Utilization of Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC^©) Compact Separator for Solids Removal—Part I: Minimum Required Liquid Injection Rate

The hydrodynamic behavior of gas-liquid-solids in a modified GLCC^© has been studied for the first time experimentally and theoretically. A GLCC^© experimental facility has been designed, constructed and utilized to acquire data on gas-solid-liquid flow in both upstream 2-inch injection line horizontal section and in the 3-inch GLCC^©. Experimental data have been acquired for the minimum gas velocity required to transport the solids up to the liquid injection point, and for the minimum liquid injection rate necessary to wet the solids and capture them in the liquid phase. The data have been acquired for 4 solid particle sizes of 5 μm, 25 μm, 50 μm and 150 μm. A mechanistic model has been developed or modified for solids transport/ separation, for the prediction of the minimum transport gas velocity, and the required minimum liquid injection rate. A comparison between the model prediction and the acquired experimental data shows good agreement. The average relative error for minimum transport gas and liquid velocities are, 4.3% and 9.55%, respectively.