Problem Statement

https://www.enggcyclopedia.com/2011/10/sample-problem-gas-liquid-separator-sizing-demsiter-
pad/

Perform separator sizing calculations for a vertical gas-liquid separator used for separation of fuel
gas bubbles entrained in water flow.
Flow rate of water = 18 m3/hr
Entrained Flow of fuel gas = 100 m3/hr
Operating temperature of separator = 25 0C
Operating pressure of separator = 0.2 barg (near atmospheric)
Separation efficiency required is to remove 80% of gas bubbles above the size of 10 microns.
Fuel gas properties can be approximately taken as properties of ethane

Size the drum as (i) an empty vessel and (ii) vessel with demister pad with K=0.1 m/s for
removing 100 micron droplet size. Compare the minimum vessel size requirements in both the
cases.

Solution

For the case (i), separator sizing of two phase separator as an empty vessel is performed
in EnggCyclopedia's solved sample problem. This type of separator relies only on gravity settling of
liquid droplets and requires sufficient residence time for the gas phase so that the liquid droplets
can settle down. This often results in a large vessel for separation of small liquid droplets.

A demister pad assists the separation of liquid droplets by impinging liquid droplets into each other
to from bigger drops which are too heavy to rise with the gas and drop down into the pool of liquid
in the separator.

For gas liquid separators, following equation for the gas phase design velocity governs the
separator diameter,

ρL and ρG are the densities of liquid and gas phase respectively.

K is a proportionality constant which depends on a number of factors which include liquid viscosity,
surface tension, entrainment loading, and the content of dissolved and suspended solids. For our
sample problem, we know the 'K' value to be 0.1 m/s for removing 100 micron size liquid droplets.

It shoud be noted that the 'K' value is directly proportional to the square of the droplet size
to be knocked out from gas. Hence for 10 micron size particles, 'K' calue is estimated as,
K = 0.1×(10/100)2 = 10-3 Thus the separator sizing can be performed in following basic steps.

Step1

Water density at 25 0C = 994.72 kg/m3

Water viscosity at 25 0C = 0.9 cP
For fuel gas properties,
Molecular weight of ethane = 30 gm/gmole
Fuel gas density at 25 0C = 1.45 kg/m3
Fuel gas viscosity at 25 0C = 0.0069 cP

Step2

The design velocity for gas phase is calculated as follows,

with K = 10-3, ρL = 994.72 kg/m3 and ρG = 1.45 kg/m3

Vt = 10-3 × √((994.72 - 1.45)/1.45) = 2.6×10-2 m/s

This design velocity for gas phase is related to the drum diameter as,

Vt = 4×Vg/(3600×πd2)... where Vg is gas volumetric flow (m3/hr) and 'd' is vessel diameter

Hence,

d = √Vg/(900×π×Vt)

d = √100/(900×π×2.6×10-2) = 1.166 m

Compared to minimum drum diameter requirement of 2.13 m for empty vertical KO Drum which
only relies on gravity settling for separation of liquid droplets. It can be readily observed that drum
size is reduced by 15% in terms of drum diameter by using a demister pad.

Using the L/D ratio of 3.5 ,

L = 3.5 × 1.17 = 4.095 m

This length has to be checked to be compliant with project specification of liquid residence time
between HLL and LLL. If the length is not sufficient to provide enough residence time between HLL
and LLL, then the length can be increased along with the diameter by resepcting the L/D ratio
constraints.