Separation Process Part 4
Separation Process Part 4
Separation Process
2 Phase separator- Sizing
Why separator is needed?
Any separator may employ one or more of these principles to achieve separation.
Fluid phases must be “immiscible” and have different densities for separation to occur.
Liquid
Droplet
(Dp)
The maximum allowable gas velocity, VGmax, which prevents the entrainment of liquid
is obtained.
The terms ρG and ρL are the gas phase and liquid phase densities,
From Figure 2A, at 800 psig operating pressure, a 20” x 7’-6” vertical separator will handle 5.4 MMSCFD.
From Table 2B, a 20” x 7’-6” separator will handle the following liquid capacity
Per API 12J, “the maximum allowable superficial velocity, calculated form the above factors, is for
separators normally having a wire mesh mist extractor. This rate should allow all liquid droplets
larger than 10 microns to settle out of the gas.
The mist extractor is the final gas cleaning device in a conventional separator.
The selection, and design to a large degree, determine the amount of liquid
carryover remaining in the gas phase. The most common types include wire mesh
pads (“mesh pads”), vane-type (vane “packs”) and axial flow demisting cyclones.
Mesh pads are the most common type of mist extractors used in vertical
separator applications. The primary separation mechanism is liquid
impingement onto the wires, followed by coalescence into droplets large
enough to disengage from the mesh pad.
SEPARATOR DESIGN - LIQUID CAPACITY:
Good separation requires sufficient time
to obtain an equilibrium condition
between the liquid and gas phases at the
temperature and pressure of separation.
The liquid capacity of a separator the retention time of the liquid within the vessel
Basic design criteria for liquid retention times in separators have been determined by
numerous field tests. These are as follows:
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Uses inlet device to break the momentum and distribute the flow
Feed Pipe Geometry
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ρm * Vm2
ρ