Variation of Zero Net Liquid Holdup in a Gas Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separator Below Operational Envelope

Abstract Novel experimental and theoretical investigations are carried out on Zero Net Liquid Flow (ZNLF) in the upper part of the Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC©) separator. Experimental data are acquired for the variation of the Zero Net Liquid Holdup (ZNLH) and the associated Churn region height for air-oil and air-water flow. The experiments are carried out at normal operating conditions below the GLCC Operational Envelope (OPEN) for Liquid Carry-Over (LCO). The ZNLH measurements for air-oil flow are higher than those for air-water flow. The Churn region height is higher for air-oil flow, as compared to the air-water flow, for the same operating conditions. The higher oil viscosity, which results in higher frictional and drag forces, leads to greater ZNLH for air-oil flow. The Churn region height is sensitive to the superficial gas velocity, whereby a small increase of gas velocity results in exponential growth of the Churn region height. The model developed by Karpurapu et al. (2018) for predicting the ZNLH at specific operational conditions just below the OPEN for LCO is extended to predict the ZNLH variation along the upper part of the GLCC below the OPEN for LCO, as well as the associated Churn region height. The predictions of the developed extended model for the ZNLH variation compared to the acquired experimental data showing discrepancies of 8% and 3%, respectively, for air-oil and air-water flows.