Optimization of separator internals design using CFD modeling in the Joule-Thomson process

In this work, gas dehydration and natural gas liquid (NGL) recovery by the Joule-Thomson (JT) process, were investigated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling approach. Droplet behavior inside the separator was analyzed by particle tracing and moisture diffusion methods. The modified separator reduced the water content of natural gas from 0.008 to 0.0029 kg/m3. In addition, the separation efficiency was increased by addition of internal components. One of the added internal components was an inlet deflector. Among different inlet deflectors, the reversed type one exhibited the highest separation efficiency. The separation efficiency improved from 6 to 10% in the original design to 48?50% in the separator equipped with a reversed type inlet deflector. Furthermore, the effect of gas flow rate, droplet size, and pressure differences, were also evaluated. The results indicated an up to 100% separation efficiency for the modified separator in optimum condition. In addition, industrial data from an NGL recovery unit were used to validate the CFD modeling results. The CFD modeling results and industrial data were in close agreement.