Hi John,

I know that ceramic chokes are used by the oil industry, but I don't know what other materials are used - if you really want to know, I can find out.

The image below shows a choke set-up and consists of a number of ceramic cones set in line in a flanged steel pipe. As I understand it, each cone/choke has the effect of reducing the line pressure; the more chokes you put in the line, the greater the pressure drop.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Mike.

Attachments

choke (JPG)

■

Hi John,

Ceramic wellhead hydrocyclone linings are supplied as multi-part systems, as in the image below.

Use this URL for further images of ceramic wellhead hydro-cyclone lining systems http://www.omegaslate.com/hydro1.htm

Regards,

Mike

Attachments

610 (JPG)

■

John,

I don't really know how large wellhead hydrocyclones need to be; 24" bore is the largest ceramic lined unit I've come across. The very high pressure and velocity conditions these units are expected to work under requires quite a specialised and robust ceramic lining system capable of facilitating fast pressure equalisation from front to back of the lining system. Typically, one-piece annular ceramic sections are used, as are curved tongue and grooved sections.

At a guess, I would say that a 48" bore wellhead hydrocyclone is feasible as far as ceramic lining is concerned, but my field is not hydrocyclone design and you would need to speak to a specialist design and manufacturing organisation, such as Cyclotech

Limited, ( www.cyclotech.co.uk) if you have questions relating to specification and design of these units. ■