Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Gas/Liquid Separator with Various Tip Clearance

Abstract

Summary Gas/liquid separators (GLSs) are widely used in petroleum extraction and the chemical industry, as well as aerospace and other fields. Experimental studies and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the impact of tip clearance (TP) on the separation performance and energy characteristics of a dynamic GLS. The Reynolds stress model (RSM) was used for the numerical simulation of the gas/liquid separation process, and the reliability and accuracy of the model were confirmed through comparison and analysis of experimental findings. The results demonstrate a linear correlation between TP and device performance under specific flow rate conditions. As TP increases, there is a corresponding decrease in separation efficiency, power of the liquid-phase outlet (LPO), and differential pressure at the inlet. This trend can be attributed to reduced maximum tangential velocity and increased TP, which lead to heightened backflow. Consequently, this impedes the outflow of the liquid phase post-separation, resulting in reduced separation efficiency and energy performance. Furthermore, at particular TPs, a significant decline in device performance is observed under conditions of high flow rates. This is primarily due to the intensified turbulence between the blades, which increases flow rates. Consequently, the disorder in the internal flow field escalates, leading to considerable energy losses and impacting the gas/liquid two-phase separation process. This study offers valuable insights into designing high-performance dynamic gas/liquid separation devices (DGLSDs), providing a robust theoretical foundation for future endeavors.