In order to explore the influence of the inlet structure on the separation efficiency of a horizontal gas-liquid separator for natural gas and to optimize the design of the inlet structure to improve the separation efficiency and reduce the energy consumption. Through numerical simulation research, the four basic parameters of the inlet structure of the separator, namely the shape, height, inclination angle and distance from the inlet of the deflector, were compared, and the influence of different inlet structures on the flow field changes in the separator and their effect on the separation performance was analyzed. The results show that: the separation effect of concave deflector is better than other shapes. Higher height of the deflector can effectively slow down the inlet velocity, but when the height of the deflector is too high, the stability of the internal flow field of the separator is destroyed, which in turn reduces the separation efficiency. When the inclination angle of the deflector is 75°, it can effectively decelerate the inlet fluid, and create a stable cyclone to increase the retention time of the fluid in the separator chamber, thus improving the separation efficiency. It is recommended that the distance between the deflector and the inlet should be taken as large as possible without affecting the separation efficiency. Based on the simulation results of the aforementioned four parameters, a new type of horizontal air-liquid separator with an inlet structure was designed, and the separation efficiency was improved by 7% compared with the original structure. The research results can provide a scientific theoretical basis for the further improvement and practical engineering application of horizontal gas-liquid separators.
WEN Yong-lin, FENG Ding, XIONG Long-chi, SUN Qiao-lei, JU Ya-feng.
Optimization of Inlet Structure and Separation Efficiency of Horizontal Gas-liquid Separator[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(6): 2385-2392 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2500530
LüXiaofang, XuJiawen, LiuYingjie, et al. Growth kinetics and slurry viscosity characteristics of high pressure natural gas hydrate[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2022, 22(18): 7903-7912.
[3]
FanJ, ZhangX, JiangX, et al. Cyclone-coalescence separation technology for enhanced droplet removal in natural gas purification process[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2024, 75: 191-203..
FengDing, LiuTongliang, WangErjun, et al. Flow analysis of surface choke during well blowout in offshore gas well tests[J]. China Offshore Oil and Gas, 2021, 33(6): 158-165.
XuPeng, ZhangYu, PengKai, et al. Research progress on risk assessment of hydrate formation in deepwater drilling wellbore[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2022, 22(35): 15436-15448.
SunQiaolei, TianJie, LiuYewei, et al. Design and testing of an experimental platform for fluid flow and pipe deformation measurement in pipe-in-pipe structures[J]. Experimental Technology and Management, 2024, 41(6): 64-69.
SunQiaolei, LiuYuwei, ZhangChong, et al. Laws and key parame-ters of thermal radiation during deepwater blowout test under spray action[J]. Natural Gas Industry, 2024, 44(2): 111-121.
ZhongLin, ZhangWenchao, WangGuorong, et al. Recovery of gas hydrate particles with double jet extraction in solid fluidization exploitation[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2025, 25(5): 1878-1886.
TanYiling, YuanShaojun, YangJiaqi. Numerical analysis and sub structure optimization of separator in fields of natural gas containing oil-water gravel[J]. Natural Gas Chemical Industry, 2022, 47(3): 147-152.
GaoJifeng, WangLi, MaHongqiang, et al. Numerical simulation on the internal flow field of a new gas-liquid separator[J]. Journal of Northeast Dianli University, 2021, 41(1): 76-81.
WangMengyang, SunQiaolei, FengDing, et al. Design and analysis of gas-liquid separator for skid-mounted wellhead gas recovery system[J]. China Petroleum Machinery, 2023, 51(10): 113-119.
[22]
BaruaS, AminA M, MohammedA N, et al. A comparative study between turbulence model RSM results of a dual inlet cyclone sepa-rator and K-Epsilon RNG turbulence model[C]//International Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Energy and Advanced Materials. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2023: 385-389.
[23]
AhmedT, RussellP A, HamadF, et al. Experimental analysis and computational-fluid-dynamics modeling of pilot-scale three-phase separators[J]. SPE Production & Operations, 2019, 34(4): 805-819.
[24]
MaH, ZhangS, LiY. Numerical simulation on gas-liquid separation characteristics in a GLCC-horizontal combined separator[J]. Energy Science & Engineering, 2022, 10(10): 3962-3971.
[25]
MaH, ZhangS, AmeriM J, et al. A novel hybrid method to design horizontal gas-liquid separators[J]. Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas, 2023, 17(1).DOI:10.5419/bjpg2023-0001.
[26]
马越. 基于井口天然气回收系统的气液两相分离器设计与研究[D]. 荆州: 长江大学, 2024.
[27]
MaYue. Design and research of gas-liquid two-phaseseparator based on wellhead natural gas[D]. Jingzhou: Yangtze University, 2024.
[28]
李旭. 卧式含油污水处理装置开发与性能研究[D]. 青岛: 中国石油大学(华东), 2024.
[29]
LiXun. Development and performance study of horizontal oilywastewater treatment device[D]. Qingdao: China University of Petroleum (East China), 2024.
[30]
WangM, FengD, WangJ, et al. CFD investigation on the performance of cyclone separators with divergent or convergent insertion pipes[J]. Processes, 2023, 11(7): 2061.
DengZhian, JiaLin, SunJie, et al. Numerical simulation on the internal flow field of gravity separators with different inlet components[J]. Technology Supervision in Petroleum Industry, 2010, 26(3): 9-11.
WangXuePing, FuJunjie, ZhangYuhui, et al. Unsteady turbulence characteristics in impingement region of plane impingement baffle separator[J]. The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering, 2022, 22(9): 1253-1261.