Numerical study on the inlet head configuration of multi-phase separator for modularization

Abstract

In this numerical study, the separation efficiency of three-phase separator in an oil-sand plant was studied with various inlet head configurations. The free water knockout (FWKO) vessel was designed with a flow rate of 15.89m3/day (100 bbl/day) and the SOR(stream-to-oil ratio)=3.5 was derived using Stokes' law. For modularization, optimization of the design of the inlet head configuration was performed with parallel-connected dual FWKO vessels. The feed condition of bitumen emulsion was API=17, Tin=150°C and Pin=50 bar. A mean residence time was determined the time when 95% of the oil and water in FWKO vessel was separated. The combination between the volume of fluid (VOF) and the discrete phase model (DPM) was used to simulate the phase separation phenomenon in a multi-phase separator. Furthermore, in order to calculate multi-phase flow the pseudo-transient method was adopted. © 2017 The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers.