SECTION 7

Separators and Filters

lescing. Any separator may employ one or more of these principles, but the fluid phases must be "immiscible" and have
different densities for separation to occur.

PRINCIPLES OF SEPARATION
Three principles used to achieve physical separation of gas
and liquids or solids are momentum, gravity settling, and coa-

FIG. 7-1
Nomenclature
area, m2
particle or droplet cross sectional area, m2
empirical constant for separator sizing, m/h
empirical constant for liquid-liquid separators,
(m3 mPa s)/(m2 day)
drag coefficient of particle, dimensionless (Fig. 7-3)
separator inlet nozzle diameter, mm
droplet diameter, m
inside diameter of vessel, mm
maximum allowable gas mass-velocity necessary
for particles of size Dp to drop or settle out of gas,
kg/(h m2)
acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2
width of liquid interface area, m
gas momentum, kg/(m s2)
empirical constant for separator sizing, m/s
proportionality constant from Fig. 7-4 for use in
Eq 7-5, dimensionless
seam to seam length of vessel, mm
length of liquid interface, mm
mass flow, kg/s
mass of droplet or particle, kg

MW = molecular mass, kg/(kg mole)

P = system pressure, kPa(abs)
Q = estimated gas flow capacity, (Sm3/day)/m2
of filter area
QA = actual gas flow rate, m3/s
R = gas constant, 8.31 [kPa(abs) m3]/[K kg mole]
Re = Reynolds number, dimensionless
Shl = relative density of heavy liquid, water = 1.0
Sll = relative density of light liquid, water = 1.0
T = system temperature, K
t = retention time, minutes
U = volume of settling section, m3
Vt = critical or terminal gas velocity necessary for
particles of size Dp to drop or settle out of gas, m/s
W = total liquid flow rate, m3/day
Wc l = flow rate of light condensate liquid, m3/day
Z = compressibility factor, dimensionless
Greek:
g = gas phase density, kg/m3
l = liquid phase density, droplet or particle, kg/m 3
= viscosity of continuous phase, mPa s

Filter Separators: A filter separator usually has two compartments. The first compartment contains filter-coalescing
elements. As the gas flows through the elements, the liquid
particles coalesce into larger droplets and when the droplets reach sufficient size, the gas flow causes them to flow
out of the filter elements into the center core. The particles
are then carried into the second compartment of the vessel
(containing a vane-type or knitted wire mesh mist extractor) where the larger droplets are removed. A lower barrel
or boot may be used for surge or storage of the removed
liquid.

must be designed for much lower velocities. Because the

difference in density between two liquids is less than between gas and liquid, separation is more difficult.

A
Ap
C
C*

=
=
=
=

C
Di
Dp
Dv
Gm

=
=
=
=
=

g
Hl
J
K
KCR

=
=
=
=
=

L
Ll
M
Mp

=
=
=
=

Scrubber or Knockout: A vessel designed to handle

streams with high gas-to-liquid ratios. The liquid is generally entrained as mist in the gas or is free-flowing along
the pipe wall. These vessels usually have a small liquid
collection section. The terms are often used interchangeably.
Separator: A vessel used to separate a mixed-phase stream
into gas and liquid phases that are "relatively" free of each
other. Other terms used are scrubbers, knockouts, linedrips, and decanters.

Flash Tank: A vessel used to separate the gas evolved from

liquid flashed from a higher pressure to a lower pressure.
Line Drip: Typically used in pipelines with very high gasto-liquid ratios to remove only free liquid from a gas
stream, and not necessarily all the liquid. Line drips provide a place for free liquids to separate and accumulate.

Slug Catcher: A particular separator design able to absorb

sustained in-flow of large liquid volumes at irregular intervals. Usually found on gas gathering systems or other twophase pipeline systems. A slug catcher may be a single
large vessel or a manifolded system of pipes.

Liquid-Liquid Separators: Two immiscible liquid phases

can be separated using the same principles as for gas and
liquid separators. Liquid-liquid separators are fundamentally the same as gas-liquid separators except that they

Three Phase Separator: A vessel used to separate gas and

two immiscible liquids of different densities (e.g. gas,
water, and oil).

7-1

FIG. 7-2

Momentum

Forces on Liquid Droplet in Gas Stream

Fluid phases with different densities will have different momentum. If a two phase stream changes direction sharply,
greater momentum will not allow the particles of the heavier
phase to turn as rapidly as the lighter fluid, so separation occurs. Momentum is usually employed for bulk separation of
the two phases in a stream.

Drag Force of
Gas on Droplet

Gravity Settling
Liquid droplets will settle out of a gas phase if the gravitational force acting on the droplet is greater than the drag force
of the gas flowing around the droplet (see Fig. 7-2). These
forces can be described mathematically using the terminal or
free settling velocity.
Vt =

2 g Mp (l g)
l g Ap C

4 g Dp (l g)
3 g C

Liquid
Droplet
Dp

Eq 7-1

The drag coefficient has been found to be a function of the

shape of the particle and the Reynolds number of the flowing
gas. For the purpose of this equation particle shape is considered to be a solid, rigid sphere.

Gravitational Force
on Droplet

Reynolds number is defined as:

Re =

1,000 Dp Vt g

Eq 7-2
Gas Velocity

In this form, a trial and error solution is required since both

particle size, Dp, and terminal velocity, Vt, are involved. To
avoid trial and error, values of the drag coefficient are presented in Fig. 7-3 as a function of the product of drag coefficient, C, times the Reynolds number squared; this technique
eliminates velocity from the expression1. The abscissa of
Fig. 7-3 is given by:

C (Re)2 =

(1.31) (107) g D3p (l g)

2

FIG. 7-3

DRAG COEFFICIENT,C

Drag Coefficient of Rigid Spheres13

C(Re)2

7-2

Eq 7-3

advantage of the inertial effects of centrifugal force or an

abrupt change of direction to separate the major portion of the
liquid from the gas stream.

Gravity Settling Limiting Conditions

As with other fluid flow phenomena, the drag coefficient
reaches a limiting value at high Reynolds numbers.

The secondary or gravity section, B, is designed to utilize

the force of gravity to enhance separation of entrained droplets. It consists of a portion of the vessel through which the gas
moves at a relatively low velocity with little turbulence. In
some designs, straightening vanes are used to reduce turbulence. The vanes also act as droplet collectors, and reduce the
distance a droplet must fall to be removed from the gas stream.

Newtons LawFor relatively larger particles (approximately 1000 microns and larger) the gravity settling is described by Newtons law (Fig. 7-4). The limiting drag
coefficient is 0.44 at Reynolds numbers above about 500. Substituting C = 0.44 in Eq 7-1 produces the Newtons law equation expressed as:
Vt = 1.74

g Dp (l g)
g

The coalescing section, C, utilizes a coalescer or mist extractor which can consist of a series of vanes, a knitted wire mesh
pad, or cyclonic passages. This section removes the very small
droplets of liquid from the gas by impingement on a surface
where they coalesce. A typical liquid carryover from the mist
extractor is less than 0.013 ml per m3.

Eq 7-4

An upper limit to Newtons law is where the droplet size is

so large that it requires a terminal velocity of such magnitude
that excessive turbulence is created. The maximum droplet
which can settle out can be determined by:

g g (l g)

Dp = KCR

The sump or liquid collection section, D, acts as receiver for

all liquid removed from the gas in the primary, secondary, and
coalescing sections. Depending on requirements, the liquid
section should have a certain amount of surge volume, for degassing or slug catching, over a minimum liquid level necessary for controls to function properly. Degassing may require
a horizontal separator with a shallow liquid level while emulsion separation may also require higher temperature, higher
liquid level, and/or the addition of a surfactant.

0.33

Eq 7-5

For the Newtons law region, the upper limit to Reynolds

number is 200,000 and KCR = 18.13.

Stokes LawAt low Reynolds numbers (less than 2), a

linear relationship exists between drag coefficient and the
Reynolds number (corresponding to laminar flow). Stokes law
applies in this case and Eq 7-1 can be expressed as:
Vt =

1,000 g D2p (l g)
18

Separator Configurations
Factors to be considered for separator configuration selection include:

Eq 7-6

How well will extraneous material (e.g. sand, mud, corrosion products) be handled?

The droplet diameter corresponding to a Reynolds number

of 2 can be found using a value of 0.0080 for KCR in Eq 7-5.

How much plot space will be required?

The lower limit for Stokes law applicability is a droplet diameter of approximately 3 microns. The upper limit is about
100 microns.

Will the separator be too tall for transport if skidded?

Is there enough interface surface for three-phase separation (e.g. gas/hydrocarbon/glycol liquid)?

A summary of these equations is presented in Fig. 7-4.

Can heating coils or sand jets be incorporated if required?

How much surface area is available for degassing of separated liquid?

Coalescing
Very small droplets such as fog or mist cannot be separated
practically by gravity. These droplets can be coalesced to form
larger droplets that will settle by gravity. Coalescing devices
in separators force gas to follow a tortuous path. The momentum of the droplets causes them to collide with other droplets
or the coalescing device, forming larger droplets. These larger
droplets can then settle out of the gas phase by gravity. Wire
mesh screens, vane elements, and filter cartridges are typical
examples of coalescing devices.

Must surges in liquid flow be handled without large

changes in level?
Is large liquid retention volume necessary?

Vertical Separators
Vertical separators, Fig. 7-6, are usually selected when the
gas-liquid ratio is high or total gas volumes are low. In the
vertical separator, the fluids enter the vessel striking a diverting baffle which initiates primary separation. Liquid removed
by the inlet baffle falls to the bottom of the vessel. The gas
moves upward, usually passing through a mist extractor to
remove suspended mist, and then the "dry" gas flows out. Liquid removed by the mist extractor is coalesced into larger droplets which then fall through the gas to the liquid reservoir in
the bottom. The ability to handle liquid slugs is typically obtained by increasing height. Level control is not critical and
liquid level can fluctuate several inches without affecting operating efficiency. Mist extractors can significantly reduce the
required diameter of vertical separators.

SEPARATOR DESIGN AND

CONSTRUCTION
Separators are usually characterized as vertical, horizontal,
or spherical. Horizontal separators can be single or double barrel and can be equipped with sumps or boots.

Parts of a Separator
Regardless of shape, separation vessels usually contain four
major sections, plus the necessary controls. These sections are
shown for horizontal and vertical vessels in Fig. 7-5. The primary separation section, A, is used to separate the main portion of free liquid in the inlet stream. It contains the inlet
nozzle which may be tangential, or a diverter baffle to take

As an example of a vertical separator, consider a compressor

suction scrubber. In this service the vertical separator:

7-3

FIG. 7-4
Gravity Settling Laws and Particle Characteristics

Newton's Law
C = 0.44

Vt = 1.74

g Dp (rl - rg )
rg

````````

m2
Dp = KCR

g
r
(r
g
l - rg)

KCR = 18.13

Intermediate Law
C = 18.5 Re-0.6
Vt =

3.54g0.71 D1.14
(rl - rg )0.71
p

KCR = 0.334

rg0.29 m0.43

Stoke's Law
C = 24 Re-1
Vt =

7-4

1000 g D2p (rl - rg )

18m

KCR = 0.025

FIG. 7-5

FIG. 7-6

Gas-Liquid Separators

Example Vertical Separator with Wire Mesh Mist Extractor

HORIZONTAL
Two Phase
Inlet

Gas Outlet

C
A

B
D

Liquid
Outlet

VERTICAL

Mesh
Pad

C
Gas
Outlet

Two Phase
Inlet

A
B

D
A - Primary Separation
B - Gravity Settling
C - Coalescing
D - Liquid Collecting

Vortex
Breaker

Dimensions may be influenced by instrument connection

requirements.

For small diameter separators ( 1200 mm ID.) with high L/G inlet
flow ratios this dimension should be increased by as much as 50%.

May use syphon type drain to:

a. reduce vortex possibility
b. reduce external piping that requires heating (freeze protection)

Liquid
Outlet

Does not need significant liquid retention volume.

The liquid level responds quickly to any liquid that entersthus tripping an alarm or shutdown.
The separator occupies a small amount of plot space.

As an example of a horizontal separator consider a rich

amine flash tank. In this service:
There is relatively large liquid surge volume leading to
longer retention time (this allows more complete release
of the dissolved gas and, if necessary, surge volume for
the circulating system).

Horizontal Separators
Horizontal separators are most efficient where large volumes of total fluids and large amounts of dissolved gas are
present with the liquid. The greater liquid surface area in this
configuration provides optimum conditions for releasing entrapped gas. In the horizontal separator, Fig. 7-7, the liquid
which has been separated from the gas moves along the bottom of the vessel to the liquid outlet. The gas and liquid occupy
their proportionate shares of shell cross-section. Increased
slug capacity is obtained through shortened retention time
and increased liquid level. Fig. 7-7 also illustrates the separation of two liquid phases (glycol and hydrocarbon). The denser
glycol settles to the bottom and is withdrawn through the
"boot." The glycol level is controlled by a conventional level
control instrument.

There is more surface area per liquid volume to aid in

more complete degassing.
The horizontal configuration would handle a foaming liquid better than a vertical.
The liquid level responds slowly to changes in liquid inventory.

Spherical Separators
These separators are occasionally used for high pressure
service where compact size is desired and liquid volumes are
small. Fig. 7-8 is a schematic for an example spherical separator. Factors considered for a spherical separator are:

In a double barrel separator, the liquids fall through connecting flow pipes into the external liquid reservoir below.
Slightly smaller vessels may be possible with the double barrel
horizontal separator where surge capacity establishes the size
of the lower liquid collection chamber.

compactness;
limited liquid surge capacity;
minimum steel for a given pressure.

7-5

FIG. 7-7
Example Horizontal Three-Phase Separator with Wire Mesh Mist Extractor

GAS/HYDROCARBON/GLYCOL
3-PHASE INLET
INLET
INLET
BAFFLE
BAFFLE

GAS

MIST EXTRACTOR

LIQUID
LEVEL
DV
LC
LC
VORTEX
BREAKER

INTERFACE
LEVEL

LIQUID HYDROCARBON
BOOT
SECTION A-A

OVER-FLOW
BAFFLE

GLYCOL

FIG. 7-8
Example Spherical Separator3
GAS OUTLET
MIST
EXTRACTOR
SECTION
PRESSURE
GAUGE

INLET

SECONDARY
SEPARATION
SECTION
LIQUID
LEVEL
CONTROL

PRIMARY
SEPARATION
SECTION

LIQUID
COLLECTION
SECTION
CONTROL
VALVE

DRAIN

LIQUID OUTLET
Courtesy American Petroleum Institute

7-6

FIG. 7-9

GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR DESIGN

Typical K & C Factors for Sizing Woven Wire Demisters

Specifying Separators
Separator designers need to know pressure, temperature,
flow rates, and physical properties of the streams as well as
the degree of separation required. It is also prudent to define
if these conditions all occur at the same time or if there are
only certain combinations that can exist at any time. If
known, the type and amount of liquid should also be given,
and whether it is mist, free liquid, or slugs.

Horizontal
Vertical
Spherical
Wet Steam
Most vapors under vacuum
Salt & Caustic Evaporators
Adjustment of K & C Factor
for Pressure - % of design
value15
Atmospheric
1000 kPa
2000 kPa
4000 kPa
8000 kPa

For example, a compressor suction scrubber designed for

2-4.3 Mm3/day gas at 2750-4100 kPa(ga) and 20-40C would
require the separator manufacturer to offer a unit sized for
the worst conditions, i.e., 4.3 Mm3/day at 2700 kPa and 40C.
But the real throughput of the compressor varies from 4.3
Mm3/day at 4100 kPa, 40C to 2 Mm3/day at 2750 kPa, 20C.
Because the high volume only occurs at the high pressure, a
smaller separator is acceptable. Conversely, a pipeline separator could be just the opposite because of winter to summer
flow changes.

Basic Design Equations

Separators without mist extractors are designed for gravity
settling using Eq 7-1. Values for the drag coefficient are given
in Fig. 7-3 for spherical droplet particles. Typically the sizing
is based upon removal of 150 micron diameter droplets.
Most vertical separators that employ mist extractors are
sized using equations that are derived from Eq 7-1. The two
most common are the critical velocity equation:
Vt = K

l g
g

Eq 7-7

C Factor
(m/h)

0.12 to 0.15
0.05 to 0.11
0.05 to 0.11
0.076
0.061
0.046

430 to 540
200 to 400
220 to 400
270
220
160

100
90
85
80
75

For glycol and amine solutions, multiply K by 0.6 - 0.8.

Typically use one-half of the above K or C values for

approximate sizing of vertical separators without wire
demisters.

For compressor suction scrubbers and expander inlet

separators multiply K by 0.7 - 0.8.

Vt = K

l g
g

0.56

L
3.05

Eq 7-10
0.56

L
Eq 7-11

Gm = C
g (l g)

3.05
Frequently separators without mist extractors are sized using Eq 7-7 and 7-8 with a constant (K or C) of typically one-half
of that used for vessels with mist extractors. Although combining the drag coefficient and other physical properties into
an empirical constant is unsound, it can be justified since:

and the correlation developed by Souders and Brown2 to relate

vessel diameter to the velocity of rising vapors which will not
entrain sufficient liquid to cause excessive carryover:

g (l g)
Gm = C

K Factor
(m/s)

Separator Type

Eq 7-8

Note that if both sides of Eq 7-7 are multiplied by gas density, it is identical to Eq 7-8 when:
Eq 7-9
C = 3600 K

Selection of the droplet diameter (separation efficiency)

is arbitrary. Even if the diameter can be selected on a
rational basis, little information is available on the mass
distribution above and below the selected size.
Liquid droplets are not rigid spherical particles in dilute
concentration (unhindered settling).

Some typical values of the separator sizing factors, K and C,

are given in Fig.7-9. Separators are sized using these equations to calculate vessel cross-sectional areas that allow gas
velocities at or below the gas velocities calculated by Eq 7-7 or
7-8.

Note: A number of the "separator" sizing equations given

only size the separation element (mist extractor, Eqs 7-7, 7-8,
7-10, 7-11, and vane separator, Eq 7-13): these equations do
not directly size the actual separator containment vessel.

Horizontal separators greater than 3 m in length with mist

extractors are sized using Eqs 7-10 and 7-113. Horizontal separators less than 3 m in length should use Eqs 7-7 and 7-8. In
horizontal separators, the gas drag force does not directly oppose the gravitational settling force. The true droplet velocity
is assumed to be the vector sum of the vertical terminal velocity and the horizontal gas velocity. Hence, the minimum length
of the vessel is calculated by assuming the time for the gas to
flow from the inlet to the outlet is the same as the time for the
droplet to fall from the top of the vessel to the surface of the
liquid. In calculating the gas capacity of horizontal separators,
the cross-sectional area of that portion of the vessel occupied
by liquid (at maximum level) is subtracted from the total vessel cross-sectional area. Separators can be any length, but the
ratio of seam-to-seam length to the diameter of the vessel,
L/Dv, is usually in the range of 2:1 to 4:1.

Thus, for example, a 600 mm diameter wire mesh mist extractor might be installed in a 900 mm diameter vessel because the liquid surge requirements dictated a larger vessel.

Separators without Mist Extractors

This is typically a horizontal vessel which utilizes gravity as
the sole mechanism for separating the liquid and gas phases.
Gas and liquid enter through the inlet nozzle and are slowed
to a velocity such that the liquid droplets can fall out of the
gas phase. The dry gas passes into the outlet nozzle and the
liquid is drained from the lower section of the vessel.

7-7

To design a separator without a mist extractor, the minimum

size diameter droplet to be removed must be set. Typically this
diameter is in the range of 150 to 2,000 microns (one micron
is 10-6 m).

Other reasonable solutions are as follows:

Diameter, mm
1200
1500

The length of vessel required can then be calculated by assuming that the time for the gas to flow from inlet to outlet is
the same as the time for the liquid droplet of size Dp to fall
from the top of the vessel to the liquid surface. Eq 7-12 then
relates the length of the separator to its diameter as a function
of this settling velocity (assuming no liquid retention):
L =

4(103 mm/m)2 QA
Vt Dv

Usually vessels up through 600 mm diameter have nominal

pipe dimensions while larger vessels are rolled from plate with
150 mm internal increments in diameter.
Example 7-2What size vertical separator without mist extractor is required to meet the conditions used in Example 7-1?

Eq 7-12

A =

If the separator is to be additionally used for liquid storage,

this must also be considered in sizing the vessel.
Example 7-1A horizontal gravity separator (without mist
extractor) is required to handle 2 Mm3/day of 0.75 relative
density gas (MW = 21.72) at a pressure of 3500 kPa(ga) and a
temperature of 40C. Compressibility is 0.9, viscosity is
0.012 cp, and liquid relative density is 0.50. It is desired to
remove all entrainment greater than 150 microns in diameter.
No liquid surge is required.
g =

Gas density,

Separators With Wire Mesh Mist Extractors

Wire mesh pads are frequently used as entrainment separators for the removal of very small liquid droplets and, therefore, a higher overall percentage removal of liquid. Removal
of droplets down to 10 microns or smaller may be possible with
these pads. The pad is generally horizontal with the gas and
entrained liquid passing vertically upward. Performance is
adversely affected if the pad is tilted more than 30 degrees
from the horizontal4. Liquid droplets impinge on the mesh
pad, coalesce, and fall downward through the rising gas
stream. Wire mesh pads are efficient only when the gas stream
velocity is low enough that re-entrainment of the coalesced
droplets does not occur. Figs. 7-10 and 7-11 illustrate a typical
wire mesh installation in vertical and horizontal vessels.

= 33.4 kg/m3
l = 0.5 (1000) = 500 kg/m3

Mass flow,

M =

Particle diameter,

(2) (106) (21.72)

= 21.2 kg/s
(23.7) (24) (3600)

Eqs 7-7 and 7-10 define the maximum gas velocity as a function of the gas density and the liquid density. A value for K can
be found from Fig. 7-9. Firmly secure the top and bottom of
the pad so that it is not dislodged by high gas flows, such as
when a pressure relief valve lifts.

Dp = (150) (10 ) = 0.000150 m

From Eq 7-3,
C (Re)2 =
=

( 1.31) (107) g D3p (l g)

2
7
(1.31) (10 ) (33.4) (0.000150)3 (500 33.4)

In plants where fouling or hydrate formation is possible or

expected, mesh pads are typically not used. In these services
vane or centrifugal type separators are generally more appropriate. Most installations will use a 150 mm thick pad with
144-192 kg/m3 bulk density. Minimum recommended pad
thickness is 100 mm. Manufacturers should be contacted for
specific designs.

(0.012)2

= 4800

From Fig. 7-3, Drag coefficient, C = 1.40

Terminal velocity,

Vt =

Wire mesh pads can be used in horizontal vessels. A typical

installation is shown in Fig. 7-11. The preferred orientation of
the mesh pad is in the horizontal plane. When installed in a
vertical orientation, the pad is reported to be less efficient.
Problems have been encountered where liquid flow through
the pad to the sump is impaired due to dirt or sludge accumulation causing a higher liquid level on one side, providing the
serious potential of the pad being dislodged from its mounting
brackets making it useless, or forcing parts of it into the outlet
pipe. The retaining frame must be designed to hold the mist
pad in place during emergency blowdown or other periods of
anticipated high vapor velocity.

4 g Dp (l g)

3 g C

4 (9.81) (0.000150) (467)

3 (33.4) 1.40

=
0.0196 = 0.14 m/s
Gas flow,

QA =

QA
0.63
=
= 4.5 m2
Vt
0.14

Dv = 2400 mm minimum

(3601) (21.72)
P (MW)
=
RTZ
(8.31) (313) (0.90)

Liquid density,

Length, mm
4800
3800

M
21.2
=
= 0.63 m3/s
33.47
g

The pressure drop across a wire mesh pad is sufficiently low

(usually less than an inch of water) to be considered negligible
for most applications. The effect of the pressure drop becomes
significant only in the design of vacuum services and for equipment where the prime mover is a blower or a fan. Manufacturers should be contacted for specific information.
Example 7-3 What size vertical separator equipped with a
wire mesh mist extractor is required for the conditions used
in Examples 7-1 and 7-2?

Assume a diameter, Dv = 1000 mm

Vessel length,
4 (103 mm/m)2 )QA
4 (103 mm/m)2 (0.63)
=
L =
Vt DV
(0.14) (1000)
= 5700 mm

7-8

FIG. 7-10
Example Minimum Clearance Mesh Type Mist Eliminators

VAPOR OUT
Nod

Cm

X
X

Nod
MIST EXTRACTOR

Cm

45

45

VAPOR OUT

TOP VAPOR OUTLET

SUPPORT
RING

SIDE VAPOR OUTLET

SUPPORT
RING

MINIMUM EXTRACTOR CLEARANCE, Cm:

Cm = 0.707 X or Mod

WHERE:
Mod = MIST EXTRACTOR OUTSIDE DIAMETER
Nod = NOZZLE OUTSIDE DIAMETER

Nod

FIG. 7-11
Horizontal Separator with Knitted Wire Mesh Pad Mist Extractor and Lower Liquid Barrel

PLAN

Inlet
Distributor

Alternate
Vapor Outlet

Knitted Wire
Mesh Pad

Vapor
Outlet

Two Phase Inlet

Liquid
Outlet

7-9

ELEVATION

K = 0.089 m/s (from Fig. 7-9)

FIG. 7-12
Example Vertical Separator with Vane Type Mist Extractor

Vt = 0.089

A =

500 33.4
33.4

= 0.33 m/s

QA
0.635
=
= 1.92 m2
Vt
0.33

Dv = 1560 mm minimum

Inlet
Diverter

Separators with Vane Type Mist Extractors

Vane Type
Mist Extractor

Vanes differ from wire mesh in that they do not drain the
separated liquid back through the rising gas stream. Rather,
the liquid can be routed into a downcomer, which carries the
fluid directly to the liquid reservoir. A vertical separator with
a typical vane mist extractor is shown in Fig. 7-12.

Vapor
Outlet

The vanes remove fluid from the gas stream by directing the
flow through a torturous path. A cross-section of a typical vane
unit is shown in Fig. 7-13. The liquid droplets, being heavier
than the gas, are subjected to inertial forces which throw them
against the walls of the vane. This fluid is then drained by
gravity from the vane elements into a downcomer.

Dv
Two-phase
Inlet

Vane type separators generally are considered to achieve the

same separation performance as wire mesh, with the added
advantage that they do not readily plug and can often be
housed in smaller vessels. As vane type separators depend
upon inertial forces for performance, turndown can sometimes
be a problem.

Downcomer

Vane type separator designs are proprietary and are not easily designed with standard equations. Manufacturers of vane
type separators should be consulted for detailed designs of
their specific equipment. However, a gas momentum equation5 can be used to estimate the approximate face area of a
vane type mist extractor similar to that illustrated in Fig.
7-13.
J = gVt2 = 29.8 kg/(m s2)

Liquid Outlet

Eq 7-13

where gas velocity, Vt, is the velocity through the extractor

cross-section.

FIG. 7-13
Cross Section of Example Vane Element Mist Extractor
Showing Corrugated Plates with Liquid Drainage Traps

Separators with Centrifugal Elements

There are several types of centrifugal separators which
serve to separate solids as well as liquids from a gas stream.
These devices are proprietary and cannot be readily sized
without detailed knowledge of the characteristics of the specific internals. The manufacturer of such devices should be
consulted for assistance in sizing these types of separators.
Use care in selecting a unit as some styles are not suitable in
some applications. A typical centrifugal separator is shown in
Fig. 7-14. The main advantage of a centrifugal separator over
a filter (or filter separator) is that much less maintenance is
involved. Disadvantages of centrifugal separators are:

Gas
Flow

some designs do not handle slugs well,

efficiency is not as good as other types of separators,
pressure drop tends to be higher than vane or clean knitted mesh mist extractors, and

Drainage
Traps

they have a narrow operating flow range for highest efficiency.

7-10

Assembly
Bolts

In many cases the vessel size will be determined by the filtration section rather than the mist extraction section. The
filter cartridges coalesce the liquid mist into droplets which
can be easily removed by the mist extractor section. A design
consideration commonly overlooked is the velocity out of these
filter tubes into the mist extraction section. If the velocity is
too high, the droplets will be sheared back into a fine mist that
will pass through the extractor element. A maximum allowable velocity for gas exiting the filter tube attachment pipe can
be estimated using the momentum Eq 7-13 with a value of
1850 kg/(m s2) for J. Light hydrocarbon liquids or low pressure gas should be limited to even less than this value. No
published data can be cited since this information is proprietary with each filter separator manufacturer.

FIG. 7-14
Example Vertical Separator with Centrifugal Elements
VAPOR OUTLET

INLET
CLEAN OUT/
INSPECTION

Design The most common and efficient agglomerator is

composed of a tubular fiber glass filter pack which is capable
of holding the liquid particles through submicron sizes. Gas
flows into the top of the filter pack, passes through the elements and then travels out through the tubes. Small, dry solid
particles are retained in the filter elements and the liquid coalesces to form larger particles. Liquid agglomerated in the filter pack is then removed by a mist extractor located near the
gas outlet.

LIQUID
OUTLET

The approximate filter surface area for gas filters can be

estimated from Fig. 7-16. The figure is based on applications
such as molecular sieve dehydrator outlet gas filters. For dirty
gas service the estimated area should be increased by a factor
of two or three.

Courtesy Peerless Manufacturing Co.

The efficiency of a filter separator largely depends on the

proper design of the filter pack, i.e., a minimum pressure drop
while retaining an acceptable extraction efficiency. A pressure
drop of approximately 7-14 kPa is normal in a clean filter separator. If excessive solid particles are present, it may be necessary to clean or replace the filters at regular intervals when a
pressure drop in excess of 70 kPa is observed. However, as a
rule, 170 kPa is recommended as a maximum as the cartridge
units might otherwise collapse. Removal of the filter pack is
easily achieved by using a quick-opening closure.

Filter Separators
General This type of separator has a higher separation
efficiency than the centrifugal separator, but it uses filter elements, which must periodically be replaced. An example filter
separator is shown in Fig. 7-15. Gas enters the inlet nozzle
and passes through the filter section where solid particles are
filtered from the gas stream and liquid particles are coalesced
into larger droplets. These droplets pass through the tube and
are entrained into the second section of the separator, where
a final mist extraction element removes these coalesced droplets from the gas stream.

Various guarantees are available from filter separator

manufacturers such as one for 100 percent removal of liquid
droplets 8 microns and larger and 99.5 percent removal of particles in the 0.5-8 micron range. However, guarantees for the
performance of separators and filters are very difficult to verify in the field.

The design of filter separators is proprietary and a manufacturer should be consulted for specific size and recommendations. The body size of a horizontal filter separator for a
typical application can be estimated by using 0.40 m/s for the
value of K in Eq 7-7. This provides an approximate body diameter for a unit designed to remove water (other variables
such as viscosity and surface tension enter into the actual size
determination). Units designed for water will be smaller than
units sized to remove light hydrocarbons.

While most dry solid particles about ten microns and larger
are removable, the removal efficiency is about 99 percent for
particles below approximately ten microns.
For heavy liquid loads, or where free liquids are contained
in the inlet stream, a horizontal filter separator with a liquid
sump, which collects and dumps the inlet free-liquids separately from coalesced liquids, is often preferred.

Example 7-4 A filter separator is required to handle a flow

of 2 Mm3/day at conditions presented in Example 7-1. Estimate the diameter of a filter separator.
Vt = 0.40

A =

500 32.5
32.5

LIQUID-LIQUID SEPARATOR DESIGN

= 1.52 m/s

Liquid-liquid separation may be divided into two broad categories of operation. The first is defined as "gravity separation"
where the two immiscible liquid phases separate within the
vessel by the differences in density of the liquids. Sufficient
retention time must be provided in the separator to allow for
the gravity separation to take place. The second category is
defined as "coalescing separation." This is where small particles of one liquid phase must be separated or removed from a
large quantity of another liquid phase. Different types of in-

QA
0.652
= 0.429 m2
=
Vt
1.52

Dv = 740 mm minimum

7-11

FIG. 7-15
Example Horizontal Filter-Separator

Vertical Vessels:

ternal construction of separators must be provided for each

type of liquid-liquid separation. The following principles of design for liquid-liquid separation apply equally for horizontal
or vertical type separators. Horizontal vessels have some advantage over vertical ones for liquid-liquid separation, due to
the larger interface area available in the horizontal style, and
the shorter distance particles must travel to coalesce.

Shl Sl l
6
2
Wc l = C
(0.785)(10 ) Dv

Eq 7-14

Horizontal Vessels:

There are two factors which may prevent two liquid phases
from separating due to differences in specific gravity:
If droplet particles are so small they may be suspended by
Brownian movement. This is defined as a random motion
which is greater than directed movement due to gravity for
particles less than 0.1 micron in diameter.
The droplets may carry electric charges due to dissolved
ions, and these charges can cause the droplets to repel each
other rather than coalesce into larger particles and settle
by gravity.

Shl Sl l
L H
Wc l = C
l l

Eq 7-15

Since the droplet size of one liquid phase dispersed in another is usually unknown, it is simpler to size liquid-liquid
separation based on retention time of the liquid within the
separator vessel. For gravity separation of two liquid phases,
a large retention or quiet settling section is required in the
vessel. Good separation requires sufficient time to obtain an
equilibrium condition between the two liquid phases at the
temperature and pressure of separation. The liquid capacity
of a separator or the settling volume required can be determined10 from Eq 7-16 using the retention time give in Fig.
7-18.

Effects due to Brownian movement are usually small and

proper chemical treatment will usually neutralize any electric
charges. Then settling becomes a function of gravity and viscosity
in accordance with Stokes law. The settling velocity of spheres
through a fluid is directly proportional to the difference in densities of the sphere and the fluid, and inversely proportional to the
viscosity of the fluid and the square of the diameter of the sphere
(droplet), Eq 7-6. The liquid-liquid separation capacity of separators may be determined8 from Eqs 7-14 and 7-15 which were
derived from Eq 7-6. Values of C* are found in Fig. 7-17.

U =

W (t)
1440

Eq 7-16

The following example shows how to size a liquid-liquid

separator.

7-12

FIG. 7-16
Approximate Gas Filter Capacity

7-13

From Fig. 7-18, use 3 minutes retention time.

FIG. 7-17

(110) (3)
= 0.23 m3
1440
A 390 mm diameter vessel will hold about 0.12 m3 per 1000
mm of height. The small volume held in the bottom head can
be discounted in this size vessel. The shell height required for
the retention volume required would be:
0.23
= 1.9 m = 1900 mm
Shell height =
0.12
Another parameter that should be checked when separating
amine or glycol from liquid hydrocarbons is the interface area
between the two liquid layers. This area should be sized so the
glycol or amine flow across the interface does not exceed approximately 100 m3 per day per m2.

Values of C* Used in Eq 7-14, 7-15

Emulsion
Droplet Diameter,
Characteristic
Microns
Free liquids
200
Loose emulsion
150
Moderate emulsion
100
Tight emulsion
60

U =

Constant9
C*
1880
1060
470
170

FIG. 7-18
Typical Retention Times for Liquid/Liquid Separation

The above example indicates that a relatively small separator would be required for liquid-liquid separation. It should be
remembered that the separator must also be designed for the
vapor capacity to be handled. In most cases of high vapor-liquid loadings that are encountered in gas processing equipment
design, the vapor capacity required will dictate a much larger
vessel than would be required for the liquid load only. The
properly designed vessel has to be able to handle both the vapor and liquid loads. Therefore, one or the other will control
the size of the vessel used.

Retention
Time

Type of Separation
Hydrocarbon/Water Separators3
Below 0.85 relative density Hydrocarbon
Above 0.85 relative density Hydrocarbon
38C and above
27C
15C
Ethylene Glycol/Hydrocarbon Separators
(Cold Separators)11 14
Amine/Hydrocarbon Separators11
Coalescers, Hydrocarbon/Water Separators11
38C and above
27C
15C
Caustic/Propane
Caustic/Heavy Gasoline

3 to 5 min.
5 to 10 min.
10 to 20 min.
20 to 30 min.
20 to 60 min.
20 to 30 min.

PARTICULATE REMOVALFILTRATION
Filtration, in the strictest sense, applies only to the separation of solid particles from a fluid by passage through a porous
medium. However, in the gas processing industry, filtration
commonly refers to the removal of solids and liquids from a
gas stream.

5 to 10 min.
10 to 20 min.
20 to 30 min.
30 to 45 min.
30 to 90 min.

The most commonly used pressure filter in the gas processing industry is the cartridge filter. Cartridge filters are constructed of either a self-supporting filter medium or a filter
medium attached to a support core. Depending on the application, a number of filter elements is fitted into a filter vessel.
Flow is normally from the outside, through the filter element,
and out through a common discharge. When pores in the filter
medium become blocked, or as the filter cake is developed, the
higher differential pressure across the elements indicates that
the filter elements must be cleaned or replaced.

Example 7-5 Determine the size of a vertical separator to

handle 100 m3/day of 0.76 relative density condensate and 10
m3/day of produced water. Assume the water particle size is
200 microns. Other operating conditions are as follows:
Operating temperature = 25C
Operating pressure = 6900 kPa(ga)
Water relative density = 1.01
Condensate viscosity = 0.55 mPa s @ 25C
Condensate relative density = 0.76

Cartridge filters are commonly used to remove solid contaminants from amines, glycols, and lube oils. Other uses include the filtration of solids and liquids from hydrocarbon
vapors and the filtration of solids from air intakes of engines
and turbine combustion chambers.

From Eq 7-14

Sh l Sl l

Wc l = C

(0.785) (Dv)

Two other types of pressure filters which also have applications in the gas processing industry include the edge and precoat filter. Edge filters consist of nested metallic discs,
enclosed in a pressure cylinder, which are exposed to liquid
flow. The spacing between the metal discs determines the solids retention. Some edge filters feature a self-cleaning design
in which the discs rotate against stationary cleaning blades.
Applications for edge filters include lube oil and diesel fuel
filtration as well as treating solvent.

From Fig. 7-17 for free liquids with water particle diameter =
200 microns, C* = 1880.
100m3/day = 1880

1.01 0.76
(0.785) (Dv)2(106)
(0.55)

(Dv)2 = (1.43) (105)

Dv = 390 mm

Precoat filters find use in the gas processing industry; however, they are complicated and require considerable attention.
Most frequent use is in larger amine plants where frequent
replacement of cartridge elements is considerably more expensive than the additional attention required by precoat filters.

Using the alternate method of design based on retention

time as shown in Eq 7-16 would give:
U =

W (t)
1440

7-14

The precoat filter consists of a coarse filter medium over

which a coating has been deposited. In many applications, the
coating is one of the various grades of diatomaceous earth
which is mixed in a slurry and deposited on the filter medium.
During operation additional coating material is often added
continuously to the liquid feed. When the pressure drop across
the filter reaches a specified maximum, the filter is taken offline and back-washed to remove the spent coating and accumulated solids. Applications for precoat filters include water
treatment for waterflood facilities as well as amine filtration
to reduce foaming. Typical designs for amine plants use 2.5-5.0
m3/hr flow per square meter of filter surface area. Sizes range
upward from 10-20 percent of full stream rates7.

11. Sivalls, C. R., Technical Bulletin No. 142, Sivalls, Inc., 1980,
Odessa, Texas.
12. Perry, Robert H., Editor, Chemical Engineers Handbook, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1950, p. 1019.
13. API, RP 521, "Guide for Pressure Relieving and Depressuring
Systems," Second Edition, Sept. 1982, p. 52.
14. Pearce, R. L., and Arnold, J. L., "Glycol-Hydrocarbon Separation
Variables," Proceedings Gas Conditioning Conference, University
of Oklahoma, 1964.
15. Fabian, P., Cusack, R., Hennessey, P., Neuman, M., "Demystifying the Selection of Mist Eliminators, Part I," Chemical Engineering, Nov. 1993.

REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Perry, Robert H., Editor, Chemical Engineers Handbook, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1973, Chapter 5, p. 5-64.

1. Schweitzer, Phillip A., Handbook of Separation Techniques for

Chemical Engineers, McGraw-Hill, 1979.

2. Souders, Mott, Jr., and Brown, George G., "Design of Fractionating ColumnsEntrainment and Capacity," Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, V. 26, No. 1, January 1934, p. 98.

2. Perry, John H., Editor, Chemical Engineers Handbook, Third

Edition, Section 15, Dust and Mist Collection by C. E. Lapple,
McGraw-Hill, New York, 1950, p. 1013-1050.

3. American Petroleum Institute, Spec. 12J: Oil and Gas Separators, 5th Ed., January 1982.

3. Groft, B. C., Holder, W. A., and Granic, E. D., Jr., Well Design
Drilling and Production, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs,
N.J., 1962, p. 467.

4. Reid, Laurance S., "Sizing Vapor Liquid Separators," Proceedings

Gas Conditioning Conference, University of Oklahoma, 1980,
p. J-1 to J-13.

4. Perry, Dunham, Jr., "What You Should Know About Filters," Hydrocarbon Processing, V. 45, No. 4, April 1966, p. 145-148.

5. Product Bulletin 24000-4-2, Peerless Manufacturing Company,

Dallas, Texas.

5. Dickey, G. D., Filtration, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New

York, 1981.

6. Sarma, Hiren, "How to Size Gas Scrubbers," Hydrocarbon Processing, V. 60, No. 9, September 1981, p. 251-255.

6. Gerunda, Arthur, "How To Size Liquid-Vapor Separators,"

Chemical Engineering, V. 91, No. 7, May 4, 1981, p. 81-84.

7. Paper presented by W. L. Scheirman "Diethanol Amine Solution

Filtering and Reclaiming in Gas Treating Plants," Proceedings
Gas Conditioning Conference, 1973, University of Oklahoma.
8. Sivalls, C. R., Technical Bulletin No. 133, Sivalls, Inc., 1979,
Odessa, Texas.

7. Ludwig, Ernest E., "Applied Process Design for Chemical and

Petrochemical Plants," Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Texas,
1964, V. 1, p. 126-159.

9. American Petroleum Institute, Manual on Disposal of Refinery

Wastes, Vol. 1, 6th ed., 1959, p. 18-20, and private industry data.

8. York, Otto H., "Performance of Wire Mesh Demisters," Chemical

Engineering Progress, V. 50, No. 8, Aug. 1954, p. 421-424.

10. Sivalls, C. R., "Fundamentals of Oil & Gas Separation," Proceedings Gas Conditioning Conference, 1977, University of Oklahoma, p. P-1 to P-31.

9. York, Otto H., and Poppele, E. W., "Wire Mesh Mist Eliminators,"
Chemical Engineering Progress, V. 59, No. 6, June 1963, p. 4550.

7-15