VERTICAL VAPOR LIQUID SEPARATOR

Vessels are generally sized based on the heat and K : Dimensionless coefficient
material balance for governing case. Vapor liquid English unit 0.2 – 0.3 ft/s
separation vessels are generally sized based on SI unit 0.06096 – 0.10668 m/s
settling out of 150 µm liquid droplets from vapor  l : Liquid density
stream except in the case of Flare knock-out drum  v : Vapor density
that generally apply 300-600 µm.
This velocity should allow all liquid
Vertical vapor liquid separators are preferred for droplets larger than 10 µm to settle out of
separating liquid from mixtures with a high the gas.
vapor/liquid mass flow ratio. 2. Calculate the minimum vessel diameter
based on Va
Design Code:
4G
Please, refer to API 12J (Specification of oil and Dmin  (ft)
60 Va
gas separators).
4G
The sizing procedure is: Dmin  (m)
3600 Va
1. Calculate the maximum allowable vapor G: Gas volumetric flow rate
velocity. It is the maximum velocity of Va : Allowable maximum vapor velocity
rising vapors, which will not entrain
sufficient liquid to cause excessive carry
over.
2. Using the maximum vapor velocity to
determine the minimum area required to
meet the allowable velocity.
3. Using this diameter and maximum liquid
flow rate, calculate the liquid height
required to satisfy the residence time
requirements.
4. Adjust the diameter to achieve a reasonable
length/diameter (L/D) ratio.
Vessel P (Barg) Recommended L/D
0 < P < 17 2.5
17 < P < 35 3.0 – 4.0
P > 35 4.0 – 6.0

The sizing procedures in details are as fellow:

The liquid capacity of a separator is a function of
1. Calculate the maximum allowable vapor retention time and gas-liquid interface. The basic
velocity using Souders-Brown equation requirement is to retain the liquid long enough and
l   v provide sufficient interface area for entrained gas
Va  K
v to break out of the liquid.

Va : Theoretical terminal vapor velocity

 VERTICAL VAPOR LIQUID SEPARATOR

Another method of sizing is to use the charts

below to determine the separator size which can
handle the required gas capacity. The gas capacity
should be calculated in MMSCFD.
After defining the standard separator size using the
figures below, you need to check whether the size
will be convenient to handle the required amount
of liquid flow rate using the following equation:
1440  V
W Where
t
W: volumetric flow rate, V: available liquid
volume, t = 1 for gas-liquid separator

Figure 1: Gas capacity of vertical low pressure

separator Figure 2: Gas Capacity of vertical high pressure
separator