Secondary Functions of Oil and Gas Separators

March 27, 2017

Last time around, we covered the primary functions of these system-essential separators. They're designed to split crude oil discharge, to send liquid oil down one channel and a clean stream of gas down a second line. That's a fairly accurate but simplified description of a two-phase hydrocarbon separation system. What about the secondary functions of oil and gas separators? They undoubtedly exist, so they need to be investigated.

Large Vessel Dynamics

The initial fluid separation process involves a series of specially mounted internal baffles. These inner workings use diverter inlets to alter the momentum of the primary stream. The bulk of the processing load separates here, with other baffle plates supporting fluid isolation mechanics. As for the secondary functions of the oil and gas separators, they're rooted in the buffering capabilities of this large vessel. Held at great pressure, the separate fluid channels employ a gas backpressure valve as the force regulating mechanism. With this valve and a number of subsidiary pressure monitors in place, the banks of baffled and buffered containers pass the segregated fluids across to a gravity separation chamber.

Secondary Gravity Separation Stages

This optimised pressure regulation feature is a secondary function of oil and gas separators, but that subordinate ranking shouldn't deemphasize the importance of this system asset. Indeed, the ability to precisely manage vessel pressure is an essential part of the design because it improves separation dynamics. The gravity splitting segment of the chamber improves its discharge when this important variable submits to process management control. Likewise, the mist extractor section performs with greater efficiency because the density of the fine droplets is regulated by pressure. All of these performance attributes submit to the secondary separation system that's created by the master gas backpressure valve.

Deliquidizers and Degassers

Occupational terminology brings these two labels into the secondary systems maintenance realm. Baffles plates and expertly formed vessels shape the primary process. There are vertically mounted vessels, spherical variants, and horizontal vessels out there, plus numerous baffle plate designs. Deeper in, further into the separator chamber, there's a de-liquidizer assembly, a series of inner workings that are on hand to remove invisible droplets from the gas stream. Conversely, the degassers filter suspended gas bubbles from the liquid as it pools in the vessel.

Pressure regulation lies at the core of the secondary control system. There are baffles, gravity separation systems, mist sprayers, vortex units, and more inside the vessel, but this process subsidising mechanism, the valves and intermediate controls, are working alongside the primary equipment to refine the separation procedure, to really create an absolutely segregated two or three stream discharge.

Contact Details

Fusion - Weld Engineering Pty Ltd
ABN 98 068 987619

1865 Frankston Flinders Road,
Hastings, VIC 3915

Ph: (03) 5909 8218

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