Structural optimization and adaptability analysis of an axial-flow inlet hydrocyclone used for in-situ desanding to purify marine hydrate slurry

Abstract

To improve the performance of hydrocyclones for in-situ natural gas hydrate recovery and desanding, this study analyzed the hydrocyclone’s sensitivity factors, optimized the structural parameters, and investigated the adaptability to the reservoir and operating parameters through numerical simulations and experiments. Results showed that the optimal structural parameters were spiral pitch of 24 mm, vortex finder diameter of 36 mm, spigot diameter of 26 mm, number of spirals equals 5, and cone angle of 6°. Under the optimal parameter configuration, the efficiency of the hydrocyclone is exceeded 90%, and the pressure drop was within 0.5 MPa. When the inlet natural gas hydrate volume concentration, or the inlet sand volume concentration are increased, the separation efficiency and pressure drop changed only slightly. The natural gas hydrate hydrocyclone showed good adaptability to the reservoir and operating parameters. These findings provide theoretical guidance for the design and construction of natural gas hydrate in-situ separators.

Keywords

• Natural gas hydrate
• Structural optimization
• Adaptability analysis
• Axial-flow inlet hydrocyclone
• NGH recovery and desanding