4.5.

SIMULATION OF UNIT OPERATIONS 195

Figure 4.26. Tray sizing results.

Single-stage liquid-liquid or vapor-liquid separation can be modeled as a flash

vessel, but some caution is needed. The simulation programs assume perfect separ-
ation in a flash unless the designer specifies otherwise. If there is entrainment of
droplets or bubbles, then the outlet compositions of a real flash vessel will be different
from those predicted by the simulation. If the flash is critical to process performance,
then the designer should make an allowance for entrainment. Most of the simulation
programs allow the designer to specify a fraction of each phase that is entrained with
the other phases. This is illustrated in Figure 4.27, which shows the data entry sheet
for entrained flows for UniSim Design. In UniSim Design, the entrained fractions are
entered on the ‘‘Rating’’ tab of the flash model window. Users can also use built-in
correlation models with their specified information such as vessel dimensions and
nozzle locations. More sophisticated real separator modeling can be found in the