700674Zeta-pdm: Development of an improved inlet device for oil and gas separationClosedGRD Proof of MarketInnovate UKZeta-pdm Ltd (ZPL) is a worldwide supplier of advanced multiphase flow process separation technology to the oil, gas, water & petrochemical industries. This equipment operates within pressure vessels & separates the well stream into gas & liquids. The global oil & gas separation market is forecast to reach $10.68 billion by 2020. Favourable initiatives e.g. Kuwait conventions & U.S. EPA regulations, increasing environmental concerns & strict quality specifications are expected to continue to drive the growth in the global oil & gas separation market. ZPL has found weaknesses in current inlet devices that produce an outlet flow that is poorly matched to the pressure vessel cross-section. ZPL propose a new inlet device that achieves a maximum 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 creates valuable increases in flow rate through the vessel & opportunities to optimise equipment downstream. ZPL’s knowledge of separation technology equips them to develop & test the novel inlet solution to demonstrate the anticipated benefits. However, before undertaking expensive technical development, it will be crucial for ZPL to conduct an in-depth review to understand the 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 inlet flow conditions - Optimising the performance & mechanical design to achieve reliable operation in challenging operating conditions - Achieving overall cost & performance benefits - Assessing performance in new project & retrofit market opportunities The PoM will enable ZPL to gain information on market need, identifying competitors & exploring exploitation paths.