US20130216352A1 - Ejector and method - Google Patents
Ejector and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130216352A1 US20130216352A1 US13/883,457 US201113883457A US2013216352A1 US 20130216352 A1 US20130216352 A1 US 20130216352A1 US 201113883457 A US201113883457 A US 201113883457A US 2013216352 A1 US2013216352 A1 US 2013216352A1
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- fluid
- ejectors
- flow
- ejector
- conduit
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 238
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 50
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 claims 12
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003019 stabilising effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F5/00—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow
- F04F5/02—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being liquid
- F04F5/10—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being liquid displacing liquids, e.g. containing solids, or liquids and elastic fluids
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D3/00—Axial-flow pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F5/00—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow
- F04F5/44—Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04F5/02 - F04F5/42
- F04F5/46—Arrangements of nozzles
- F04F5/463—Arrangements of nozzles with provisions for mixing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F5/00—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow
- F04F5/44—Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04F5/02 - F04F5/42
- F04F5/46—Arrangements of nozzles
- F04F5/466—Arrangements of nozzles with a plurality of nozzles arranged in parallel
Definitions
- the present invention relates to ejectors and to a method of ejecting a fluid.
- the invention relates to ejectors suitable for locating in an underwater environment.
- Ejectors employ a high pressure fluid (the ‘motive’) to compress low pressure fluid (‘entrained’ fluid or ‘suction’ fluid) to an intermediate pressure. The fluid at intermediate pressure is then ejected from the ejector as a ‘discharge’ fluid.
- a high pressure fluid the ‘motive’
- low pressure fluid ‘entrained’ fluid or ‘suction’ fluid
- FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a known ejector 1 .
- the ejector 1 has a motive inlet 10 through which a motive fluid may enter the ejector 1 .
- the motive fluid may be pumped by a pump (not shown) through the motive inlet 10 .
- the velocity of the motive fluid is increased as it passes through a nozzle portion 40 of the ejector 1 before being injected through an outlet aperture 44 of the nozzle portion 40 at an apex of the nozzle portion 40 into an inlet aperture 52 of a diffuser portion 50 .
- the diffuser portion 50 provides a fluid conduit in the form of a Venturi. That is, a diameter of the conduit initially decreases along a length of the diffuser portion 50 to a diameter less than that of the inlet aperture 52 before increasing in diameter towards an outlet aperture 54 of the diffuser portion 50 .
- the outlet aperture 44 of the nozzle portion 40 and the inlet aperture 52 of the diffuser portion 50 are in fluid communication with a suction fluid inlet 20 of the ejector 1 .
- the ejector 1 is arranged such that a flow of motive fluid out from the nozzle portion outlet aperture 44 and into the diffuser portion 50 creates a drop in pressure at the suction fluid inlet 20 such that suction fluid is drawn into the diffuser portion 50 through the suction fluid inlet 20 , becoming entrained in the flow of motive fluid through the diffuser portion 50 .
- the diffuser portion 50 is arranged to mix the motive and suction fluids and reduce a flow velocity of the fluids thereby increasing a pressure of the fluids. It is to be understood that this is a reverse process to that occurring in the nozzle portion 40 where an increase in motive fluid velocity occurs thereby reducing a pressure of the motive fluid as it exits the nozzle portion 40 through outlet aperture 44 .
- Ejectors such as the ejector 1 of FIG. 1 are useful in pumping fluids that may have relatively large amounts of solids contained therein such as suspensions or slurries. Such fluids may be pumped using a motive fluid that has no solids suspended therein or at least a relatively small amount of solids.
- the motive fluid may be a liquid or a gas or any other suitable fluid.
- the suction fluid may be a liquid or a gas or any other suitable fluid.
- Ejectors have the advantage that they may be fabricated without moving parts and may therefore enjoy a substantially longer service life than conventional mechanical pumps in many applications.
- a mechanical pump may experience relatively rapid wear when pumping a slurry due to the relatively high concentration of solids contained in the slurry.
- the ejector 1 of FIG. 1 since the ejector 1 of FIG. 1 has no moving parts it may be used to pump the slurry for a much longer period of time before maintenance is required.
- a conventional mechanical pump may be used to pump through the ejector 1 a motive fluid having a relatively low concentration of solids therein. Since the pump need not be exposed to the suction fluid, which may have a relatively high concentration of solids therein, a lifespan of the mechanical pump is not unduly reduced by the presence of solids in the suction fluid.
- US2005/0064255 discloses an electric power generation system in which a fuel cell system is provided with flow cell recirculation.
- the apparatus has an ejector assembly having two ejectors arranged in parallel with a common suction inlet.
- the apparatus has two motive flow inlets (one for each ejector) and one discharge outlet.
- One of the ejectors is optmised for low fluid flow conditions and the other for high fluid flow conditions.
- CN1308991 discloses a steam injector having three ejectors arranged in parallel.
- the ejectors have a common motive fluid inlet aperture, a common suction fluid inlet aperture and a common discharge fluid outlet aperture.
- JP7167100 discloses a liquid ejector having a pair of diffusers arranged in a parallel configuration. As in the case of the apparatus disclosed in CN1308991 the ejectors have a common motive fluid inlet aperture, a common suction fluid inlet aperture and a common discharge fluid outlet aperture.
- an ejector for pumping oil or gas from a well head.
- use of an ejector can increase the amount of oil or gas that may be drawn from a well by a substantial amount at a relatively low cost. It is therefore desirable to employ ejector technology in oil and gas recovery systems in order to make best use of dwindling natural resources.
- fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilisation portion being arranged to stabilise a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, wherein the flow stabilisation portion comprises
- the flow stabilisation conduit may be integrally formed with the Venturi portion, for example by casting, by moulding or by machining from a single piece of material.
- the flow velocity of fluid exiting the Venturi device is lower than that of fluid passing through the constricted portion of the Venturi.
- the fluid attempts to fill the diverging portion and eddy currents are typically formed as it does so.
- the present inventors have discovered that the distance over which the flow stabilises downstream of the Venturi can be advantageously reduced by providing a flow stabilisation portion immediately downstream of the Venturi portion of each ejector.
- the flow is able to assume laminar flow conditions a shorter distance downstream of the Venturi due to the presence of the flow stabilisation portion.
- Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that because flow of fluid through each ejector is stabilised by the flow stabilisation portion of each ejector before the flows are combined, flow stabilisation may be achieved over a shorter installed length of the apparatus than if each ejector is not provided with its own individual flow stabilisation portion.
- flow stabilisation will occur over a longer length downstream of the Venturi portions than in the case that each ejector has its own flow stabilisation portion immediately downstream of its Venturi portion.
- embodiments of the invention have the advantage that they may be provided having a reduced installed length compared with known ejectors of a comparable pumping efficiency.
- embodiments of the invention may be provided having a reduced installed length without compromising a flow rate of entrained fluid for a given motive flow rate under a given set of boundary pressures and/or boundary conditions.
- Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a bend portion may be installed a shorter distance downstream of an outlet of the Venturi portion of each ejector and still maintain a required pumping speed compared with ejectors having Venturi portions of similar dimensions but without the flow stabilisation portions associated with each Venturi. If flow of fluid that has not stabilised encounters a bend portion a reduction in efficiency of the system occurs as noted above resulting in a reduced pumping rate under comparable conditions.
- the flow stabilisation conduit has substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion.
- the flow stabilisation conduit may be of a different diameter to the downstream end of the Venturi portion.
- the flow stabilisation portion preferably has a length equal to at least a diameter thereof.
- the flow stabilisation portion has a length equal to at least double the diameter thereof.
- the flow stabilisation portion may have a length of substantially at least one selected from amongst three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, eight times, nine times, ten times, fifteen times, twenty times, fifty times and one hundred times the diameter thereof.
- the flow stabilisation portion has at length of at least five times the diameter thereof.
- the flow stabilisation portion has a length in the range from around 6 to around 10 times the diameter thereof.
- the apparatus may further comprise a manifold portion between the ejectors and the discharge outlet, the manifold portion comprising a conduit arranged to receive fluid flowing out from the diffuser portions of the ejectors of the apparatus.
- the apparatus may be further provided with a bend conduit being a conduit having a bend portion, the bend conduit being provided downstream of the plurality of ejectors.
- the bend conduit may be arranged to turn a direction of the flow of fluid through one selected from at least substantially 45°, at least 90° and substantially 180°.
- the bend conduit may be provided downstream of the manifold portion.
- the apparatus may be provided in combination with a bend conduit being a conduit having a bend portion wherein the conduit bends through an angle ⁇ where ⁇ is nonzero, the bend portion being provided downstream of the common discharge outlet wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of ejectors is directed to flow through the bend conduit.
- the bend conduit may be arranged wherein ⁇ takes a value given by one selected from amongst 30° ⁇ 60°, 60° ⁇ 90°, 90° ⁇ 120°, 120° ⁇ 150° and 150° ⁇ 180°.
- ⁇ may take a value of one selected from amongst substantially 45°, substantially 90° and substantially 180°.
- the plurality of ejectors may be arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.
- the injector portion of at least one of the ejectors may comprise a plurality of injectors.
- the apparatus may have a separate motive fluid inlet for each ejector whereby a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of one ejector may be prevented from mixing with a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of another ejector.
- the apparatus may have a common motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to each of the plurality of ejectors.
- the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the injector portion of one of the plurality of ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage that a pumping rate of the apparatus may be controlled without adjusting the motive fluid flow rate external to the apparatus.
- the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the injector portion of each of a plurality of the ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage of allowing a greater range of control of pumping rate.
- the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of one of the plurality of ejectors.
- the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of each of a plurality of the ejectors.
- One of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a size different from the corresponding portion of another of the ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage that in some embodiments the pumping rate of the apparatus may be more precisely controlled.
- Said one of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a diameter different from the corresponding portion of the other of the ejectors.
- said one of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a length different from the length of the corresponding portion of the other ejector.
- Said portion may be one selected from amongst the injector portion, the diffuser portion, the Venturi portion and the flow stabilisation portion.
- the flow stabilisation conduit has substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion
- the flow stabilisation conduit has a length substantially equal to from one to two times or from two to three times the diameter thereof.
- apparatus in a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus according to the first aspect installed in a subsea system.
- apparatus located in an underwater system and arranged to pump a fluid in the underwater system.
- a method of pumping a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a flow of motive fluid to each of a plurality of ejectors thereby to draw suction fluid through each ejector and expel discharge fluid drawn through the ejectors through a common discharge outlet, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the method comprising injecting motive fluid into the diffuser portion thereby to draw the suction fluid into the diffuser portion, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the method further comprising stabilising the flow of fluid from the diffuser portion as it passes through the flow stabilisation portion before respective fluid flows through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, the step of passing the fluid through the flow stabilisation portion comprising passing the fluid through a conduit having substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof.
- fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilisation portion being arranged to stabilise a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, wherein the flow stabilisation portion comprises
- a method of pumping a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a flow of motive fluid to each of a plurality of ejectors thereby to draw suction fluid through each ejector and expel discharge fluid drawn through the ejectors through a common discharge outlet, each ejector having an injector portion and a diffuser portion, the method comprising injecting motive fluid into the diffuser portion thereby to draw the suction fluid into the diffuser portion, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, the method further comprising stabilising the flow of fluid from the diffuser portion prior to expulsion from the common discharge outlet.
- Venturi portion includes reference to any suitable device for inducing the Venturi effect in a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of the ejectors. That is, a reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of a pipe or tube.
- FIG. 1 shows a known ejector
- FIG. 2 shows ejector apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 shows the apparatus of FIG. 2 in cross-section showing a flow path of fluid through the apparatus
- FIG. 4 shows the ejector apparatus of FIG. 2 installed in a subsea oil/gas recovery system.
- FIG. 2 shows ejector apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the apparatus 100 has a body portion 100 B having a single motive fluid inlet 110 , a single suction fluid inlet 120 and a single outlet aperture 154 . Fluid entering the apparatus 100 through either inlet 110 , 120 is arranged to be discharged from the apparatus 100 through the outlet aperture 154 .
- the apparatus 100 has four ejectors three of which are shown in FIG. 2 labelled 101 , 102 and 103 respectively.
- Each ejector 101 , 102 , 103 has an injector 140 having a nozzle portion 140 A, 140 B, 140 C.
- Each of the nozzle portions 140 A, 140 B, 140 C has a respective inlet aperture 141 A, 141 B, 141 C respectively arranged in fluid communication with the motive fluid inlet 110 .
- Each nozzle portion 140 A, 140 B, 140 C has a nozzle outlet aperture 144 arranged to inject inlet fluid from the nozzle portions 140 A, 140 B, 140 C into a corresponding diffuser portion 150 of each ejector 101 , 102 , 103 labelled 150 A, 150 B, 150 C respectively.
- Each diffuser portion 150 has a Venturi portion 155 and a stabiliser or flow stabilisation portion 157 provided downstream of the Venturi portion 155 .
- Each Venturi portion 155 has a converging section 155 CON along which a diameter of the Venturi portion decreases, a throat section 155 T of substantially constant diameter and a diverging section 155 DIV along which the diameter of the Venturi portion increases again.
- each diffuser portion 150 A, 150 B, 150 C is provided immediately downstream of the diverging section 155 DIV.
- the stabiliser portion 157 is in the form of a conduit having a diameter substantially equal to that of the diverging section 155 DIV of the Venturi portion 155 at the downstream end of that section 155 DIV.
- the stabiliser portions 157 of the ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 are each of a length of around six times their diameter. A single stabiliser portion 157 A is shown in FIG. 2 for clarity, being part of ejector 101 .
- the stabiliser portions 157 are each of a length of from around six to around ten times their diameter. Other lengths are also useful.
- the stabiliser portions 157 are in fluid communication with the outlet aperture 154 by means of a manifold portion 170 .
- the apparatus is arranged to pump suction fluid through the suction fluid inlet 120 and through the diffuser portions 150 of the ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 when a motive fluid is forced through the motive fluid inlet 110 .
- a decrease in pressure occurs at the entrance aperture to each of the diffuser portions 150 as motive fluid is injected from the injectors 140 into the diffuser portions 150 thereby drawing suction fluid through the suction fluid inlet 120 .
- each of the ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 causes stable flow conditions to be established in the fluid flowing through each of the ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 before the fluid is expelled from the apparatus 100 .
- This has the advantage that if a conduit having a bend therein is provided downstream of the apparatus 100 a pumping speed of the apparatus 100 is not reduced to the same extent as corresponding apparatus having ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 not having the stabiliser portions 157 .
- the feature that the presence of a bend portion does not reduce pumping speed to the same extent has the advantage that apparatus may be provided that is more compact.
- the apparatus has a reduced length compared with prior art apparatus.
- FIG. 3 shows the apparatus 100 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 in cross-section through a pair of ejectors 102 , 103 of the apparatus 100 .
- the flow path of motive fluid FM from nozzle portions 140 B, 140 C is shown, together with the flow path of suction fluid FS into the apparatus 100 through suction fluid inlet 120 .
- motive fluid FM injected through nozzle portions 140 B, 140 C of each ejector 102 , 103 is arranged to pass into respective diffuser portions 150 B, 150 C.
- suction fluid FS is drawn through the suction fluid inlet 120 and becomes entrained in the flow of motive fluid FM passing from the injectors 140 into the diffuser portions 150 .
- suction fluid entrained in motive fluid, FMS flows through the diffuser portions 150 .
- a valve is provided in each of the four injectors 140 operable to prevent fluid flow from the respective injector 140 A, B, C into the corresponding diffuser portion 150 . This feature allows the pumping rate of the apparatus 100 to be varied according to demand and/or the type of suction fluid FS to be pumped.
- the respective ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 are arranged to provide different respective flow rates therethrough, for example in the ratio 1:2:3:4.
- the apparatus 100 may be operable to vary a pumping rate from 10% to 100% in 10% increments. It is to be understood that other arrangements are also useful such as other relative flow rates, other numbers of ejectors and so forth.
- the apparatus is arranged to allow fluid to flow in a reverse direction through one of the diffuser portions 150 A, B, C of one or more of the four ejectors 101 , 102 , 103 back to the inlets of the diffuser portions if fluid is not being injected into that diffuser portion 150 from the respective injector 140 A, B, C.
- This has the advantage that flow of fluid through the apparatus 100 may be manipulated in order to obtain optimum flow conditions for a given application or type of suction fluid FS.
- the apparatus may be arranged to allow this reverse direction of fluid flow by terminating a supply of fluid to one or more of the injectors 140 A, B, C such that motive fluid is not injected into the corresponding diffuser 150 .
- this may be accomplished by providing a valve within the respective injector 140 A, B, C or by providing a valve upstream of the injector 140 A, B, C to prevent a flow of fluid into the injector 140 A, B, C.
- suction fluid inlet pressure at the suction inlet 120 and discharge fluid pressure at the outlet aperture 154 may be reduced by preventing flow of fluid through one or more of the injectors 140 A, B, C and allowing recirculation of some discharge fluid back through one or more of the diffuser portions 150 B, C before it passes through the fluid outlet aperture 154 .
- a valve such as a throttle valve
- suction fluid FS which may be a slurry in some applications
- suction fluid entrained in motive fluid FMS being a diluted slurry in some applications.
- Provision of a valve in a flow of slurry is undesirable due to issues in respect of valve movement and valve closure in addition to wear of the valve.
- motive fluid typically liquid not being a slurry, or a gas
- control of suction fluid flow rate may be effected without changing the pressure of fluid at either the motive fluid inlet, the suction fluid inlet or the discharge fluid outlet of the apparatus.
- control of fluid flow rate may be made without a requirement to position a valve in a flowpath of suction fluid or suction fluid entrained in motive fluid.
- FIG. 4 shows the apparatus 100 of FIG. 2 installed in an underwater oil recovery system in which the apparatus is arranged to pump slurry from an outlet of a separator 105 .
- the separator 105 may be arranged to separate solids and liquids pumped from a subsea oil well, an outlet of the separator being coupled to a suction fluid inlet 120 of the apparatus 100 .
- a motive inlet 110 of the apparatus 100 is coupled to a motive fluid pump 171 arranged to pump motive fluid therethrough.
- the apparatus 100 is thereby arranged to pump fluid from the separator 105 entrained in motive fluid out from the apparatus 100 through the fluid outlet 154 .
- a fluid conduit 185 is coupled to the fluid outlet 154 of the apparatus 100 .
- a bend 185 B is provided in the conduit 185 .
- an installed length of the apparatus 100 from the motive inlet 110 to the bend 185 B for a given pumping efficiency may be made less than that which would be possible in a known ejector not having a flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion 155 B, C of each ejector 101 A, B, C.
- This has the advantage of enabling a reduction in a size and cost of the apparatus 100 and in turn the underwater oil recovery system.
- apparatus may be employed to pump a fluid such as a liquid, gas or slurry from a source to a separator.
- a fluid such as a liquid, gas or slurry from a source to a separator.
- Other arrangements are also useful.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
In an aspect of the invention there is provided fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilisation portion being arranged to stabilise a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, wherein the flow stabilisation portion comprises a flow stabilisation conduit of substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof.
Description
- The present invention relates to ejectors and to a method of ejecting a fluid. In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to ejectors suitable for locating in an underwater environment.
- It is known to employ an ejector to pump a fluid. Ejectors employ a high pressure fluid (the ‘motive’) to compress low pressure fluid (‘entrained’ fluid or ‘suction’ fluid) to an intermediate pressure. The fluid at intermediate pressure is then ejected from the ejector as a ‘discharge’ fluid.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a known ejector 1. The ejector 1 has a motive inlet 10 through which a motive fluid may enter the ejector 1. For example, the motive fluid may be pumped by a pump (not shown) through themotive inlet 10. - The velocity of the motive fluid is increased as it passes through a
nozzle portion 40 of the ejector 1 before being injected through anoutlet aperture 44 of thenozzle portion 40 at an apex of thenozzle portion 40 into aninlet aperture 52 of adiffuser portion 50. Thediffuser portion 50 provides a fluid conduit in the form of a Venturi. That is, a diameter of the conduit initially decreases along a length of thediffuser portion 50 to a diameter less than that of theinlet aperture 52 before increasing in diameter towards anoutlet aperture 54 of thediffuser portion 50. - The
outlet aperture 44 of thenozzle portion 40 and theinlet aperture 52 of thediffuser portion 50 are in fluid communication with asuction fluid inlet 20 of the ejector 1. The ejector 1 is arranged such that a flow of motive fluid out from the nozzleportion outlet aperture 44 and into thediffuser portion 50 creates a drop in pressure at thesuction fluid inlet 20 such that suction fluid is drawn into thediffuser portion 50 through thesuction fluid inlet 20, becoming entrained in the flow of motive fluid through thediffuser portion 50. - The
diffuser portion 50 is arranged to mix the motive and suction fluids and reduce a flow velocity of the fluids thereby increasing a pressure of the fluids. It is to be understood that this is a reverse process to that occurring in thenozzle portion 40 where an increase in motive fluid velocity occurs thereby reducing a pressure of the motive fluid as it exits thenozzle portion 40 throughoutlet aperture 44. - Ejectors such as the ejector 1 of
FIG. 1 are useful in pumping fluids that may have relatively large amounts of solids contained therein such as suspensions or slurries. Such fluids may be pumped using a motive fluid that has no solids suspended therein or at least a relatively small amount of solids. The motive fluid may be a liquid or a gas or any other suitable fluid. The suction fluid may be a liquid or a gas or any other suitable fluid. - Ejectors have the advantage that they may be fabricated without moving parts and may therefore enjoy a substantially longer service life than conventional mechanical pumps in many applications. For example, a mechanical pump may experience relatively rapid wear when pumping a slurry due to the relatively high concentration of solids contained in the slurry. In contrast, since the ejector 1 of
FIG. 1 has no moving parts it may be used to pump the slurry for a much longer period of time before maintenance is required. - Thus, it is to be understood that a conventional mechanical pump may be used to pump through the ejector 1 a motive fluid having a relatively low concentration of solids therein. Since the pump need not be exposed to the suction fluid, which may have a relatively high concentration of solids therein, a lifespan of the mechanical pump is not unduly reduced by the presence of solids in the suction fluid.
- US2005/0064255 discloses an electric power generation system in which a fuel cell system is provided with flow cell recirculation. The apparatus has an ejector assembly having two ejectors arranged in parallel with a common suction inlet. The apparatus has two motive flow inlets (one for each ejector) and one discharge outlet. One of the ejectors is optmised for low fluid flow conditions and the other for high fluid flow conditions.
- CN1308991 discloses a steam injector having three ejectors arranged in parallel. The ejectors have a common motive fluid inlet aperture, a common suction fluid inlet aperture and a common discharge fluid outlet aperture.
- JP7167100 discloses a liquid ejector having a pair of diffusers arranged in a parallel configuration. As in the case of the apparatus disclosed in CN1308991 the ejectors have a common motive fluid inlet aperture, a common suction fluid inlet aperture and a common discharge fluid outlet aperture.
- It is desirable to provide ejector apparatus having increased suction fluid pumping speed for a given ejector size. This is because in some applications where space is at a premium such as some underwater applications it is important to reduce an overall installed length of the ejector as much as possible.
- In some applications an ejector is provided for pumping oil or gas from a well head. In some applications use of an ejector can increase the amount of oil or gas that may be drawn from a well by a substantial amount at a relatively low cost. It is therefore desirable to employ ejector technology in oil and gas recovery systems in order to make best use of dwindling natural resources.
- It is therefore an aim of embodiments of the invention to provide ejector apparatus that may be made more compact than known ejector apparatus for a given target pumping rate, such as a given target volumetric or mass flow rate.
- Embodiments of the invention may be understood with reference to the appended claims.
- In one aspect of the invention there is provided fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilisation portion being arranged to stabilise a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, wherein the flow stabilisation portion comprises a flow stabilisation conduit of substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof.
- It is to be understood that the flow stabilisation conduit may be integrally formed with the Venturi portion, for example by casting, by moulding or by machining from a single piece of material.
- It is to be understood that when fluid passes through a Venturi device it initially passes through a converging portion of the device over which an inner diameter of the Venturi device reduces along the flow direction to a constricted portion and subsequently increases again in a diverging portion downstream of the constricted portion towards an outlet of the Venturi device.
- It is to be understood that the flow velocity of fluid exiting the Venturi device is lower than that of fluid passing through the constricted portion of the Venturi. As fluid passes along the diverging portion the fluid attempts to fill the diverging portion and eddy currents are typically formed as it does so.
- The present inventors have discovered that the distance over which the flow stabilises downstream of the Venturi can be advantageously reduced by providing a flow stabilisation portion immediately downstream of the Venturi portion of each ejector.
- In some arrangements in which laminar flow conditions are assumed downstream of the Venturi, the flow is able to assume laminar flow conditions a shorter distance downstream of the Venturi due to the presence of the flow stabilisation portion.
- Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that because flow of fluid through each ejector is stabilised by the flow stabilisation portion of each ejector before the flows are combined, flow stabilisation may be achieved over a shorter installed length of the apparatus than if each ejector is not provided with its own individual flow stabilisation portion. In other words, if fluid flowing out from the Venturi portion of one ejector is allowed immediately to mix with fluid flowing out from the Venturi portion of another ejector as in the prior art described above, flow stabilisation will occur over a longer length downstream of the Venturi portions than in the case that each ejector has its own flow stabilisation portion immediately downstream of its Venturi portion.
- Thus embodiments of the invention have the advantage that they may be provided having a reduced installed length compared with known ejectors of a comparable pumping efficiency.
- It is to be understood that embodiments of the invention may be provided having a reduced installed length without compromising a flow rate of entrained fluid for a given motive flow rate under a given set of boundary pressures and/or boundary conditions.
- Thus, if apparatus having a design similar to known apparatus identified above was employed, such as JP7167100, where the ejectors are not provided with a flow stabilisation portion, a flow of fluid from the Venturi portion of each ejector into the manifold portion immediately downstream of each ejector is not able to circulate in a stable manner. This has the disadvantage that a reduction in efficiency of the apparatus occurs thereby reducing a pumping rate of the apparatus for a given motive fluid flow rate.
- Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a bend portion may be installed a shorter distance downstream of an outlet of the Venturi portion of each ejector and still maintain a required pumping speed compared with ejectors having Venturi portions of similar dimensions but without the flow stabilisation portions associated with each Venturi. If flow of fluid that has not stabilised encounters a bend portion a reduction in efficiency of the system occurs as noted above resulting in a reduced pumping rate under comparable conditions.
- Advantageously the flow stabilisation conduit has substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion.
- It is to be understood that in some embodiments the flow stabilisation conduit may be of a different diameter to the downstream end of the Venturi portion.
- The flow stabilisation portion preferably has a length equal to at least a diameter thereof.
- More preferably the flow stabilisation portion has a length equal to at least double the diameter thereof.
- The flow stabilisation portion may have a length of substantially at least one selected from amongst three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, eight times, nine times, ten times, fifteen times, twenty times, fifty times and one hundred times the diameter thereof.
- Preferably the flow stabilisation portion has at length of at least five times the diameter thereof.
- Preferably the flow stabilisation portion has a length in the range from around 6 to around 10 times the diameter thereof.
- The apparatus may further comprise a manifold portion between the ejectors and the discharge outlet, the manifold portion comprising a conduit arranged to receive fluid flowing out from the diffuser portions of the ejectors of the apparatus.
- The apparatus may be further provided with a bend conduit being a conduit having a bend portion, the bend conduit being provided downstream of the plurality of ejectors.
- The bend conduit may be arranged to turn a direction of the flow of fluid through one selected from at least substantially 45°, at least 90° and substantially 180°.
- The bend conduit may be provided downstream of the manifold portion.
- The apparatus may be provided in combination with a bend conduit being a conduit having a bend portion wherein the conduit bends through an angle θ where θ is nonzero, the bend portion being provided downstream of the common discharge outlet wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of ejectors is directed to flow through the bend conduit.
- The bend conduit may be arranged wherein θ takes a value given by one selected from amongst 30°≦θ<60°, 60°≦θ<90°, 90°≦θ<120°, 120°≦θ<150° and 150°≦θ180°.
- Optionally θ may take a value of one selected from amongst substantially 45°, substantially 90° and substantially 180°.
- The plurality of ejectors may be arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.
- The injector portion of at least one of the ejectors may comprise a plurality of injectors.
- The apparatus may have a separate motive fluid inlet for each ejector whereby a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of one ejector may be prevented from mixing with a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of another ejector.
- The apparatus may have a common motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to each of the plurality of ejectors.
- The apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the injector portion of one of the plurality of ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage that a pumping rate of the apparatus may be controlled without adjusting the motive fluid flow rate external to the apparatus.
- Alternatively or in addition the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the injector portion of each of a plurality of the ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage of allowing a greater range of control of pumping rate.
- The apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of one of the plurality of ejectors.
- Alternatively or in addition the apparatus may be operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of each of a plurality of the ejectors.
- One of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a size different from the corresponding portion of another of the ejectors.
- This feature has the advantage that in some embodiments the pumping rate of the apparatus may be more precisely controlled.
- Said one of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a diameter different from the corresponding portion of the other of the ejectors.
- Alternatively or in addition said one of the plurality of ejectors may have a portion having a length different from the length of the corresponding portion of the other ejector.
- Said portion may be one selected from amongst the injector portion, the diffuser portion, the Venturi portion and the flow stabilisation portion.
- This has the advantage that ejectors may be provided having components of a size that is optimised for a given application.
- Optionally the flow stabilisation conduit has substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion
- Further optionally the flow stabilisation conduit has a length substantially equal to from one to two times or from two to three times the diameter thereof.
- The flow stabilisation conduit may have a length L to diameter D ratio R=L/D where R is given substantially by one selected from amongst 3≦R<4, 4≦R<5, 5≦R<6, 6≦R<7, 7≦R<8, 8≦R<9, 9≦R<10, 11≦R<15, 15≦R<20, 20≦R<50, 50≦R<100, R≧100.
- In a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus according to the first aspect installed in a subsea system.
- In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus according to the first aspect located in an underwater system and arranged to pump a fluid in the underwater system.
- In an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of pumping a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a flow of motive fluid to each of a plurality of ejectors thereby to draw suction fluid through each ejector and expel discharge fluid drawn through the ejectors through a common discharge outlet, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the method comprising injecting motive fluid into the diffuser portion thereby to draw the suction fluid into the diffuser portion, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the method further comprising stabilising the flow of fluid from the diffuser portion as it passes through the flow stabilisation portion before respective fluid flows through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, the step of passing the fluid through the flow stabilisation portion comprising passing the fluid through a conduit having substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof.
- In one aspect of the invention there is provided fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilisation portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilisation portion being arranged to stabilise a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors, wherein the flow stabilisation portion comprises a flow stabilisation conduit having substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion and a length substantially equal to at least a diameter thereof.
- In an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of pumping a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a flow of motive fluid to each of a plurality of ejectors thereby to draw suction fluid through each ejector and expel discharge fluid drawn through the ejectors through a common discharge outlet, each ejector having an injector portion and a diffuser portion, the method comprising injecting motive fluid into the diffuser portion thereby to draw the suction fluid into the diffuser portion, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, the method further comprising stabilising the flow of fluid from the diffuser portion prior to expulsion from the common discharge outlet.
- It is to be understood that reference to Venturi portion includes reference to any suitable device for inducing the Venturi effect in a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of the ejectors. That is, a reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of a pipe or tube.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows a known ejector; -
FIG. 2 shows ejector apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3 shows the apparatus ofFIG. 2 in cross-section showing a flow path of fluid through the apparatus; and -
FIG. 4 shows the ejector apparatus ofFIG. 2 installed in a subsea oil/gas recovery system. -
FIG. 2 showsejector apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 100 has abody portion 100B having a singlemotive fluid inlet 110, a singlesuction fluid inlet 120 and asingle outlet aperture 154. Fluid entering theapparatus 100 through eitherinlet apparatus 100 through theoutlet aperture 154. - The
apparatus 100 has four ejectors three of which are shown inFIG. 2 labelled 101, 102 and 103 respectively. Eachejector injector 140 having anozzle portion nozzle portions respective inlet aperture motive fluid inlet 110. - Each
nozzle portion nozzle outlet aperture 144 arranged to inject inlet fluid from thenozzle portions corresponding diffuser portion 150 of eachejector - Each
diffuser portion 150 has aVenturi portion 155 and a stabiliser or flowstabilisation portion 157 provided downstream of theVenturi portion 155. - Each
Venturi portion 155 has a converging section 155CON along which a diameter of the Venturi portion decreases, athroat section 155T of substantially constant diameter and a diverging section 155DIV along which the diameter of the Venturi portion increases again. - The
stabiliser portion 157 of eachdiffuser portion stabiliser portion 157 is in the form of a conduit having a diameter substantially equal to that of the diverging section 155DIV of theVenturi portion 155 at the downstream end of that section 155DIV. - The
stabiliser portions 157 of theejectors single stabiliser portion 157A is shown inFIG. 2 for clarity, being part ofejector 101. - In some embodiments the
stabiliser portions 157 are each of a length of from around six to around ten times their diameter. Other lengths are also useful. - At a downstream end of each of the
ejectors stabiliser portions 157 are in fluid communication with theoutlet aperture 154 by means of amanifold portion 170. - The apparatus is arranged to pump suction fluid through the
suction fluid inlet 120 and through thediffuser portions 150 of theejectors motive fluid inlet 110. A decrease in pressure occurs at the entrance aperture to each of thediffuser portions 150 as motive fluid is injected from theinjectors 140 into thediffuser portions 150 thereby drawing suction fluid through thesuction fluid inlet 120. - The presence of the
stabiliser portions 157 of each of theejectors ejectors apparatus 100. This has the advantage that if a conduit having a bend therein is provided downstream of the apparatus 100 a pumping speed of theapparatus 100 is not reduced to the same extent as correspondingapparatus having ejectors stabiliser portions 157. - The feature that the presence of a bend portion does not reduce pumping speed to the same extent has the advantage that apparatus may be provided that is more compact. In some embodiments the apparatus has a reduced length compared with prior art apparatus.
-
FIG. 3 shows theapparatus 100 of the embodiment ofFIG. 2 in cross-section through a pair ofejectors apparatus 100. The flow path of motive fluid FM fromnozzle portions apparatus 100 throughsuction fluid inlet 120. - It can be seen that motive fluid FM injected through
nozzle portions ejector respective diffuser portions - As described above suction fluid FS is drawn through the
suction fluid inlet 120 and becomes entrained in the flow of motive fluid FM passing from theinjectors 140 into thediffuser portions 150. Thus, suction fluid entrained in motive fluid, FMS, flows through thediffuser portions 150. - It can be seen that motive/suction fluid FMS entering the
respective stabiliser portions stabiliser portions outlet aperture 154. - In some embodiments of the invention a valve is provided in each of the four
injectors 140 operable to prevent fluid flow from therespective injector 140A, B, C into the correspondingdiffuser portion 150. This feature allows the pumping rate of theapparatus 100 to be varied according to demand and/or the type of suction fluid FS to be pumped. - In some embodiments the
respective ejectors apparatus 100 may be operable to vary a pumping rate from 10% to 100% in 10% increments. It is to be understood that other arrangements are also useful such as other relative flow rates, other numbers of ejectors and so forth. - In some embodiments the apparatus is arranged to allow fluid to flow in a reverse direction through one of the
diffuser portions 150A, B, C of one or more of the fourejectors diffuser portion 150 from therespective injector 140A, B, C. This has the advantage that flow of fluid through theapparatus 100 may be manipulated in order to obtain optimum flow conditions for a given application or type of suction fluid FS. - The apparatus may be arranged to allow this reverse direction of fluid flow by terminating a supply of fluid to one or more of the
injectors 140A, B, C such that motive fluid is not injected into thecorresponding diffuser 150. - It is to be understood that as described above this may be accomplished by providing a valve within the
respective injector 140A, B, C or by providing a valve upstream of theinjector 140A, B, C to prevent a flow of fluid into theinjector 140A, B, C. - Thus, it is to be understood that for a given motive fluid inlet pressure at the
motive inlet 110, suction fluid inlet pressure at thesuction inlet 120 and discharge fluid pressure at theoutlet aperture 154 the rate of fluid flow through thesuction inlet 120 and out through theoutlet aperture 154 may be reduced by preventing flow of fluid through one or more of theinjectors 140A, B, C and allowing recirculation of some discharge fluid back through one or more of thediffuser portions 150B, C before it passes through thefluid outlet aperture 154. - It is to be understood that such embodiments of the invention have the advantage that a valve (such as a throttle valve) is not required to be provided in a flowpath of suction fluid FS (which may be a slurry in some applications) or suction fluid entrained in motive fluid FMS (being a diluted slurry in some applications). Provision of a valve in a flow of slurry is undesirable due to issues in respect of valve movement and valve closure in addition to wear of the valve. By providing the valve in the flow of motive fluid (typically liquid not being a slurry, or a gas) this problem may be avoided.
- Furthermore, by allowing fluid to flow in a reverse direction through a
diffuser 150 the need to provide a separate return path for suction fluid entrained in motive fluid FMS from (say) themanifold portion 170 back to inlets of thediffuser portion 150 in order to reduce the motive, suction and discharge fluid flow rates may be eliminated. This return path would require a valve therein which would be exposed to the suction and motive fluids (such as slurry) and the apparatus would therefore have the associated disadvantages. However it is to be understood that such an arrangement may be employed in some embodiments of the invention. - Thus some embodiments of the invention have the advantage that control of suction fluid flow rate may be effected without changing the pressure of fluid at either the motive fluid inlet, the suction fluid inlet or the discharge fluid outlet of the apparatus. Furthermore some embodiments have the advantage that control of fluid flow rate may be made without a requirement to position a valve in a flowpath of suction fluid or suction fluid entrained in motive fluid.
- Other arrangements are also useful.
-
FIG. 4 shows theapparatus 100 ofFIG. 2 installed in an underwater oil recovery system in which the apparatus is arranged to pump slurry from an outlet of aseparator 105. Theseparator 105 may be arranged to separate solids and liquids pumped from a subsea oil well, an outlet of the separator being coupled to asuction fluid inlet 120 of theapparatus 100. - A
motive inlet 110 of theapparatus 100 is coupled to amotive fluid pump 171 arranged to pump motive fluid therethrough. Theapparatus 100 is thereby arranged to pump fluid from theseparator 105 entrained in motive fluid out from theapparatus 100 through thefluid outlet 154. - It can be seen that a
fluid conduit 185 is coupled to thefluid outlet 154 of theapparatus 100. Abend 185B is provided in theconduit 185. - It is to be understood that an installed length of the
apparatus 100 from themotive inlet 110 to thebend 185B for a given pumping efficiency may be made less than that which would be possible in a known ejector not having a flow stabilisation portion downstream of theVenturi portion 155B, C of each ejector 101A, B, C. This has the advantage of enabling a reduction in a size and cost of theapparatus 100 and in turn the underwater oil recovery system. - In some embodiments apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention may be employed to pump a fluid such as a liquid, gas or slurry from a source to a separator. Other arrangements are also useful.
- Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, means “including but not limited to”, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.
- Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
- Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.
Claims (32)
1. Fluid pump apparatus comprising a plurality of ejectors, the apparatus having at least one motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to the apparatus, at least one suction fluid inlet arranged to supply suction fluid to the apparatus and a common discharge outlet from which motive fluid and suction fluid that have passed through the ejectors may be expelled from the apparatus,
each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion, the injector portion being arranged to inject motive fluid from at least one said at least one motive fluid inlet into the diffuser portion thereby to draw suction fluid into the diffuser portion from at least one said at least one suction fluid inlet, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilization portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof, the flow stabilization portion being arranged to stabilize a flow of motive fluid and suction fluid therethrough before the respective flows of fluid through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors,
wherein the flow stabilization portion comprises a flow stabilization conduit of substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of ejectors are arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the injector portion of at least one of the ejectors comprises a plurality of injectors.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having a common motive fluid inlet arranged to supply motive fluid to each of the plurality of ejectors.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having a separate motive fluid inlet for each ejector whereby a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of one ejector may be prevented from mixing with a flow of motive fluid to the nozzle portion of another ejector.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the injector portion of one or more of the plurality of ejectors.
7. (canceled)
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 operable to prevent a flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of one or more of the plurality of ejectors.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 operable to allow a reverse flow of fluid through the diffuser portion of one or more of the plurality of ejectors.
10. (canceled)
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of ejectors has a portion having a size different from the corresponding portion of another of the ejectors.
12-13. (canceled)
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said portion is one selected from amongst the injector portion, the diffuser portion, the Venturi portion and the flow stabilization portion.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the ejectors are arranged to allow different respective flow rates of fluid therethrough.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the Venturi portions of the plurality of ejectors have different respective diameters.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprising four ejectors, and wherein the respective Venturi portions of the four ejectors are arranged to allow a flow rate of fluid therethrough in the ratio 1:2:3:4.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 coupled to a separation system operable to separate liquid from solids.
19. (canceled)
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the separation system comprises a cyclonic separator or wherein the separation system comprises an axial flow cyclonic separator.
21. (canceled)
22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 installed in an underwater system.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 located in an underwater system and arranged to pump a fluid in the underwater system.
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow stabilization conduit has substantially the same diameter as a downstream end of the Venturi portion.
25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow stabilization conduit has a length substantially equal to from one to two times or from two to three times the diameter thereof.
26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow stabilization conduit has a length substantially equal to one selected from amongst four times, five times, six times, seven times, eight times, nine times, ten times, fifteen times, twenty times, fifty times and one hundred times the diameter thereof.
27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow stabilization conduit has a length L to diameter D ratio R=L/D where R is given substantially by one selected from amongst 3≦R<4, 4≦R<5, 5≦R<6, 6≦R<7, 7≦R<8, 8≦R<9, 9≦R<10, 11≦R<15, 15≦R<20, 20≦R<50, 50≦R<100, R≧100.
28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a manifold portion between the ejectors and the discharge outlet, the manifold portion comprising a conduit arranged to receive fluid flowing out from the respective flow stabilization portions of the ejectors and to direct the fluid to the discharge outlet.
29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a bend conduit being a conduit having a bend portion wherein the conduit bends through an angle θ where θ is nonzero, the bend portion being provided downstream of the common discharge outlet wherein fluid flowing through the plurality of ejectors is directed to flow through the bend conduit.
30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the bend conduit is arranged wherein 0 takes a value given by one selected from amongst 30°≦θ60°, 60°≦θ<90°, 90°≦θ<120°, 120°≦θ<150° and 150°≦θ≦180°.
31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein θ takes a value of one selected from amongst substantially 45°, substantially 90° and substantially 180°.
32. A method of pumping a fluid comprising the steps of:
providing a flow of motive fluid to each of a plurality of ejectors thereby to draw suction fluid through each ejector and expel discharge fluid drawn through the ejectors through a common discharge outlet, each ejector having a respective injector portion and a respective diffuser portion;
injecting motive fluid into the diffuser portion thereby to draw the suction fluid into the diffuser portion, the diffuser portion having a Venturi portion, each ejector having a respective flow stabilization portion downstream of the Venturi portion thereof; and
stabilizing the flow of fluid from the diffuser portion as it passes through the flow stabilization portion which includes a conduit having a substantially constant diameter and a length substantially equal to at least the diameter thereof, before respective fluid flows through each ejector meet downstream of the ejectors.
33-34. (canceled)
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GBGB1018721.9A GB201018721D0 (en) | 2010-11-05 | 2010-11-05 | Improved ejector and method |
PCT/GB2011/052163 WO2012059773A2 (en) | 2010-11-05 | 2011-11-07 | Improved ejector and method |
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US20130216352A1 true US20130216352A1 (en) | 2013-08-22 |
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- 2011-11-07 EP EP11782465.6A patent/EP2635816B1/en active Active
- 2011-11-07 BR BR112013010970A patent/BR112013010970A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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US10174640B1 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2019-01-08 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Modified Goswami cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power and cooling with flexibility |
US10227899B2 (en) * | 2015-08-24 | 2019-03-12 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Organic rankine cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power and cooling |
US10301977B2 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2019-05-28 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Kalina cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power |
US10480352B2 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2019-11-19 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Organic Rankine cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power and cooling |
US10577981B2 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2020-03-03 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Modified Goswami cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power and cooling |
US10995636B2 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2021-05-04 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Organic Rankine cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power |
US11073050B2 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2021-07-27 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Kalina cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power |
US11274680B2 (en) * | 2017-01-11 | 2022-03-15 | Transvac Systems Limited | Ejector device |
US11225889B2 (en) | 2017-06-09 | 2022-01-18 | Smc Corporation | Silencer and ejector in which silencer is used |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2012059773A3 (en) | 2013-08-08 |
WO2012059773A2 (en) | 2012-05-10 |
BR112013010970A2 (en) | 2016-08-30 |
GB2499166A (en) | 2013-08-07 |
EP2635816A2 (en) | 2013-09-11 |
ES2790376T3 (en) | 2020-10-27 |
EP2635816B1 (en) | 2020-02-12 |
GB2499166B (en) | 2017-09-06 |
GB201309822D0 (en) | 2013-07-17 |
GB201018721D0 (en) | 2010-12-22 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TRANSVAC SYSTEMS LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SHORT, GARY;REEL/FRAME:032031/0439 Effective date: 20140123 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |