NZ722990A - A flow distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

A flow distribution system for encouraging uniform, or substantially uniform, distribution of a multi-phase fluid stream is described. The system comprises: an inlet pipe; a hollow housing forming an inner chamber having a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, the hollow housing having an external periphery; an inlet for the inner chamber, the inlet being adjacent the first chamber portion and adapted to receive the multi-phase fluid stream from the inlet pipe; a plurality of outlets for the inner chamber, each provided in the external periphery of the housing at a position adjacent the second chamber portion, such that a central longitudinal axis of each outlet is not parallel, or substantially parallel, to the central longitudinal axis of the housing; a non-planar flow diverter located in the inner chamber and positioned centrally relative to each outlet in the plurality of outlets, the non-planar flow diverter extending towards the inlet into at least the second chamber portion; where the cross-sectional area of the inlet and a section of inlet pipe leading to the inlet relative to the cross-sectional area of the first chamber portion causes a first drop in flow velocity of the multi-phase fluid stream as it enters the first chamber portion and where the non-planar flow diverter is further positioned within the inner chamber so as to define a flow channel, the cross-sectional area of the flow channel at the position of the first chamber being less than the cross-sectional area of the flow channel at the position of the second chamber so as to create a second drop in flow velocity of the multi-phase fluid stream as it transitions from the first chamber to the second chamber, each cross-sectional area being measured in a plane orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the housing.