GAS/LIQUID

SEPARATORS
DESIGN RULES
Fanda Kurniawan
Feb 25th, 2009

OUTLINES
01. Components
02. Selection Criteria for Gas/Liquid
Separators
- Vertical KO Drum
- Horizontal KO Drum
- Vertical Wire Mesh Demister
- Horizontal Wire Mesh Demister
03. Design Rules

01. COMPONENTS
A. Feed inlet
B. Separator internals
- Wire Mesh
- Vane Pack
C. Gas and liquid outlets

02. Selection Criteria for

Gas/Liquid Separators
VERTICAL
-

A smaller plan area is

required (critical on
offshore platforms)
Easier solids removal
Liquid removal
efficiency does not
vary with liquid level (area
in vessel available for gas
flow remains constant)
Vessel volume is generally
smaller

HORIZONTAL
-

Large liquid slugs have to

be accommodated;
There is restricted head
room;
A low downward liquid
velocity is required (for
de-gassing purposes or for
foam breakdown).

VERTICAL KO DRUM

VERTICAL KO DRUM
(Contd)

Application: bulk separation of

gas and liquid.
Characteristics:
- unlimited turndown;
- high slug handling
capacity;
- liquid removal efficiency
typically 90%;
Warning: poor removal
efficiency of liquid from mist
- very low pressure drop;
- insensitive to fouling.

Recommended use:
- vessels where internals
have to be kept to a
minimum
- foaming service.
Non-recommended use:
- where efficient demisting
of gas is required.
Typical process applications:
- vent and flare stack
knockout drums;
- production separator;
- bulk separator (e.g.
upstream of gas coolers)

VERTICAL KO DRUM
(Contd)

Diameter

Nozzle
If no inlet device is fitted, the
momentum criterion 1 000 to
2000 Pa.
If a half-open pipe is fitted, the
momentum criterion 1 500 to
5000 Pa.
If a Schoepentoeter is fitted, the
momentum criterion from 6 000
to 10 000 Pa.

Height

Pressure Drop

HORIZONTAL KO DRUM

HORIZONTAL KO DRUM
(Contd)

Application:
- bulk separation of gas and liquid.
Characteristics:
- can handle large liquid fractions;
- unlimited turndown;
- very high slug handling capacity;
- liquid removal efficiency typically
90%
Warning: poor removal efficiency of
liquid from mist;
- very low pressure drop;
- insensitive to fouling.

Recommended use:
- vessels where internals have to be
kept to a minimum and where
there are height limitations;
- slug catchers;
- fouling service, e.g. wax, sand,
asphaltenes;
- for foaming or very viscous liquids.
Non-recommended use:
- where efficient demisting of gas is
required.
Typical process applications:
- vent and flare stack knock-out
drums;
- production separator for low gas/oil
ratio (GOR);
- bulk separator;
- slug catcher.

HORIZONTAL KO DRUM
(Contd)

Diameter

Pressure Drop

VERTICAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER

VERTICAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER (Contd)

Application : demisting of gas.

Characteristics:
- high turndown ratio (factor 4);
- high slug handling capacity;
- liquid removal efficiency >
98%;
- low pressure drop.
Recommended use:
- for demisting service with a
moderate liquid load in form
of droplets;
- where slug handling capacity
may be required.

Non-recommended use:
- fouling service (wax,
asphaltenes, sand, hydrates)
- for viscous liquids where degassing requirement
determines vessel diameter

VERTICAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER (Contd)

Turn Down
The efficiency of the
demister mat will
decrease at gas flows
less than around 30%
of the design limit if
the droplet size
Efficiency
Greater than 98% can
be assumed for a
correctly sized vertical
demisting vessel

VERTICAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER (Contd)

Diameter

Height

Pressure Drop

HORIZONTAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER

HORIZONTAL WIREMESH
DEMISTER (Contd)

Application : demisting of gas

where a high liquid handling
capacity is required.
Characteristics:
- high turndown ratio
- very high slug handling
capacity;
- liquid removal efficiency >
98%;
- sensitive to fouling;
- low pressure drop.
Typical process applications:
- production/test separator for
low GOR
- applications with height
limitations.

Recommended use:
- typically for demisting service
with a high liquid load and a
low GOR;
- applied where slug handling
capacity may be required;
- for viscous liquids where liquid
de-gassing requirement
determines vessel diameter;
- for foaming liquids.
Non-recommended use:
- Fouling service (wax,
asphaltenes, sand).

03. Design Rules

Nature of Feed

Flow regime in the feed pipe

The feed entering a G/L separator can be in the form of mist, stratified flow, slug
flow, etc. depending on the flow rates and physical properties of the gas and liquid
phases and on the feed pipe characteristics (diameter, length, vertical/ horizontal).

Design Rules (Contd)

Sizing of Feed and Outlet Nozzle

Feed Inlet

Sizing of Feed and Outlet Nozzle

(Contd)

Gas Outlet

Liquid Outlet
- Velocity does not exceed 1 m/s

THANK YOU