Modeling of the operation of a gas-liquid separator
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33216/1998-7927-2025-288-2-24-31Keywords:
gas-liquid separator, mixture separation, gas-liquid flow, droplet liquid, gas purification, simulation modeling, mass concentrationAbstract
The article presents a comprehensive study of the structures and principles of operation of gas-liquid separators, which are widely used in industry to clean gas flows from liquid droplets and solid impurities. The relevance of the work is due to the need to increase the efficiency of phase separation, minimize energy losses, reduce the size and operating costs of equipment. The authors reviewed modern separation technologies, analyzed the design features of gas-liquid separators and methods for optimizing their operation. The main attention is focused on the use of CFD programs for simulation modeling of processes in a gas-liquid separator. A three-dimensional model of the separator was selected and built for the study, in which the distributions of pressure, temperature and mass concentration of components in the gas flow were determined. During the modeling, various operating conditions were taken into account, such as changes in temperature, pressure and volumetric flow rate. The multicomponent nature of the gas flow was also taken into account. The volumetric concentration of the gas mixture components: methane – 93%, hydrogen – 0.1%, ethane – 2.5%, propane – 0.31%, butane – 0.11%, methanol – 0.08%. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the separator’s structural elements on the efficiency of phase separation. It was established that with a decrease in the temperature of the gas-liquid stream, the efficiency of the separator decreases. A graphical dependence of the mass concentration of water in the output gas stream on the flow rate and temperature of the gas-liquid mixture was constructed. The influence of heating the separator body on its efficiency was studied. The use of heating the separator body allows to significantly reduce the mass concentration of droplet liquid in the output gas stream. The results obtained can be used to modernize existing gas-liquid separators, as well as in the development of new highly efficient designs. The practical significance of the work lies in reducing energy costs and increasing the reliability of equipment in various industries, such as oil and gas, chemical and energy. In order to ensure optimal costs for separating water from the gas stream, it is planned to perform an optimization parametric study in the future.
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