CFD Modelling of Supersonic Wet Gas Separator

The petroleum industry has shown interest in utilizing
the compact separator technology in deep water application. A
new supersonic swirling wet gas separator was developed as an
alternative to the conventional vessel-type separator. This paper
presents Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and
simulations of natural gases across the separator nozzle in order
to determine the flow velocity and the type of flow regime
develop. A three-dimensional CFD model of the supersonic
separator was developed in order to obtain the flow velocity
across the nozzle where supersonic flow is expected to occur.
Fluid dynamic parameters are successfully simulated with
standard k- ε turbulent model combined with Redlich-Kwong
equation of state. Inlet pressure parameter was varied based on
the standard operating pressure of high pressure gas separator
in order to determine the maximum achievable flow velocity.
Result shows that the flow across the supersonic nozzle was
subsonic with maximum velocity of 0.42 Mach at 8 Mpa inlet
pressure. Several recommendations are proposed for future
design optimization.