Modeling of Hydrodynamic Processes Occurring inside Separation Equipment Used in Gas-Condensate Fields

Abstract

The main problems arising in gas-condensate fields are the presence of condensate, water formation, and mechanical impurities, which leads to a significant change in the range of technological parameters of the inlet separators. An urgent task is to study the processes taking place in separation equipment in order to recommend its operating mode or modernize the separator without replacing it. Thus, the purpose of the research presented in the article is to study the hydrodynamics of separation equipment in gas condensate fields. Due to the complexity of calculating the separation of gas–liquid flow in separators, as well as determining the efficiency of separation equipment in different technological modes, the study of hydrodynamic processes taking place in separation equipment is interesting from a scientific point of view and has great practical significance in the development and design of separators. This article presents research using CFD modeling aimed at studying the efficiency of separators. As a result of modeling, the distribution of the gas–liquid flow for the tangential inlet of the separator and the tray with direct-flow centrifugal elements is obtained, the modes are studied, and the influence of the gas flow rate on the operating efficiency of the equipment is analyzed. The influence of the size of the moisture droplets contained in the gas flow on the possibility of its entrainment with the flow leaving the separator is established. The larger the droplet size, the better they are separated in direct-flow elements. At high gas flow rates through the apparatus, a large amount of water can be carried away in daily equivalent, which negatively affects pipeline fittings or gas pumping units. As a result of the study, conclusions are drawn regarding the need for more strict maintenance of the technological regime of the process.