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Numerical simulation and structural optimization of the inclined oil/water separator
Liqiong Chen1, Shijuan Wu1, Hongfang Lu1
1School of Petroleum Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Plos One
|April 16, 2015
Summary
Optimizing an inclined oil/water separator using numerical simulations and experiments significantly improved separation efficiency. Key structural parameters like dispenser position and hole design were identified for enhanced performance.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Chemical Engineering
- Separation Technology
Background:
- Inclined oil/water separators are crucial for efficient fluid separation.
- Understanding internal flow dynamics is key to optimizing separator performance.
- Existing designs may have limitations in achieving maximum separation efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively understand the internal flow field of an inclined oil/water separator.
- To optimize the structural parameters of the separator for improved oil/water separation efficiency.
- To validate numerical simulation results with field experiments.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulation using Euler multiphase flow and realizable k-ε turbulence model in Fluent software.
- Orthogonal array experiments to determine optimal ranges for structural parameters.
- Field experiments to validate simulation findings and assess optimized performance.
Main Results:
- Horizontal dispenser position, hole number, and diameter significantly impact oil/water separation efficiency.
- Longitudinal dispenser position and weir plate position showed insignificant effects.
- Optimized parameters achieved up to 95% oil/water separation efficiency, a 4.996% increase.
Conclusions:
- Numerical simulation and orthogonal experiments are effective tools for optimizing inclined oil/water separators.
- Specific structural parameters are critical for maximizing separation efficiency.
- The optimized separator design demonstrates significantly enhanced performance.
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