Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Ki Choong Hong

Suzanne Griston

A method and apparatus is disclosed for splitting two-phase liquid-gas flow (e.g., air-water, hydrocarbon gas-condensate, or wet steam) at an impacting pipe-tee junction in a fluid distribution network to maintain constant ratios of liquid mass flow rate to gas (or vapor) mass flow rate entering and exiting the tee junction. Specific mechanical modification of normal impacting tees has been found to significantly increase the range of vapor-phase split ratio for which equal vapor-liquid split ratios (or quality) can be achieved and maintained. In one embodiment, a pre-separator vane is inserted in the entrance arm of the impacting tee. In a second embodiment, nozzles are installed in the exit arms of the impacting tee. In a third embodiment, the impacting tee diameter is increased above that of the surrounding piping leading into and away from the tee junction such that the vapor phase velocity entering the tee junction is less than or equal to 20 ft/sec. In another embodiment, the impacting tee is modified with a combination of two or more of the methods described above.

Method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of two-phase

A new, improved method is disclosed for reliably and accurately predicting and adjusting vapor-liquid split ratios to branches of a piping network incorporating a plurality of impacting tee junctions for a wide range of two-phase steam or gas-liquid conditions representative of field distribution systems. The vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction of the two-phase entering an impacting tee junction are computed from measured pressure, quality and rate of a two-phase fluid entering the impacting tee junction. The velocities of the vapor split to each branch tee junction are computed from measured or computed vapor mass flow rates. The liquid volume fraction of the two-phase fluid exiting a branch or arm of the tee junction is then computed as a function of inlet vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction and from the vapor velocity exiting the branch or arm using an empirical correlation equation. Finally, the vapor mass fraction (or quality) of the two-phase fluid exiting the tee branch is computed from the liquid volume fraction exiting the branch.

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Bakersfield, CA, United States of America

Ki Choong Hong