Desanding Hydrocyclones are pressure-driven cyclonic separators that utilize a certain pressure drop across the unit to force the separation of the solids from the bulk phase produced water or condensate. The feed stream, containing high amount of solids/ sand, enters the hydrocyclone through a tangential inlet under a pressurized condition. This is where it is forced into a spiral motion by the hydrocyclone’s internal profile. The internal conic shape of the liner causes the spinning/ swirling effect to accelerate {which effectively creates) high centrifugal forces, causing the denser solid particles to move to the outer wall of the hydrocyclone liner, while the lighter phase water or condensate is concentrated to the central core of the liner.

Solids continue to spiral down along the outer wall of the hydrocyclone to the bottom exit which is typically collected in an accumulator (could be integrated or a separate unit) for periodic disposal. The “desanded” water in the central core section reverses direction and is forced out through the central vortex towards the top of the Hydrocyclone.

Hydrocyclones are effectively centrifugal separators that rely on the differential density between the solids particle and the water to allow separation.

The efficiency of the separation is governed by four main factors:

• Solid Particle Size
• Differential Density
• Viscosity of the Bulk Fluid
• Gravity (or Centrifugal Force)

The horizontal deoiling hydrocyclone vessel with liners is designed to reduce the oil content of the incoming produced water prior to entering an optional degasser vessel. The horizontal arrangement allows easy access to the liners for inspection, installation, and replacement.

Liquid/liquid cyclones – On entering the cyclone tangentially, the fluid begins to spin. This creates a radial force that directs the heavier phase towards the edges of the cyclone and then out of the cyclone underflow owing to differential pressure. The less dense phase is concentrated in the centre of the cyclone before passing out of the cyclone overflow, again due to differential pressure.

Hydrocyclones are effectively centrifugal separators that rely on the differential density between the oil droplet and the water to allow separation. The efficiency of the separation is governed by five main factors:

• Droplet/Particle Size
• Differential Density
• Viscosity of the Bulk Fluid
• Gravity (or Centrifugal Force)
• Distance

The reject from the hydrocyclone comes out in a counter current flow as a reverse spinning vortex. For an oil droplet to be removed it must make its way from the bulk fluid into the central core. The less distance the droplet must travel to get to this central core the higher the efficiency.