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Design of Oil Water Separator - API 420

The document summarizes the design of an oil-water separator. It describes the theory of oil-water separation based on density differences and provides quiescent conditions. It then outlines the key components of an oil-water separator and lists the design criteria and variables. Finally, it presents the step-by-step design process which calculates values like flow velocity and rise rate to appropriately size the separator channels and dimensions.

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743 views

Design of Oil Water Separator - API 420

The document summarizes the design of an oil-water separator. It describes the theory of oil-water separation based on density differences and provides quiescent conditions. It then outlines the key components of an oil-water separator and lists the design criteria and variables. Finally, it presents the step-by-step design process which calculates values like flow velocity and rise rate to appropriately size the separator channels and dimensions.

Uploaded by

melpomenne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Design of oil-water separator

(API Publication 420)

by

A K Ragen
Contents of Presentation
• Theory of oil-water separation
• Description of the oil water separator
• Design Criteria
• The step-by-step design
• Class work
Theory of oil-water separation
• Based on the difference in density
• Oil being less dense than water will float on
the surface of water under quiescent
conditions
• Flow of water should be sufficiently low
enough to provide the quiescent condition
Theory of oil-water separation
– In essence, an oil trap is a chamber designed to
provide flow conditions sufficiently quiescent so that
globules of oil rise to the water surface and coalesce
into a separate oil phase, to be removed by
mechanical means.
– Oil-water separation theory is based on the rise rate
of the oil globule (vertical velocity : Vt) and its
relationship to the surface-loading rate of the
separator.
Flow rate to separator
Surface loading rate =
Surface area of separator

In an ideal separator, any oil globule with Vt equal or greater than surface loading rate
will reach the separator surface and be removed
Description of oil-water
Description of oil-water separator
Description of oil-water separator
as per API 420
Design variables
Qw = Flow of oily water into the oil-water separator, m3/s
d = depth of water in channel, m
L = length of channel, m
B = width of one channel, m
n = number of channel, dimensionless
AH = total surface area, m2
Ac = total cross section, m2
VH = horizontal flow velocity, m/s
Vt = rise rate of oil globule, m/s
The design
The design is based on the rise rate of oil globule
The design
API 420 assumes oil globule diameter of 0.015 cm
The data needed
• Design flow rate of oily water
• Specific gravity of water at design temperature
• Specific gravity of oil at design temperature
• Viscosity of wastewater
• Oil globule size (but assume 0.015 cm)
Design constraints
• VH ≤ 1.5 cm/s or VH = 15 Vt, whichever the
smaller
• d≥1m
• 0.3 ≤ d/B ≤ 0.5
• 1.8 m ≤ B ≤ 6.0 m
• n = 2 (minimum 2 channels)
• L/B ≥ 5
The step-by-step design
Step1: Calculate Vt using

Step 2: Calculate Ac using


The step-by-step design
Step 3: Select B and n, and calculate d

Step 4: Check d/B ratio within 0.3 – 0.5


The step-by-step design
Step 5: Calculate L using
The step-by-step design
The step-by-step design

Step 6: Calculate VH/Vt

Step 7: Determine F from graph or table given

Step 8: Calculate L and check for L/B > 5

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