(196b) A Different CFD Approach to Model Sloshing of Offshore Multiphase Separators

Liquid sloshing in offshore multiphase separators has been one of the predicaments for reduced efficiency of process equipments. This led to intense investigations for last several decades both by experiments and computer simulations. For sloshing calculations, the most commonly used multiphase model is the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. This method assumes the fluids (oil, water and gas) being immiscible and therefore no interpenetration and intermixing occurs among phases. This method is very useful to see the impact of sloshing on the vessel, but it is not so useful for the estimation of the actual separation.   Hence, a different approach is needed.  In this study sloshing calculation are run using the Eulerian multiphase model in combination with the multi-fluid VOF scheme (for accurate interface tracking).  ANSYS FLUENT CFD software is used for all calculations with a user defined function to include the six degree sloshing motions.  The primary goal of this study is to validate this new method for sloshing and separation of the oil/water/gas.   This approach will help estimate in-situ  carry over and  carry under more accurately during the sloshing motion.