Zeta-pdm: Development of an improved inlet device for oil and gas separation

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Zeta-pdm Ltd (ZPL) is a worldwide supplier of advanced multiphase flow process separationtechnology to the oil, gas, water & petrochemical industries. This equipment operates withinpressure vessels & separates the well stream into gas & liquids. The global oil & gasseparation market is forecast to reach $10.68 billion by 2020.Favourable initiatives e.g. Kuwait conventions & U.S. EPA regulations, increasingenvironmental concerns & strict quality specifications are expected to continue to drive thegrowth in the global oil & gas separation market.ZPL has found weaknesses in current inlet devices that produce an outlet flow that is poorlymatched to the pressure vessel cross-section. ZPL propose a new inlet device that achieves amaximum variation in the flow velocity of <10% across the outlet area, reduces swirl by 50,and the pressure drop by >20% when compared to state of the art devices. This createsvaluable increases in flow rate through the vessel & opportunities to optimise equipmentdownstream.ZPL’s knowledge of separation technology equips them to develop & test the novel inletsolution to demonstrate the anticipated benefits. However, before undertaking expensivetechnical development, it will be crucial for ZPL to conduct an in-depth review to understandthe requirements of the target customers within key markets.Challenges to overcome:- A strategy for cost effective optimisation of the inlet device- Integration of the inlet device into the overall separation process- Assessment of the performance benefits for different installation scenarios & a range of inletflow conditions- Optimising the performance & mechanical design to achieve reliable operation inchallenging operating conditions- Achieving overall cost & performance benefits- Assessing performance in new project & retrofit market opportunitiesThe PoM will enable ZPL to gain information on market need, identifying competitors &exploring exploitation paths.