SEPARATOR DESIGN – SIZING THE

GAS CAPACITY

VVertical  K  Vc kg/m3

 Determine Critical Vapour Velocity m/s

l  v
Vc  0.048
 K Value empirical / vendor (0.8 – 3.3) v

EP 20246_a_A_ppt_07 - SEPARATORS 2
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – SIZING THE GAS
CAPACITY

Excerpt from
PRODEM (Total)

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3
SEPARATORS
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – TYPICAL
PERFORMANCES

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4
SEPARATORS
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – WALL
THICKNESS CONSIDERATIONS
• Nominal diameter is OUTSIDE DIAMETER
• Nominal lenght between tangent heads
• ASME VIII for thickness
P D
e C
2SE  1.2 P
e in mm / D internal diameter in mm / P design pressure in bar.g /
C corrosion allowance in mm (default = 3) / E seam efficiency (85-100%) /
S max allowable stress in bar.g
(1220barg for carbon steel – 1000barg for stainless)

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5
SEPARATORS
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – WEIGHT
• CONSIDERATIONS
Important factor 200

180
Diameter vs Weight

– Wall thickness –
160

140

Weight (Te) Wall Thickness (mm)

constructability issue
120

100

80

over 100mm thickness 60

40

– Installation 20

0
2 2.5 3 3.5
Wall Thickness (mm)
Vessel Weight (te)

4 4.5
Vessel Diameter

• Estimations based on
design pressure and "COMMON"
sheer stress
L/D = 2 L/D = 3 L/D = 4 L/D = 5

• Weight increases DESIGN PRESSURE

7 bar.g
rapidly with diameter
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SEPARATORS
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – TYPICAL
SIZES

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SEPARATORS
 SEPARATOR DESIGN – NOZZLE
•
SIZING
NOZZLE SIZING – Erosion & Turbulence
limitation
v2 < 6,000 for INLET
v2 < 10,000 for GAS outlet
v < 1 – 1.4m/s for LIQUIDS
• STANDARD NOZZLE SIZES:
2 in, 3 in, 4 in,
6 in, 8 in,…

EP 20246_a_A_ppt_07 - SEPARATORS 8