Slugcatcher - Slugcatcher Design

Slugcatcher Design

Slugcatchers are designed in different forms,

• A vessel type slugcatcher is essentially a conventional vessel. This type is simple in design and maintenance.
• A finger type slugcatcher consists of several long pieces of pipe ('fingers'), which together form the buffer volume. The advantage of this type of slugcatcher is that pipe segments are simpler to design for high pressures, which are often encountered in pipeline systems, than a large vessel. A disadvantage is that its footprint can become excessively large. An example of a large finger-type slugcatcher can be seen in Den Helder, The Netherlands, using Google Maps.
• A Parking Loop slugcatcher combines features of the vessel and finger types. The Gas/Liquid Separation occurs in the Vessel, while the Liquid is stored in the parking loop shaped fingers.

A basic slug catcher design contains the buffer volume for gas and liquid. A control system is used for controlled outflow of gas and liquid to the downstream processing facilities. The inlet section is designed to promote the separation of gas and liquids.