Liquid carry-over in gas/liquid cylindrical cyclone compact separators

The liquid carry-over phenomenon in gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone (GLCCO(C )**) compact separators has been studied experimentally and theoretically. Experimental data have been acquired including the operational envelope for liquid carry-over and percent liquid carry-over beyond the operational env elope. The data show that at low gas and high liquid flow rates, under chur n flow conditions in the upper part of the cylindrical cyclone, a large amo unt of liquid can be carried over relatively easily. On the other hand, at high gas and low liquid flow rates, under annular flow conditions, one shou ld exceed the operational envelope significantly in order to have large amo unt of liquid carry-over. A mechanistic model has been developed for the prediction of the percent li quid carry-over beyond the operational envelope for chum flow conditions. A n existing model for the prediction of the operational envelope for liquid carry-over has been extended to high-pressure conditions, including improve d models for zero-net liquid flow holdup, droplet region and blowout and cr itical velocities. Comparisons between the new mechanistic model predictions for percent liqui d carry-over with the experimental data, under churn flow conditions, show good agreement. Also, considering the lack of experimental data, the predic tions of the operational envelope for liquid carry-over at high-pressure co nditions show reasonable trends.