Gas/solid separation using a novel compact in-line vortex separator

The need to separate solids from gas flows is a common problem in a number of industries. This research is concerned with the design and optimisation of a compact vortex separator for gas/solid separation duties. Ln-line vortex separators have an inherent reliability due to their simple design. They have been proven in demanding environments such as the nuclear, mining and automotive industries. To exploit further the advantages of the vortex separator, collaborative research has been underway to develop a novel gas/solid inline separator for use in natural gas production systems. The starting point for work has been CALtec's oil/gas inline separator known as WELLSEP. Preliminary tests have been performed using air/sand mixture in the laboratory, and so far encouraging results have been obtained. Results from recent gas/solid separation experiments are presented, and the current status of the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modelling work is briefly described.