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Separator sizing
Considerations in separator sizes is important during design. The liquid capacity of most separators is sized to provide enough retention time to allow gas bubbles to form and
separate out.
Contents
Separator design basics
Settling theory
Horizontal separators
Vertical vessels
Drop/bubble sizes
Retention time
Horizontal vessels
Vertical vessels
Demister sizing
Seam to seam length
Horizontal Vessels
Vertical vessels
Nozzle sizing
Examples of separator sizing
Example 1: vertical two-phase separator with a mesh pad demister given values
Example 2: Horizontal two phase separator
Example 3: Vertical three phase separator
Drag coefficients
Nomenclature
Subscripts
References
Noteworthy papers in OnePetro
External links
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See also
Category
1. Estimate overall volume based on the retention time and expected separation performance for each phase, and the major factors needed to be considered include:
Expected perforamance
Overall through put
Composition of incoming fluids
Intensity of emulsion
Retention time of each individal phase
Types of vessel and internals
levels and alarms
2. Determination of gas cross-sectional area based on settling theory or empirical correlations, and the other factors include
4. Determine water cross-sectional area based on settling theory or empirical correlations by following similar procedure in Steps 1 and 2.
6. Determine vessel length to meet the required retention time for all phases
Settling theory
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In gravity settling, the dispersed drops/bubbles will settle at a velocity determined by equating the gravity force on the drop/bubble with the drag force caused by its motion
relative to the continuous phase.
In horizontal vessels, a simple ballistic model can be used to determine a relationship between vessel length and diameter. In vertical vessels, settling theory results in a
relation for the vessel diameter.
Horizontal separators
Droplet settling theory, using a ballistic model, results in the relationship shown in Eq. 1. For liquid drops in gas phase
................(1)
where
................(2)
where
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................(3)
where
Vertical vessels
Settling theory results in the following relationship. For liquid drops in gas phase,
................(4)
................(5)
................(6)
Drop/bubble sizes
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If drop or bubble removal is being used for sizing, consult Table 1 for guidelines. Sizing the water phase by oil-drop removal is usually not effective. The water effluent quality
is more likely dictated by the added chemicals. Hence, the water-phase volume is typically determined by a retention time, based on experience.
Table 1
The oil drops to be removed from the gas stream also depend upon the downstream equipment. Flare scrubbers are typically designed for removal of drops that are a few
hundred microns in size.
Retention time
Horizontal vessels
The relationship of vessel diameter and length is given by Eq. 7.
................(7)
where
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Vertical vessels
Similarly for vertical vessels, the relationship of vessel diameter and liquid pad heights is given by Eq. 8.
................(8)
where
Demister sizing
As discussed previously, many types of demisters are limited by a maximum velocity given by
................(9)
where
Kd = demister capacity factor, ft/sec and depends upon the demister type
Vm = maximum velocity, ft/sec
ρL = liquid density, lbm/ft3
ρg = gas density, lbm/ft3
................(10)
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................(11)
For vertical vessels, Eq. 11 is also valid. The vessel diameter is then obtained as
................(12)
For demisters (horizontal or vertical vessels) sealed in a gas box, in addition to the demister area, some height must be maintained between the bottom of the demister and the
highest liquid level for the demister to drain. A pressure drop exists across the demister. If the liquid level is too high, the demister will not drain, and liquid siphoning can
occur. A small hole is sometimes drilled into the drainpipe as a siphon breaker.
When using settling theory or demister sizing in horizontal vessels, one should also consider the gas velocity for re-entrainment. Too high of a gas velocity will result in liquid
re-entrainment from the liquid surface, which may flood the demister and cause carryover. Typical gas velocities for re-entrainment are shown in Table 2.
Table 2
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Horizontal Vessels
The seam-to-seam length, Lss, for the horizontal vessel should be determined from the geometry once a diameter and effective length have been determined. Length must be
allotted for inlet devices, gas demisters, and coalescers. For screening purposes, the following approximations can be used.
................(13)
Vertical vessels
The seam-to-seam length of the vertical vessel should be determined from the geometry, once a diameter and height of liquid volume are known. Allowance must be made for:
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For screening purposes, the following approximations can be used, where d is the vessel diameter).
................(14)
The ratio of height to diameter is typically in the 3 to 5 range for two-phase separators. For three-phase separators, the ratio is in the 1.5 to 3 range.
Additional consideration should be given for installation of the internals as well as man-way access. In glycol dehydration towers, a man-way is typically installed above the
packing/trays and the demister. Access space must be allotted for installation of the equipment.
Nozzle sizing
Nozzles are generally sized by momentum or velocities. Table 3 gives guidelines that can be used for sizing nozzles, where ρm is the bulk density and Vm the bulk velocity.
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Table 3
In addition, the API RP14E[1] on erosion velocity should be included. This relationship is also given by an inlet momentum criterion as ρmVm2 = C2, where C is given as 100
for continuous service and 125 for intermittent service. The value of C can also vary with pipe material, solids loading, and service. See the chapter on Piping and Pipelines in
this section of the Handbook. Vortex breakers are generally required on the liquid outlets. These are typically perpendicular plates, as shown in Fig. 2.
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Example 1: vertical two-phase separator with a mesh pad demister given values
The given values for Example 1 are listed next.
Step 1. Calculate the required mesh-pad area with Eq. 10. This mesh area will result in a vessel internal diameter of 15 in.
Step 2. Calculate the height for liquid retention time with Eq. 2.13. ho = 74 in.
The Leff/D (D = d/12) is 9.2 and is larger than the typical 3 to 5 range. Therefore, the internal diameter must be increased to reduce the Leff/D ratio. Table 4 shows Leff/D for
three different vessel IDs. A 24-in. ID vessel has the appropriate Leff/D ratio. The selected vessel would then be 24 in. × 8 ft SS tall (after rounding up the height).
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Table 4
The mesh pad can be installed in two ways, if the 1.15 ft 2 is to be maintained. One, a full-diameter mesh pad can be installed with a blanking annular plate on top. Two, a
cylindrical box with a 15-in. diameter can be installed around the gas outlet.
Given Values. The given values for Example 2 are listed next:
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Step 1. Calculate vessel diameter and length with Eq. 1 for gas capacity.
................(15)
................(16)
................(17)
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................(18)
Step 2. Calculate Leff and Lss = Leff + d/12 for different values of d.
Step 3. Calculate the vessel diameter and length for liquid retention time with Eq. 7.
Step 4. Calculate Leff and Lss = Leff + d/12 for different values of d.
Step 5. Select vessel that satisfies both gas and liquid capacity.
A comparison of Tables 5 and 6 shows that the liquid capacity is the dominant parameter. Hence, a 24-in. × 6.6-ft vessel is sufficient, as it has a slenderness ratio within the
typical 3 to 5 range. This size should be rounded up to 24 in. × 7 ft.
Table 5 Table 6
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................(19)
................(20)
................(21)
................(22)
Step 2. Calculate the vessel diameter based on water drop removal from Eq. 6 for a 500-μm drop.
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................(23)
................(24)
At this point, we know that the water-drop removal is the dominant sizing parameter in comparison to the gas capacity.
................(25)
Table 7
Step 4. Calculate vessel height from Eq. 13. Vales for Lss are given in Table 8. Values for 12 Lss /d should be in the 1.5 to 3 range.
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Table 8
Step 5. Select a vessel size that satisfies gas capacity, water-drop removal, and liquid-retention time requirements. An 84-in. × 13.4-ft separator satisfies the requirements, so
you would round up to an 84-in. × 13.5-ft vessel. Similarly, a 90-in. × 12.5-ft separator would also be satisfactory.
Drag coefficients
The balance of drag and buoyancy is given as
................(26)
where
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................(27)
where
................(28)
The form of Eq. 28 was chosen to allow for an easy solution of Eq. 28 for the Reynolds number as outlined by Darby in Darby[3].
................(29)
The procedure then to calculate the drag coefficient is to calculate the Archimedes number, Ar, as defined in Eq. 27; solve Eq. 29 for the Reynolds number, Re; and solve Eq.
28 for the drag coefficient, CD.
Nomenclature
Ad = required demister area
C = API RP14E erosion constant, (lbm/ft-sec2)1/2
CD = drag coefficient (see Appendix A for calculation)
d = vessel internal diameter, in.
dh = hydraulic diameter, in. (or consistent units for Eq. 11)
dm = bubble or drop diameter, μm
dpp = perpendicular spacing of plates, m
D = vessel diameter, ft
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Subscripts
m = bulk properties
References
1. API RP14E, Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems, fifth edition. 1991. Washington, DC: API.
2. Perry, R.H. and Green, D.W. 1984. Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, fifth edition, 5-66. New York City: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
3. Darby, R. 1996. Determining Settling Rates of Particles. Chemical Engineering (December): 109.
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Laleh, A.P., Svrcek, W.Y. and Monnery, W. 2013. Computational Fluid Dynamics-Based Study of an Oilfield Separator--Part II: An Optimum Design. Oil and Gas Fac. 2 (1):
52-59. SPE-161036-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/161036-PA (http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/161036-PA).
External links
Use this section to provide links to relevant material on websites other than PetroWiki and OnePetro
See also
PEH:Oil_and_Gas_Separators
Category
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