OLD LESSONS APPLIED TO MODERN SEPARATOR STATION DESIGN

Abstract

Wairakei development was enabled by the development of effective two-phase separators and valuable early research on two-phase flow. The basic separator technology continues in use to the present day, in many cases upscaled, with centralised separator stations. There have been some refinements to outlet controls and some change in proportions. However, there may be some fundamental lessons that have been forgotten along the way. This paper skims over early and more recent research, then looks at the design and performance of a separator station on the Ulubelu geothermal field in Indonesia, designed and constructed by international experts, that in fact is similar to many centralised separator stations around the world. Performance is compromised by forgotten lessons. The paper looks at inlet and outlet conditions, and finally considers some possible solutions to performance loss.