| 摘要 |
A sand separator for capturing sand and rock debris from recovered natural gas fracturing fluid includes a cylindrical, high-pressure-rated vessel disposed vertically and immediately downstream of the gas wellhead. High pressure fracturing fluid enters the top of the separator into an inner flue extending coaxially downward to terminate a spaced distance above the bottom of the vessel. Transverse baffles spaced apart along the length of the flue extend through the flue to the inner walls of the vessel to keep the flue centered within the separator. As the fluid enters the separator, openings through the flue near the vessel inlet permit lighter weight and gaseous constituents to escape the fluid and bypass the flue, thereby reducing the velocity of the fluid remaining inside the flue. As the remaining fluid falls to the bottom of the vessel, it further slows as it reverses direction to rise between the flue and the vessel walls. At the bottom of the vessel, sand and rock debris precipitates out of the slowed fluid and accumulates above a clean-out valve by which the debris periodically may be removed. The gas and fluid recombine relatively free of sand and rock debris and exit the vessel at one or more outlet ports through the vessel walls. The sand separator functions in both exploration and production wells for both petroleum and natural gas. |
