The hydrodynamics of multiphase flow in a Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (LLCC) compact separator have been studied experimentally and theoretically for evaluation of its performance as a free water knockout device. In the LLCC, no complete oil-water separation occurs. Rather, it performs as a free-water knockout, delivering a clean water stream in the underflow and an oil rich stream in the overflow. A total of 260 runs have been conducted, measuring the LLCC separation efficiency for water-dominated flow conditions. For all runs, an optimal split-ratio (underflow to inlet flow rate ratio) exists, where the flow rate in the water stream is maximum, with 100% watercut. The value of the optimal split-ratio depends upon the existing inlet flow pattern, and varies between 60% and 20%. For split-ratios higher than the optimal one, the watercut in the underflow stream decreases as the split-ratio increases. A novel mechanistic model has been developed for the prediction of the complex flow behavior and the separation efficiency in the LLCC. Comparisons between the experimental data and the LLCC model predictions show excellent agreement. The model is capable of predicting both the trend of the experimental data as well as the absolute measured values. The developed model can be utilized for the design and performance analysis of the LLCC.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
water, oil technology, petroleum industry, pipe flow, stratified flow, multiphase flow, flow separation, hydrodynamics
Topics:
Flow (Dynamics), Water, Separation (Technology), Drops
1.
Listewnik, J., 1984, “Some Factors Influencing the Performance of De-Oiling Hydrocyclones for Marine Applications,” Second International Conference on Hydrocyclones, England, September 19–21.
2.
Gay, J. C., Triponey, G., Bezard, C. and Schummer, P., 1987, “Rotary Cyclone Will Improve Oily Water Treatment and Reduce Space Requirement/Weight on Offshore Platforms,” SPE 16571.
3.
Bednarski, S. and Listewnik, J, 1988, “Hydrocyclones for Simultaneous Removal of Oil and Solid Particles from Ships’ Oily Waters,” Filtration and Separation, pp. 92–97.
4.
Seyda, B., 1991, “Separation of a Light Dispersion in a Cylindrical Vortex Chamber,” Report, Michigan State University.
5.
Afanador E., 1999, “Oil-Water Separation in Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separators,” M.S. Thesis, The University of Tulsa.
6.
Mathiravedu, R. S., 2001, “Design, Performance and Control Strategy Development of Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (LLCC) Separator,” M. S. Thesis, The University of Tulsa.
7.
Oropeza-Vazquez, C., 2001, “Multiphase Flow Separation in Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone and Gas-Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Compact Separators,” Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Tulsa.
8.
Contreras, W., 2002, “The Effect of Inlet Gas Void Fraction on the Performance of Liquid-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (LLCC©) Separator,” M. S. Thesis, The University of Tulsa.
9.
Trallero, J. L., 1995, “Oil-Water Flow Patterns in Horizontal Pipes,” Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Tulsa.
10.
Hinze
,
J. O.
,
1955
, “
Fundamentals of the Hydrodynamic Mechanism of Splitting in Dispersion Processes
,”
AIChE J.
,
1
(
3
), pp.
289
–
295
.
11.
Levich, V. G., 1962, “Physicochemical Hydrodynamics,” Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
12.
Erdal, F., 2001, “Local Measurements and Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations in a Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separator,” Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Tulsa.
13.
Chang
,
F.
, and
Dhir
,
V. K.
,
1995
, “
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer Enhancement and Slow Decay of Swirl in Tubes Using Tangential Injection
,”
Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow
,
16
(
2
), pp.
78
–
87
.
14.
Mantilla
,
I.
,
Shirazi
,
S. A.
, and
Shoham
,
O.
,
1999
, “
Flow Field Prediction and Bubble Trajectory Model in GLCC Separators,” Proceedings of the ASME Energy Resources Technology Conference and Exhibition, ETCE, Houston, TX, February 1-2 1999
,
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
121
, pp.
9
–
14
.
15.
Crowe, C. T., Sommerfeld, M. and Tsuji, Y., 1998, “Multiphase Flows with Droplets and Particles,” CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
16.
Karabelas
,
A. J.
,
1978
, “
Droplet Size Spectra Generated in Turbulent Pipe Flow of Dilute Liquid-Liquid Dispersions
,”
AIChE J.
,
24
(
2
), pp.
170
–
180
.
Copyright © 2004
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.