Abstract
Gas/liquid flow dividing at a T-junction can exhibit significant phase maldistribution. This has potential as a simple, compact (partial) phase separator. Though there is by now a reasonable body of knowledge on the performance of such junctions, the data is predominantly for air/water at near atmospheric pressures in small diameter equipment. Moreover, there is as yet no agreed criterion to identify at what conditions and for with what geometry a T-junction is a good (partial) phase separator.
This paper presents data from a field trial in which a T-junction was placed on the outlet line from an onshore well. Data were obtained on the phase split at the junction for a number of inlet flow rates and for different resistances in the two outlet legs of the junction. The trends in the data are compared to those for other published work. In addition, a criterion is suggested for good phase separation. The present data, together with that from the literature are then examined and a method for specifying conditions for good phase separation is presented.
