises it 2.5 times the initial value. However,the inlet oil volume fraction showed a minor effect on the hydrodynamic flow behavior in thehydrocyclone body compared to the other investigated parameters.

Keywords:

Separation Efficiency , Computational Fluid Dynamics , Pressure Drop