Three Phase Oil Separator Simulation Using CFD Analysis: A Review Study

The three-phase separator, a cornerstone of oil and gas production, is pivotal for maintaining high-quality oil output and minimizing environmental impact. Efficient separation of water, oil, and gas ensures superior oil quality and economic viability by removing impurities and contaminants from the extracted mixture. Moreover, the environmental significance lies in preventing contamination of water bodies through proper disposal of produced water. This review paper presents a comprehensive investigation on the simulation of three-phase oil separators utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The emergence of CFD as a powerful tool has revolutionized separator design by unraveling complex flow patterns and interface structures. CFD aids in understanding turbulent flow structures resulting from inlet diverter interactions, leading to enhanced separation efficiency. This innovation reduces design costs by allowing engineers to simulate various configurations, resulting in optimized separator designs. Essential design parameters encompass oil properties influencing separation behavior, the design of the inlet diverter affecting flow dynamics, mean residence time for phase separation, separator diameter determined using techniques like Monner and Svrcek or Arnold and Stewart, weir height for phase interface control, and droplet size and distribution which significantly impact separation efficiency are also covered in this work.