Computer simulation of the flow inside a supersonic gas separator

• Grant number: 16/14980-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Souza Carmo
• Grantee: Matheus Augusto Campos Pires
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The natural gas components separation is currently important due to a high fraction of CO2 in the composition of pre-salt layer well's gas, with content in order of 60% mol/mol, besides other impurities in lower percentage. Given that scenario, there is an interest in a technology that could efficiently separate a large content of CO2, but also that could fit at the reduced space on FPSOs, and could be able to separate other impurities. This project aims to optimize the gas components separation process by studying and developing a numerical model of the flow inside the supersonic separator applied to a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, also making possible to analyze mixtures with other components as nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, water. The numerical simulation is a powerful tool heading to understanding the complex flow occurring inside the separator, with phase shift phenomena, supersonic velocities, compressibility effects, and so on. The results will be compared with previously published results. (AU)