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2-Phase Separator Sizing

Sizing a 2-phase separator requires determining flow rates, separation efficiency, residence time, and separator type to effectively separate gas and liquid phases. The process involves defining conditions, selecting separator type, calculating gas and liquid capacities, determining dimensions, and validating with industry standards. Key calculations include droplet settling velocity and liquid retention time to ensure proper separation.

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74 views4 pages

2-Phase Separator Sizing

Sizing a 2-phase separator requires determining flow rates, separation efficiency, residence time, and separator type to effectively separate gas and liquid phases. The process involves defining conditions, selecting separator type, calculating gas and liquid capacities, determining dimensions, and validating with industry standards. Key calculations include droplet settling velocity and liquid retention time to ensure proper separation.

Uploaded by

odekuanghoernest
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2-PHASE SEPARATOR SIZING

Sizing a 2-phase separator involves determining its capacity to effectively separate two immiscible
fluids—typically gas-fluids or oil-water mixtures. Key factors include:

1. Flow rates: Know the volumetric or mass flow of each phase (e.g., gas and liquid) entering
the separator.
2. Separation efficiency: The desired purity or residual phase content after separation.
3. Residence time: Time needed for effective separation, influenced by fluid properties and
separator design.
4. Separator type: Horizontal or vertical, influencing size and internal design.

Basic sizing steps:


• Determine inlet flow rates (gas and liquid).
• Calculate droplet size and coalescer effectiveness (if used).
• Select separator dimensions (diameter and length) based on flow rates and residence time
requirements.
• Use empirical correlations or standards (e.g., API 2610 for hydrocarbon separators).

Example:
Suppose you have:

• Gas flow: 10,000 SCF/h


• Oil flow: 2000 bpd

Convert flows to volumetric units, estimate residence time (commonly 2-5 minutes for oil-gas
separation), then size the vessel accordingly, ensuring enough space for effective separation.

Would you like a detailed step-by-step calculation or guidance tailored to specific process
conditions?

The sizing of a 2-phase separator involves determining the appropriate dimensions


and design parameters to efficiently separate gas and liquid phases. Below is a general
step-by-step procedure for sizing a two-phase separator:

1. Define Process Conditions


• Flow Rates: Specify the gas and liquid flow rates (e.g., in m³/h or bbl/day).
o Operating Pressure and Temperature: These affect fluid properties like
density and viscosity.
o Fluid Properties:
▪ Gas density and viscosity.
▪ Liquid density and viscosity.
▪ Surface tension (for droplet settling calculations).

2. Select Separator Type


• Horizontal Separator: Preferred for high gas-liquid ratios or foamy fluids.
o Vertical Separator: Suitable for low gas-liquid ratios or limited footprint
areas.

3. Calculate Gas Capacity (Settling Velocity)


• Use the droplet settling theory to determine the maximum gas velocity that
allows liquid droplets to settle out of the gas phase.
o The Souders-Brown equation is commonly used:

Vg=Kρl−ρgρgVg=Kρgρl−ρg
ruby

Where:
- $ V_g $: Maximum allowable gas velocity (m/s or ft/s).
- $ K $: Empirical constant (typically 0.1–0.35 for horizontal separators, 0.07–0.15 for
vertical).
- $ \rho_l $: Liquid density (kg/m³ or lb/ft³).
- $ \rho_g $: Gas density (kg/m³ or lb/ft³).

4. Calculate Liquid Capacity (Retention Time)


• Determine the required retention time for the liquid phase to ensure proper
separation (typically 1–5 minutes for oil-water systems).
o The liquid volume is calculated as:

Vl=Ql×trVl=Ql×tr
ruby
Where:
- $ V_l $: Liquid volume (m³ or bbl).
- $ Q_l $: Liquid flow rate (m³/h or bbl/day).
- $ t_r $: Retention time (hours or minutes).

5. Determine Separator Dimensions


• Horizontal Separator:
o Calculate the required cross-sectional area for gas flow:

Ag=QgVgAg=VgQg
markdown

- Calculate the liquid volume fraction and adjust the diameter and length accordingly.

• Vertical Separator:
o Calculate the diameter based on gas velocity and liquid holdup
requirements.
o The height is determined by the liquid retention volume and gas
disengagement space.

6. Check for Surge and Other Considerations


• Surge Volume: Account for fluctuations in liquid flow (typically 20–30% of the
calculated liquid volume).
o Mist Extraction: Include a mist eliminator (e.g., mesh pad or vane pack)
to capture fine droplets.
o Nozzle Sizing: Ensure inlet and outlet nozzles are sized to avoid re-
entrainment.

7. Validate with Industry Standards


• Refer to standards like API 12J or ASME Section VIII for additional design
guidelines and safety factors.
If you have specific parameters or a case study, I can provide a more tailored
calculation. Let me know!

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