US 7,569,097 B2
Subsea multiphase pumping systems
Clifford Howard Campen, Pittsburgh, Pa. (US); Jose Luis Matos, Pittsburgh, Pa. (US); and James Roncace, Murrysville, Pa. (US)
Assigned to Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation, Cheswick, Pa. (US)
Filed on May 26, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/442,690.
Prior Publication US 2007/0274842 A1, Nov. 29, 2007
Int. Cl. B01D 19/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 95—243  [95/261; 96/207; 96/209; 166/357; 166/267; 166/105.5; 417/313] 61 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiphase pumping system for subsea operation, said system comprising:
a pump;
a flow inlet for accepting incoming multiphase flow and directing incoming multiphase flow generally towards said pump;
a flow outlet for directing outgoing multiphase flow generally away from said pump;
a flow management apparatus in fluid communication with said pump and at least one of said flow inlet and said flow outlet;
said flow management apparatus configured to ensure a minimum liquid content in multiphase flow entering said pump;
said flow management apparatus comprising:
a gas liquid cylindrical cyclone in communication with said flow outlet;
a recirculation port disposed in said gas liquid cylindrical cyclone; and
a recirculation line in communication with said recirculation port, said recirculation line configured to direct flow generally towards said pump;
said gas liquid cylindrical cyclone comprising a cyclonic column, a recombination column and at least one conduit interconnecting said cyclonic column and said recombination column; and
said recombination column having an average diameter sufficient for preserving liquid flow velocity to maintain particulates within liquid flow in suspension.