FACTORS AFFECTING SEPARATION

The following factors must be determined before separator design:

• Gas and liquid flow rates (minimum, average, and peak)
• Operating and design pressures and temperatures
• Surging or slugging tendencies of the feed streams
• Physical properties of the fluids such as density and compressibility
•Designed degree of separation (e.g., removing 100% of particles greater
than 10 microns)
• Presence of impurities (paraffin, sand, scale, etc.)
• Foaming tendencies of the crude oil
• Corrosive tendencies of the liquids or gas
Basic sections of separators
1. Diverter
2. Liquid collection section
3. Gravity settling section
4. Liquid dump valve (at the liquid
outlet)
5. Pressure control valve (at the gas
outlet)
6. Mist extractor
7. Level controller
8. Pressure controller
What are the potential operating problem of
separators??
1. Foamy crude,
Affects the mechanical controllers of liquid levels, occupy more space than liquid and
separated oil and gas get out with foamy materials.
2. Paraffins
Coalescing plates in liquid section and mist extractor are prone to be plugged
3. Sand
Cut out of valve seal and plugging of separator internals.
4. Liquid carry over
Liquid entrained in the gas outlet, indication of high liquid level.
5. Gas blow by
Free gas escapes with liquid outlet, indication of low liquid level.