Separator Sizing Parameters

To perform Separator Vessel Sizing, open the Separator block dialog by doubleclicking on the Separator in the flowsheet view or in the navigation tree on the
left side of the Project Viewer.

Click the Process Data tab and select the checkbox next to the "Include
Separator Sizing" parameter at the end of the table. If this option is selected, the
Sizing tab will be available.

Click the Sizing tab to enter vessel sizing parameters.

If all required parameters are specified, the sizing calculations are performed
when the Separator executes. However, if you modify any Vessel Sizing
parameters, you must click the "Solve" button below the Sizing parameters table
to generate updated results.

After the preliminary Sizing calculations are returned, the Vessel Inside
Diameter and other parameters may be manipulated to fine tune the sizing. The
Length (horizontal separators) and Height (vertical separators) are calculated
parameters and cannot be user-specified directly.

Thickness calculations are not performed for separators under external pressure.

For further information on Separator Sizing correlations, refer to Separator

Sizing Technical Information.

See also Minimum Practical Wall Thickness.

Note that all pressure vessel calculations are performed in accordance with Section VIII
Division 1 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Material properties used in
ProMax are properties that are permitted for use in Section VIII Division 1. You should
verify the applicability of a selected material of construction by referring to the
requirements and restrictions present in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
The availability of a material in the selection list does not indicate the material is
applicable for the process.
Required Parameters

Some required Separator Sizing parameters are supplied with default values for
your convenience. Although you can enter as much information as you have
available, the table below reflects the minimum required specifications above
and beyond the required parameter values already supplied by default for each
Vessel Type.

For example, the Vertical 2 Phase separator requires one of the following: Light
Liquid Holdup Time, Light Liquid Holdup Volume, Light Liquid Holdup Depth;

and one of the following: Light Liquid Surge Time, Light Liquid Surge Volume,
Light Liquid Surge Depth. Default values are supplied for the Light Liquid
Holdup Time and Light Liquid Surge Time so that the vessel can be sized with
no additional specifications, as noted in the table below. The default values can
be changed, or they can be deleted and a different parameter specified.

Vessel
Type

Specifications in
Addition to Default
Values Required to
Perform Vessel
Sizing

Comments

Vertical 2
Phase

None

Thickness calculations will

not be performed unless the
Shell/Head Material of
Construction and
Corrosion Allowance are
specified.

Vertical 3
Phase

Light Liquid
Residence Time

Thickness calculations will

not be performed unless the
Shell/Head Material of
Construction and
Corrosion Allowance are
specified.

Heavy Liquid
Residence Time
OR
Light Liquid Settling
Depth
Heavy Liquid
Settling Depth

Horizontal
2 Phase

Corrosion Allowance
Shell Material of
Construction

Head Material of
Construction

Horizontal
3 Phase

Corrosion Allowance
Shell Material of
Construction

The boot is present only

with the "Horizontal 3
Phase with Boot" Vessel
Type.

Head Material of
Construction
Boot Shell Material
of Construction (if
present)
Boot Head Material
of Construction (if
present)
Light Liquid
Residence Time
Heavy Liquid
Residence Time

Sizing Parameters

Parameters with gray value cells are calculated.

When only a single liquid phase is present (i.e. 2 Phase Separator), the
parameters are termed "Light Liquid" regardless of whether the liquid is aqueous
or hydrocarbon (e.g. Light Liquid Holdup Depth, Light Liquid Surge Time, etc.).

To change units for any parameter, choose from the drop-down units list to the
right.

Be sure to review any default values provided by the program (e.g. LiquidLiquid Droplet Diameter, Light Liquid Holdup Time, Terminal Velocity) to be
sure they are applicable to your system.

Click on these links for diagrams depicting Sizing parameters: Horizontal 2

Phase, Vertical 2 Phase, Vertical 3 Phase, Horizontal 3 Phase, Horizontal 3
Phase with Boot, Horizontal 3 Phase with Weir, or Horizontal 3 Phase Bucket &
Weir.
Vessel Type

Vapor-Liquid Droplet Diameter

Vapor-Liquid K
Terminal Velocity in Vapor
Liquid-Liquid Droplet Diameter
Liquid-Liquid C*
Terminal Velocity in Light Liquid
Terminal Velocity in Heavy Liquid
Light Liquid Holdup Time
Light Liquid Holdup Volume
Light Liquid Holdup Depth
Light Liquid Surge Time
Light Liquid Surge Volume
Light Liquid Surge Depth
Light Liquid Low Level Shutdown Depth
Heavy Liquid Holdup Time
Heavy Liquid Holdup Volume
Heavy Liquid Holdup Depth
Heavy Liquid Surge Time
Heavy Liquid Surge Volume
Heavy Liquid Surge Depth
Heavy Liquid Low Level Shutdown Depth
Surge Level Below Weir
Demister Pad Thickness
Demister Pad Overhead Clearance
Minimum Vapor Disengagement Depth

Vapor Disengagement Depth

Feed Nozzle Diameter
Vapor Nozzle Diameter
Light Liquid Nozzle Diameter
Heavy Liquid Nozzle Diameter
Minimum Shell L/D Ratio
Maximum Shell L/D Ratio
Light Liquid Residence Time

Type of Separator

Residence Time
(minutes)

Hydrocarbon/Water

Above 35 API Hydrocarbon

3-5

Below 35 API Hydrocarbon

100+ F

5 - 10

80+ F

10 - 20

60+ F

20 - 30

Ethylene Glycol/Hydrocarbon
(Cold Separators)

20 - 60

Amine/Hydrocarbon

20 - 30

Coalescer, Hydrocarbon/Water
Separators

100 F and Above

5 - 10

80 F

10 - 20

60 F

20 - 30

Caustic/Propane

30 - 45

Caustic/Heavy Gasoline

30 - 90

Heavy Liquid Residence Time

Type of Separator

Residence Time
(minutes)

Hydrocarbon/Water

Above 35 API Hydrocarbon

3-5

Below 35 API Hydrocarbon

100+ F

5 - 10

80+ F

10 - 20

60+ F

20 - 30

Ethylene Glycol/Hydrocarbon
(Cold Separators)

20 - 60

Amine/Hydrocarbon

20 - 30

Coalescer, Hydrocarbon/Water
Separators

100 F and Above

5 - 10

80 F

10 - 20

60 F

20 - 30

Caustic/Propane

30 - 45

Caustic/Heavy Gasoline

30 - 90

Include Baffle
Baffle Cut
Light Liquid Depth above Baffle
Design Temperature
Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
Corrosion Allowance
Shell Material of Construction
Shell Thickness
Shell Joint Weld Efficiency
Head Type
Head Material of Construction
Head Thickness
Head Joint Weld Efficiency
Boot Shell Material of Construction
Boot Shell Thickness

Boot Shell Joint Weld Efficiency

Boot Head Type
Boot Head Material of Construction
Boot Head Thickness
Boot Head Joint Weld Efficiency
Vessel Inside Diameter Fabrication Rounding
Vessel Inside Diameter
Shell Height
Shell Length
Shell L/D Ratio
Total Vessel Height
Total Vessel Length
Boot Inside Diameter
Boot Shell Length
Boot Total Length
Feed Nozzle Distance Above Surge
Light Liquid Settling Depth
Heavy Liquid Settling Depth
Settling Compartment Length
Light Liquid Weir Height
Light Liquid Bucket Length
Light Liquid Bucket Bottom Height
Distance between Buckets
Heavy Liquid Weir Height
Heavy Liquid Bucket Length

Vessel Internal Volume

Vessel Mass
Vessel Mass Filled with Water
Material of Construction

The Material of Construction Selection dialog is used to specify the Shell and/or
Boot material for the Separator being sized.

To access the dialog, click on the cell to the right of the "Material of
Construction" item in the Specifications table, then click on the arrow in the cell.

The following parameters found at the top of the Material of Construction

Selection dialog act as filters for the table of materials:
Applicable Codes
Forms to Display
Groups to Display

For each material listed in the table, the following properties are displayed:
Name, Std Specification, Grade, Form, UNS Designation (UNS = Unified
Numbering System), Condition, Composition, Min Temperature, Max
Temperature, and Notes.

The Notes refer to Stress Values for the various materials. Stress values are used
in the calculation of the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure. See Notes Maximum Allowable Stress Values for Nonferrous Materials and Notes Maximum Allowable Stress Values for Ferrous Materials for information on the
definition of specified Notes (e.g. G10, T2, S1, etc.).

Click on the checkbox next to a material in the table to select it. The selected
material will appear below the table as an "Active Selection". When you exit the
Material of Construction Selection dialog, the currently selected material will
appear next to the Material of Construction parameter in the Specifications table.

All pressure vessel calculations are performed in accordance with Section VIII Division
1 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Material properties used in ProMax
are properties that are permitted for use in Section VIII Division 1. You should verify
the applicability of a selected material of construction by referring to the notes and other
restrictions present in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The availability of a
material in the selection list does not indicate the material is applicable for the
process.