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Engineering 000–000
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Advanced in Control Engineering and Information Science

The Analysis of Internal Flow Field in Oil-Gas Separator

Wang Zhongyia,*, Yuan Changlong a, Han Jia a, Yu Yunlianga
a
Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Str, Harbin 150001, China

Abstract

Movement of the fluid in oil-gas separator has been studied by the method of numerical simulation. It uses the RSM
turbulence model and finite volume method for model solution. And QUICK difference scheme and the pressure
interpolation format of PRESTO are used. Iterative solution of velocity field utilizes the SIMPLE algorithm.
Through analysis of internal velocity field, pressure field and flow line in the oil-gas separator, it reveals the flow
mechanism of separators, providing theoretical basis for optimization and design of new separators in the future.

© 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of [CEIS 2011]
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Keywords: oil-gas separator; numerical simulation; single-phase flow

1. Introduction

Oil-gas separator is a kind of device that separates liquid oil from gas by centrifugal force in the
rotating motion of two-phase flow. The separator’s working process contains complicated three-
dimensional strong swirling flow and two-phase separation movement, making the flowing law very
complex. So it is very difficult to predict the internal flow status through experiments and analytical
methods. In recent years, the rapid development of numerical calculation technique [1] promotes the study
on properties of oil-air separator. People have used computers to conduct numerical simulation of the
separator’s flow field [2-3]. Oil-gas separator’s internal fluidic field is a strong complex three-dimensional
swirling one, together with backflow phenomenon, resulting characteristics of strong heterogeneity and
anisotropy in the internal turbulence. So it’s difficult to simulate oil-gas separator’s internal flow field.
This article’s main aim, the single-phase flow field, is numerically simulated and internal gaseous phase
flow field in oil-gas separator analyzed.

* Wang Zhongyi. Tel.: +045-18-251-9347; fax: +045-18-256-9347.

E-mail address: b205030024@126.com.

1877-7058 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2011.08.814
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2. Oil-gas Separator Geometric Model  

Fig.1. oil-gas separator model

As illustrated in Fig.1, the oil-gas separator is consisted of two parts: centrifugal separation stage and
filtering separation stage. In this article, the oil-gas separator’s internal flow field is numerically
simulated and analyzed, and its impeller has four blades. Meanwhile it is considered that the flow field’s
performance have influence on filtration and separation.

3. Governing Equations and Boundary Conditions

3.1. Governing equations 

It is generally acknowledged that however complex the turbulence motion is, unsteady continuity
equations are still suitable towards turbulenceY
instantaneous motion [4]. In incompressible flow, it uses
Cartesian coordinates, component of velocity u on the x , y and z direction is u , v and w .
Continuity equation： divu = 0 (1)
Momentum equation：
∂u v 1 ∂p
+ div(uu) = − + μ div (gradu)
∂t ρ ∂x
∂v v 1 ∂p
+ div(vu) = − + μ div ( gradv)
∂t ρ ∂y (2)
∂w v 1 ∂p
+ div(wu) = − + μ div (gradw)
∂t ρ ∂z
The Reynolds Stress model keeps the turbulence characteristics of the anisotropy [5]. The control
equations are as follows:
∂ ( ρ k ) ∂ ( ρ kui ) ∂ ⎡⎛ μt ⎞ ∂k ⎤ 1 (3)
+ = ⎢⎜ μ + ⎟ ⎥ + ( P + Gii ) − ρε
∂t ∂xi ∂x j ⎣⎢⎝ σ k ⎠ ∂x j ⎦⎥ 2 ii
∂ ( ρε ) ∂ ( ρε ui ) ∂ ⎡⎛ μt ⎞ ∂ε ⎤ 1 ε2 (4)
+ = ⎢⎜ μ + ⎟ ⎥ + C1ε ( Pii + C3ε Gii ) − C2ε ρ
∂t ∂xi ∂x j ⎢⎣⎝ σ ε ⎠ ∂x j ⎥⎦ 2 k
In the formula, Pii is the generate term of the shearing strength, and Gii is the generate term of the
flotage. μ = ρ C k , and the constants of the model is selected as follows: C1ε =1.44, C2ε =1.92,
2

t μ
ε
Cμ =0.09, σ k =0.82, σ ε =1.0.
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3.2. Boundary conditions

For convenience of solving problem, some hypothesizes are made before calculation of single phase
flow field. The hypothesises are as follows:
• Single phase fluid is incompressible air, namely ρ is constant, the flow is three-dimensional
• Neglecting the thermal effect caused by the friction between fluid and wall surface
• The inlet gas is in turbulence state
• It is supposed that flow field keeps constant temperature and without considering energy transfer
In the numerical calculation, gas phase selects air under normal temperature. One-phase calculation’s
boundary conditions as follows:
Inlet: pressure boundary, an atmospheric pressure;
Outlet: pressure boundary, an atmospheric pressure;
Wall: solid wall, wall surfaces are adiabatic, velocity satisfies no-slip conditions on the wall surfaces;
Blade: rotating by different speed.

4. Single Phase Flow Field Numerical Simulation Results and Analysis

4.1. Velocity field analysis

Through simulating internal flow field in oil-gas separator, flow distribution is obtained. Then in
allusion to concern parameters to analyze flow field, in order to promulgate the mechanism of oil-air
separator and provide reference for performance improvement and optimization.
• Tangential velocity
In separator’s velocity field, tangential velocity plays a dominant role. Because of the centrifugal force,
oil drop rotates at a high speed and is thrown onto exine. Tangential velocity has direct influences
separation efficiency. The more powerful centrifugal force field is and the larger tangential velocity will
be, so is the separation efficiency. Meanwhile tangential velocity reflects the loss of rotation energy.

Fig.2. (a) longitudinal section tangential velocity distribution (m/s); (b) X=63mm tangential velocity distribution (m/s)

In the picture of longitudinal section tangential velocity profile Fig.2.a, it can be seen: because of
impeller’s rotation, tangential velocity is becoming larger in the swirl flow area. General trend is that
tangential velocity become bigger and bigger along radial direction, but suddenly decrease near the wall
surface. Fig.2.b represents tangential velocity distribution of the origination and middle section. It can
also be seen: the two intersecting surfaces’ tangential velocity distribution has obviously axial symmetry,
and reflects separator’s swirling flow characteristics. At the same time, they clearly show distribution
trend of tangential velocity along radial direction: generally speaking tangential velocity become bigger
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along radial direction, but velocity is very small or close to zero on the wall surface. And a part of fluid
has opposite tangential velocity relative to mainstream direction. It can conclude that secondary vortex
flow exist in the flow field.
• Axial velocity

Fig.3. (a) longitudinal section axial velocity distribution (m/s); (b) X=63mm axial velocity distribution (m/s)

In the separator, axial velocity only provides the motive force from inlet to outlet. Axial velocity does
not play a part in separating directly relative to tangential velocity. In the picture Fig.3.a, it can be seen: in
the whole flow field, axial velocity is rather small and don’t change very obviously. It is rather bigger in
the impeller part. Fig.3.b shows the distribution of axial velocity at the sections of impeller. In the
pictures it can be seen: axial velocity has good axial symmetry, but the radial distribution is very complex.
Certain rules can’t be found. But the reflux phenomenon is very obvious, a part of fluid have opposite
tangential velocity relative to mainstream direction. It can also conclude that secondary vortex flow exist
in the flow field.

4.2. Pressure field analysis

Fig.4. (a) static pressure distribution contour map (Pa); (b) dynamic pressure distribution contour map (Pa)

The separator’s pressure drop mainly includes the gas in the separator rotaries and generates kinetic
energy consumption. In the picture Fig.4.a, it can be seen: the impeller part have greater static pressure
gradient and become gradually increasing along radial direction. Because pressure depends on tangential
velocity, while tangential velocity also become increasing gradually along radial direction (it closes to
zero nearby wall surface). The regularity of distribution of dynamic pressure is similar to static pressure,
as illustrated in Fig. 4.b. It is also bigger at the impeller part. It's because dynamic pressure is related to
resultant velocity of fluid, but it can be known by the previous analysis, resultant velocity is mainly
determined by tangential velocity.
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4.3. Streamline analysis

Fig.5. (a) n=3000r/min; (b) n=5000 r/min

Fig.5 shows the distribution of streamline at different rotation speed. From the pictures of Fig.5.a and
Fig.5.b, it can seen clearly that the airflow’s flow state in the gas-oil separator. On the whole, the velocity
of inlet air is very small and the velocity suddenly increases at the impeller. Then the velocity decreases
gradually at the latter half. The streamline distribution at the impeller shows that the gas motion is
complex when the impeller is rotating at a high speed, sometimes the motion is in disorder and
unsystematic. As a result of separator’s structure, gas keeps rotating strongly in whole area. It is the oil-
gas separation theory.

5. Conclusions

Flow in the oil-gas separator is three-dimensional strong swirling turbulence and is very complex. This
article comprehensively studies the internal gas phase flow field in the separator. According to the result
of numerical simulation, it can be concluded as follows:
Reynolds stress equation model reveals the characteristics of strong swirling flow’s turbulence
anisotropy. Compared with the other three models, Reynolds stress equation model has greater simulation
ability.
Distribution law of velocity and pressure drop in the oil-gas separator is obtained and so is the contrast
analysis result. The internal streamline distribution intuitively reflects the flow field’s characteristics and
reveals the separation mechanism of oil-gas separator: oil-gas mixture generates strong rotation by the
effect of blades. The difference oil and gas have in density leads to unparallel centrifugal forces. Thus the
two substances are separated.

References

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