A Brief Overview Of Two-Phase Separators

 

Oil Water Separation is a process in which an oil water separator is designed for segregating gross amounts of oil and suspended solids from wastewater effluents of oil refineries, petrochemicals plants, chemical plants, natural gas processing plants and other industrial oily water sources. Oil water separators are utilized to Oil Water Separation from liquid in a well-stream, enabling liquid free gas to be delivered to gas sales and/or to be utilized as fuel. Relatively, gas free oil is thereafter dumped to storage or to a treating system for water removal.

Two-Phase Separators-Two-phase Separators, being part of Oil Water Separation procedure, are designed specifically for oil and gas. Well stream enters separator of Oil Water Separation unit and strikes an inlet deflector which diverts liquid and gas downstream to liquid section where it begins to separate. After adequate retention time, liquid builds up in bottom of the tank, lifting a float via a linkage to dump liquid.

Trivias & Know-Hows of Two-Phase Separators:

Two-phase vapour-liquid separators of Oil Water Separation unit, have a wide range of applications in many industries like oil refineries, chemical plants, refrigeration mechanisms, natural gas and petrochemical processing plants.

Depending on specific application and usage and vapour-liquid mixture being segregated or separated, two-phase separators can be oriented vertically or horizontally. They’re an empty tank used for reducing fluid velocity on entry, allowing liquid to fall to vessel bottom, with vapour rising to the top. Most separators comprise of essential internal devices aiding in Oil Water Separation procedure, like:

·         An inlet diverter which includes a downcomer directing inlet flow below liquid level in tank, having effect of stabilizing liquid level whilst preventing splattering and foaming.

·         A mist eliminator removing liquid droplets entrained with gas.

·         Liquid dump valve used for dumping liquid from separation vessels like two-phase separators of Oil Water Separation unit, heaters treaters and free water knockouts.

·         Level controller for monitoring, regulating and controlling liquid or solid levels in process.

·         Gravity settling section for segregating solids from surrounding liquid.

·         Pressure relief valves (PRV), a type of safety valve, are used for controlling or limiting pressure in system, say, two-phase separators of Oil Water Separation unit.

·         Gas outlet, a hole/pipe for letting air or liquid pass through.

 

However, it’s worthwhile to mention that two-phase separators can be designed in varied models having different performances. For instance, gas/liquid separator upstream of gas compressor would require to be very efficient, whereas in other cases, only bulk separation of gas and liquid phases, being part of Oil Water Separation procedure, is needed. Gas/Liquid two-phase separator is often used as buffer/surge/accumulator tank/vessel. Different names show different parts of processed stream behaviour along with application emphasis. On some occasions, key structure/component indicates separator names like vane pack separator and coalesce separator.

Liquid-Liquid Separators-Liquid-liquid separators belonging to Oil Water Separation column/unit, are used for separating two immiscible liquids like oil and water. Viscosity, specific gravity and interfacial tension of two liquids must be taken into account when designing this separator. If difference in density between two liquids is large, separation is achieved via gravity separation. In such instances, heavier liquid is drawn off bottom of tank, with lighter liquid off the top. Otherwise, a coalescer is used for facilitating liquid-liquid separation using plastic, polymer, wool or fiberglass as coalescing medium or agent.

Solid-Liquid Separators-Solid-liquid separation of Oil Water Separation procedure, is obtained through filtration, settling or centrifugation. These kinds of separators use filters containing porous medium retaining suspended solids as mixture passes through it.  

 

Advantages of Two-Phase Separators of Oil Water Separation Unit:

·         Skid mounted for easy transportation

·         Dual safety device-rupture disc and spring safety valve

·         Equipped with automatic control system and integrated blocking manifold system for easy operation

·         High automation and high measurement accuracy

·         Clear curves of temperature, pressure and velocity

·         Continuous operation from beginning to end

·         ASME certified, meeting international standards

 

Two-phase separators are often called:

Vertical KO Drum-Knockout drum, KO in short, the word ‘knockout’ suggests free liquid droplets ‘knocked out’ from continuous phase which carry them. For instance, low-pressure free-water KO Drum is so called as it’s designed for separating free water from wet gas. Vertical KO Drum is often used for bulk separation of gas and liquid, having very low pressure drop and taking relatively small ground area for installation purpose. It is used to handle fluid with high gas/liquid flow ratio. KO Drum is insensitive to fouling and foaming service.

Horizontal KO Drum-Horizontal KO Drum of Oil Water Separation procedure, is often used for demisting of gas where high liquid handling capacity is needed, taking larger ground area, and is relatively sensitive to fouling. But it provides with better water removal efficiency and larger liquid capacity, necessitating the need for mist extractor in most cases.

 

According to installation mode, separator can be divided into:

Horizontal Separator-It’s built horizontally as vessel shell axis parallel to ground, requiring relatively large horizontal installation space, its application being not affected by field wind. Horizontal separator is used for test separator, production separator, two-phase separator, three-phase separator and special application separator.

Vertical Separator-It’s built vertically, vessel shell axis being perpendicular to ground, requiring relatively small horizontal installation space. For very high/slender separator, field wind is considered. Vertical separator is used for test separator, production separator, two-phase separator, three-phase separator and special application separator.

 

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