title: Numerical simulation and structural optimization of the inclined oil/water separator.
abstract: Improving the separation efficiency of the inclined oil/water separator, a new type of gravity separation equipment, is of great importance. In order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the internal flow field of the separation process of oil and water within this separator, a numerical simulation based on Euler multiphase flow analysis and the realizable k-ε two equation turbulence model was executed using Fluent software. The optimal value ranges of the separator's various structural parameters used in the numerical simulation were selected through orthogonal array experiments. A field experiment on the separator was conducted with optimized structural parameters in order to validate the reliability of the numerical simulation results. The research results indicated that the horizontal position of the dispenser, the hole number, and the diameter had significant effects on the oil/water separation efficiency, and that the longitudinal position of the dispenser and the position of the weir plate had insignificant effects on the oil/water separation efficiency. The optimal structural parameters obtained through the orthogonal array experiments resulted in an oil/water separation efficiency of up to 95%, which was 4.996% greater than that realized by the original structural parameters.
authors: School of Petroleum Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Liqiong
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: School of Petroleum Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Shijuan
authors: S
authors: Wu
authors: School of Petroleum Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Hongfang
authors: H
authors: Lu
authors: School of Petroleum Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Huang
authors: College of Geosciences, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China.
authors: Lijie
authors: L
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012984:Software; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water