Separation Processes

(CHE-309)

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Design of Horizontal Separator

Presented by: Group No. 6

Hafiz M.Daniyal Abid (006)
Muhammad Sohail (12-007)
Muhammad Zubair (019)
Faheem Abbas (022)
Zohaib Ashraf (025)
Hasseb ur Rehman (050)
Contents
 What is separator?

Separator is the equipment used for separation of gas and

liquids from well fluids.

Well Fluids:
Oil
Water
Gas
Sediments

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 Types of separation processes:
Component separation
Phase separation

Component separation:
Components are separated from a single phase by mass
transfer e.g., gas absorption.

Phase separation:
In Phase Separation two or more phases can be separated
e.g., removing solids from the liquid by gravity (settling).

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 Separator on the basis of phases:
Two phase separator
Vapor-Liquid separator
Three phase separator
Vapor-liquid liquid separator

Types of Separators:
Horizontal Separator
Vertical Separator
Spherical Separator

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Horizontal Separator:

Two Phase Horizontal Separator:

 Horizontal Separator:

Three Phase Horizontal Separator:

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 Vertical Separator:
Two Phase Vertical Separator:

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 Vertical Separator:

Three Phase Vertical Separator:

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 Internal Components of the Vessel:
All separator types have common internal vessel
components.

Diverter:
Provide initial separation by changing the fluid velocity
and direction.
Mist Eliminator:
Separate the small droplets of liquid which are entrained
in the gas and not separated by diverter.
Deflector Baffle:
Change Fluid velocity and direction.
Cyclone inlet:
It has high flow capacity and used to reduce foaming.

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 De foaming plates:
It is used to reduce foaming which occur at interface
when gas are liberated from the liquid.
Wave Breaker:
It is a vertical baffle spanning the gas liquid interface.
Vortex Breaker:
It is use to break vortex which developed when the
liquid control valve is open, vortex could suck some
gas out of the vapor space and re entrained in the
liquid outlet.
Weir:
In three phase separator it will maintain the oil level.

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 Problem Statement
Calculate the length and diameter of a gas-liquid
separator to separate 200.7 ft3/min(5.68 m3/min) of
vapor from 5 gal/min(0.0189 m 3/min) of a liquid.
Data:
Vapor flow rate = Vv = 200.7 ft3/min
Liquid flow rate = V L = 5 gal/min
Vapor density = 1.372 lb/ft 3 (21.98 kg/m3)
Liquid density = 31.15 lb/ft3 (499 kg/m3)
Design pressure = 50 psig
Design temperature = 200F
Material = Carbon steel
Non corrosive service

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 Summary of equations for sizing vertical gas-liquid
separators
1.1.1

1.1.2

with no mist eliminator 1.1.3 (a)

with mist eliminator 1.1.3 (b)

1.1.4

1.1.5
where the minimum value of is

1.1.6

1.1.7

or

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 Summary of equations-Sizing horizontal gas-liquid
separators
1.2.1

1.2.2

with no mist eliminator 1.2.3 (a)

with mist eliminator 1.2.3 (b)

1.2.4
where the minimum value of

1.2.5

1.2.6

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 Procedure steps:
Select kv from equation 1.1.3(a, b) and 1.2.3(a, b).
Calculation of maximum gas velocity, v v, from
equation 1.1.2 and 1.2.2.
Cross sectional area, A, from equation 1.1.1 and
1.2.1.
Dia calculation from equation 1.1.4 and 1.2.4.and
round off diameter in 6 in (0.152 m) increments,
starting at 30 in (0.762 m). If D 30 in (0.762 m).
Use standard pipe.
Selection of liquid-phase surge time t s from equation
1.1.6 and 1.2.6.
Calculation of liquid-level height from equation 1.1.5
(for vertical separator only).

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 Calculation of separator height from equation 1.1.7
(for vertical separator) and separator length from
equation 1.2.5 (for horizontal separator). Round off L
in 3 in (0.0762 m) increment.
If L/D 3 then recalculate L so that L/D 3 by letting
L/D 5 ,use horizontal separator.
In case of horizontal separator, if L/D 5 then
recalculate D so that L/D 5 by setting L/D = 4.8.
Gas-liquid separators designed for vertical or
horizontal process, but Younger [1] suggest seven
separators in use, with varying L/D ratios from 1.7 to
3.6. These are all installed vertically. By Branan [2] , if
L/D 5, a horizontal separator should be used.

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 Sizing of vertical separator with mist eleminator
1st step: Vapor velocity calculation:

vv 1.6306 ft/sec
2nd step: Area calculation: ()

A 2.0514 ft2
3rd step: Dia calculation: ()

D 1.6166 ft
4th step: liquid level calculation: (

LL 1.2890 ft

5th step: liquid length: ()

L 3.9375 ft
6th step: L/D ratio calculation
L/D 5.2308
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Hence L/D >5 so we can use Horizontal Separator
 Sizing of horizontal separator with mist
eleminator
1st step: Vapor velocity calculation
vv 2.0382ft/sec
2nd step: Area calculation
A 3.2823ft2
3rd step: Dia calculation
D 2.0448ft
where from table;
minimum Dia 5.5ft
Again; Area calculation
A 23.7463ft2
4th step: liquid level calculation
L 0.4926ft
which is not satisfacted value
L/D ratio range 3<L/D<5.0
select L/D 3.2
L 17.6ft

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 Horizontal separator with mist eliminator outside
Dia in inches 24.53777
D<30" so we can use pipe
L 2.5067 ft
Round off 2.5 ft
L/D 1.0282
not in limit 3<L/D<5
select L/D 3.2
L 7.8016 ft

Round off 8 ft
Hence, the effect of increasing
length is to increase ts above 8.75
Conclusion:
Vertical separator is best choice
because of its smaller dia(1.625ft) &
wall thickness. Horizontal separator
also become costly by locating mist
eliminator outside.
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 Design Consideration

Selection of Separator type:

The selection of separator type is based on the following

parameters,
Gas Handling Capacity
Space Available
Cost

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 Horizontal Separator:
More efficient in handling then vertical separator.
Large gas volume
Not efficient for handling solids.
Also required large space then vertical separator.
Vertical Separator:
Good solid handling.
Required less space.
Better surge capacity.
Difficult to service.

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 The following factors must be identified before
separator design

Gas and liquid flow rates

Operating pressure and temperature

Physical properties of fluids

Designed degree of separation

Presence of impurities

Foaming tendencies of crude oil

Corrosive tendencies of liquids or gases

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