Page 57 - Industrial Plants

uncertainty of process performances that have to
be covered by contractual guarantees.
The slug catcher inlet manifold plays an important
role in the operation of slug catchers because its
design ensures an even distribution of fluids to the
primary bottles. CFD simulation allows a careful
study of the velocity profiles in the manifold
branches and hence a better design.
The results of the study relevant to a typical inlet
manifold are shown in Figure 4 which illustrates
the liquid velocity profiles during slug arrival.

In this specific case CFD simulation demonstrates
that the loads of outer and inner “bottles” are
similar, with a range of a -/+ 10%, as shown in
Table 1.

Mass Flow
Duct no. Split
1 – Outer duct 26.6 %
2 – Inner duct 23.4 % two-phase flow in opposite directions and the transient Figure 5 - Downcomer
3 – Inner duct 23.4 % conditions they are subject to: liquid waves fall from the Flow Dynamic
4 – Outer duct 26.6 % upper level to the storage bottles while the disengaged
gas moves upwards. CFD simulation represents a
Table 1 – Calculated Finger Flow Distribution powerful tool for validating the sizing of downcomers
and ensuring that liquid and gas streams do not
cause any flooding phenomena during the arrival of
Downcomers, when used, will be checked to prevent liquid slug or in the case of other transient conditions.
“choking” in order to guarantee regular operations. The The results of a simulation involving a double-level
hydraulics of downcomers is challenging because of the slug catcher are shown in Figure 5.

Francesco La Motta

Francesco graduated in Chemical Engineering at the 2017, he joined OILTECH as a Process Engineer. He is
University of Naples “Federico II” in 2014. After currently working as Process Leader, in charge of O&G
completing a PhD program at the same University in and biogas projects.

Alessandro Boffa

Alessandro holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineer in 2017. He has been involved in the
Engineering from the Polytechnic of Milan, where he process design of numerous upstream and midstream
graduated in 2015. After working in the plastic & resin Oil & Gas projects.
sector, he joined OILTECH as a Senior Process

INDUSTRIAL PLANTS - September 2021
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