Liquid retention assemblies for pumping systems
AssigneeOneSubsea IP UK Limited
InventorsStig Kaare Kanstad, Even Nordstoga, Kyrre Aarsand Groenstoel
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Abstract
An embodiment of a multi-phase pumping system includes a pump and a liquid retention assembly downstream of the pump. The liquid retention assembly is configured to extract and retain a volume of liquid from a multi-phase fluid that is discharged by the pump. The liquid retention assembly includes a recirculation outlet that is configured to provide a liquid-rich recirculation flow from the volume of liquid to the pump to reduce a gas volume fraction (GVF) at an inlet of the pump.
Claims20
A multi-phase pumping system comprising:
- a pump;
- and
- a liquid retention assembly downstream of the pump, where the liquid retention assembly is configured to extract and retain a volume of liquid from a multi-phase fluid that is discharged by the pump, and where the liquid retention assembly includes a recirculation outlet that is configured to provide a liquid-rich recirculation flow from the volume of liquid to the pump to reduce a gas volume fraction (GVF) at an inlet of the pump.
A liquid retention assembly for a multi-phase pumping system, the liquid retention assembly comprising:
- a liquid retainer that is configured to extract and retain at least a portion of a volume of liquid from a multi-phase fluid discharged from a pump of the multi-phase pumping system up to a predetermined liquid level, where the liquid retainer is configured to prevent liquid drainage below the predetermined liquid level;
- and
- a recirculation outlet in communication with the liquid retainer that is configured to provide a liquid-rich recirculation flow from the volume of liquid to the pump to reduce a gas volume fraction (GVF) at an inlet of the pump.
A method, comprising:
- (a) discharging a multi-phase fluid from a pump;
- (b) receiving the multi-phase fluid into a liquid retention assembly after (a);
- (c) separating and retaining a liquid from the multi-phase fluid in the liquid retention assembly;
- and
- (d) recirculating at least some of the liquid from the liquid retention assembly to the pump to reduce a gas volume fraction (GVF) at an inlet of the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.