Luin startes AND Frs APPLICATIONS 35 small pressure difference; so Pere 5 Rilpg— pa) sina ean In this type of pressure gauge, it is necessary to provide an enlargement in the vertical leg so that the movement ofthe meniscus inthe enlargement is negligible within the operating range of the instrument. CONTINUOUS GRAVITY DECANTER. A gravity decanter of the type shown in Fig. 2.6 is used for the continuous separation of two immiscible liquids of differing densities. The feed mixture enters at one end of the separator; the two liquids flow slowly through the vessel, separate into two layers, and discharge through overflow lines at the other end of the separator. Provided the overflow lines are so large that frictional resistance to the flow of the liquids is negligible, and provided they discharge at the same pressure as that in the gas space above the liquid in the vessel, the performance of the decanter can be analyzed by the principles of fluid statics. For example, in the decanter shown in Fig. 2.6 let the density of the heavy liquid be p4 and that of the light liquid be py. The depth of the layer of heavy liquid is Z, and that of the light liquid is Zp. The total depth of liquid in the vvessel Z.; is fixed by the position of the overflow line for the light liquid. Heavy liquid discharges through an overflow leg connected to the bottom of the vessel and rising to a height Z, above the vessel floor. The overflow lines and the top of the vessel are all vented to the atmosphere. J Vent GE jf Liane ia ourer Tor view SIDE VIEW Tid iui FIGURE 26 CContinsous gravity decanter for immiscible liquids36 rium arrcnamtes ‘Since there is negligible frictional resistance to flow in the discharge lines, the column of heavy liquid in the heavy-liquid overflow leg must balance the somewhat greater depth of the two liquids in the vessel. A hydrostatic balance leads to the equation Zapo+ Zasda=Zasha 2.12) Solving Eq. (2.12) for Za, gives Zu = Zan ~ Zuo = Za — (Zr Za) Pa p 2.13) where the total depth of liquid in the vessel is Z, ,. From this Zax ~ Zp!) 1 pales Equation (2.14) shows that the position of the liquid-liquid interface in the separator depends on the ratio of the densities of the two liquids and on the elevations of the overflow lines. Its independent of the rates of flow of the liquids. Equation (2.14) shows that as p, approaches pg, the position of the interface becomes very sensitive to changes in Z,2, the height of the heavy-liquid leg. With liquids that differ widely in density this height is not critical, but with liquids of nearly the same density it must be set with care, Often the top of the leg is made ‘movable so that in service it can be adjusted to give the best separation. The size of a decanter is established by the time required for separation, which in turn depends on the difference between the densities of the two liquids and on the viscosity of the continuous phase. Provided the liquids are clean and do not form emulsions, the separation time may be estimated from the empirical Za (2.14) equation* where ¢ = separation time, h Pas Pp = densities of liquids A and B, kg/m® = viscosity of the continuous phase, eP Equation (2.15) is not dimensionless, and the indicated units must be used. Example 22. A horizontal cylindrical continuous decanter is to separate 1500 bold (day) 0.93 m?/h) of a Tiquid petroleum fraction from an equal volume of wash acid ‘The oil isthe continuous phase and at the operating temperature has a viscosity of 1.1¢P and a density of 54 Ib/R? (865 kg/m"). The density of the acid is 72 Ib/? (1153 kg/m’). Compute (a) the sizeof the vessel, and (b the height ofthe acid overdlow above the vessel floor Solution (@) The vesse size i found from the separation time. Substitution in Eq (2.15) gives 100 x 11 t =038h 1153 — 865FLUID sraries AND 5 APPLICATIONS 37 ‘or 23 min. Since 1 bbl = 42 gal, the rate of low of each stre 1500 x 42 2 gal/min ax © =” ‘The total liquid holdup is 2x 438 x 23 = 2014 gal The vessel should be about 95 percent full, so its volume is 2014/0.95, or 2120, gal (803m?) ‘The length of the tank should be about 5 times its diameter. A tank 4 f¢(1.22 m) in diameter and 22 (6,10 m) long would be satisfactory; with standard dished heads on the ends, its total volume would be 2124 gal (8) The fraction of the tank volume occupied by the liquid will be 95 percent, and for a horizontal cylinder this means that the liquid depth will be 90 percent of the tank diameter: Thus Z,=090x4= 368 the interface is halfway between the vessel floor and the liquid surface, Zs Solving Eq. (2.14) for Zq., the height of the heavy-liquid overflow, gives Z aq = 180-4 (3.60 ~ L80)3$ = 3.15 8 (096 m) Successful operation of a decanter depends on both the sedimentation and the coalescence of the dispersed phase. Equation (2.15) gives poor results if the liquids to be separated are not clean but contain particulates or polymeric films that reduce the rate of coalescence. Such contaminants may also lead to the formation of a dirty layer of uncoalesced droplets—called a “rag”—at the liquid-liquid interface. Coalescing devices such as beds of porous solids, mem- branes, or high-voltage fields are often necessary for a satisfactory separation.“ With cleaner liquids the size of a decanter can often be greatly reduced by putting in horizontal or slightly inclined pipes or flat plates, so that the heavy-phase “droplets need to fall only a short distance before reaching a layer of the heavy liquid, CENTRIFUGAL DECANTER. When the difference between the densities of the {0 liquids is small, the force of gravity may be too weak to separate the liquids ina reasonable time. The separation may then be accomplished in a liquid-liquid centrifuge, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.7. It consists of a cylindrical metal bow, usually mounted vertically, that rotates about its axis at high speed. In Fig. 2.7athe bow! is at rest and contains a quantity of two immiscible liquids of differing densities, The heavy liquid forms a layer on the floor of the bow! beneath a layer of light liquid. I the bow! is now rotated, as in Fig. 2.7b, the heavy liquid forms a layer, denoted as zone A in the figure, next to the inside wall of the bowl, A Jayer of light liquid, denoted as zone B, forms inside the layer of heavy liquid. A ylindrical interface of radius r, separates the two layers, Since the force of gravity can be neglected in comparison with the much greater centrifugal force, this interface is vertical. It is called the neutral zone