PROJNo.

:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

INTRODUCTION TO HORIZONTAL VESSEL SIZING PROGRAM

Program Name #REF!
Version
#REF!
Revision
#REF!
Author
R Aspinall
Date
#REF!

CLICK ON HIGHLIGHTED BUTTONS

Purpose
This program is designed to assist with sizing of 2 phase and 3 phase horizontal separators.
This program is based on the guidelines for horizontal separators in API 12J

Level Control Guidelines

The following liquid levels are offered only as an approximate guide.
Where project specific level control data is available, the following may be ignored.
For explanation of liquid levels click on boxes highlighted in yellow.

Instructions for use

1.
-

Input required process data in the 'Data Input' sheet:

Fluid Mass Flowrates & Densities
Oil Viscosity
Separator operating pressure
Separator Type - ie 2 or 3 phase
Separation Device
Vessel Aspect Ratio (Length/ Diameter)
Level constraints (See diagrams opposite For Guidelines)
There are 2 options for entering liquid level constraints:
1) Default level constraints may be chosen by clicking on the 'Default Level Constraints' button
2) User specified level constraints may be entered directly
- Required Oil & Water or liquid (for 2 phase separators) Residence Times
- Max allowable rhov2 for inlet/ vapour outlet nozzles and max allowable velocity for liquid outlet nozzle

3 Phase Separator
0.3D or 300mm min
HHLL
LLL
LLLL
Settling Height for light
phase or 300mm min

3. Input an initial guess for the vessel diameter based on the estimated diameter and
enter maximum interface and liquid levels as a percentage of the vessel diameter.

HIL

Weir

LIL

6 minute heavy phase

holdup or 300mm min

Water Nozzle
150mm from
vessel base

2. Goto the 'Calculations (1)' sheet by clicking on the button at the bottom of 'Data Input Sheet'

1 - 5 minute holdup light

phase or 250mm min

HLL

LLIL

Dead Oil Length

1 minute holdup
or 350mm min
T/T Length
Separation Length

4. Hit the 'Execute Program' button and check residence times to see if requirements are met.
( Note1: the calculated default liquid levels are based on the user input level constraints)
( Note2: the program will give a warning if input dia is too small (based on user input level constraints))
5. If either the API criteria or other criteria is not met adjust dia and/ or maximum Oil/ Interface levels
and rerun program
1. When actual liquid levels are known, these may be entered by clicking on
the 'enter liquid levels' button in the 'Data Input' sheet. This will take the user to
the main calculation sheet and the liquid levels can be entered in the highlighted cells.
Once these are entered, go back to the Data Input Sheet and complete input.
Goto 'Calculations (1) sheet' and enter the vessel diameter. There is no need to execute
the program since this calculates liquid levels based on the level constraints.
2. The water outlet nozzle is fixed @ 150mm above the vessel base. This may be adjusted to a
user preferred value by overwriting the default value in 'calculations(2)' worksheet
Limitations
1. Does not take into account vessel heads therefore the separation volume used in calculations is conservative

2 Phase Separator
0.3D or 300mm min
HHLL
1 minute holdup
or 250mm min
1 min holdup
1 minute holdup
or 300mm min

Water Nozzle
150mm from
vessel base

HLL
LLL

LLLL

T/T Length

FEEDBACK: All feedback should be sent to the Owner (Assigned Custodian): - see Revision Status sht.
261865889.xls - Introduction

Page 1 of 8

02/27/2015

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

INPUT

DATA

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

SHEET

Client:
Job No:
Project:
Vessel Name:
Tag No:
Case:
PROCESS DATA
Operating Pressure
Oil Mass Flowrate
Gas Mass Flowrate

(bara)
(kg/h)
(Kg/h)

65
0
31,143

Water Mass Flowrate (kg/h)

Oil Viscosity
Oil Density
Gas Density

(cP)
(kg/m3)
(kg/m3)

0.07
428.00
76.25

Water Density (kg/m3)

1000.00

SEPARATION
2 or 3 Phase

22

Gas-Liquid
Separation Device

Wiremesh Demister

Aspect Ratio (L/D)

K-Value (m/s)
User Input

2 Phase Separator

Default
0.107

Wiremesh Demister

(Optional) Selected
0.11
0.107

3.0

CONSTRAINTS
Liquid Levels From to

Min height
(mm)
150

*Water outlet nozzle to LILL or LLLL

Interface low-low to interface low (LLIL to LIL)
interface low to interface high (LIL to HIL)
Interface High (HIL) to Weir

Min Time
(secs)
30

N/A

Weir to Oil Low Low (LLLL)

Oil low low to oil low (LLLL to LLL)
Oil low to oil high (LLL to HLL)
Oil high to oil high high (HLL to HHLL)

150
150
250

N/A
30
60
60

Min. holdup time for oil downstream of Weir to prevent gas blowby
(Required for dead oil length calc)
Minimum Residence/ Holdup Times
Oil Residence Time (minutes)
Water Residence Time (minutes)
2 Phase Liquid Holdup Time (minutes)

1
1

(Not Required)
(Not Required)

*(level to LILL for 3 phase separator or LLLL for 2 phase separator)

NOZZLE DATA
*Inlet Nozzle - max allowable rhov2 (kg/ms2)
Vapour Outlet Nozzle - max allowable rhov2 (kg/ms2)
Liquid Outlet nozzle - max allowable velocity (m/s)

DEFAUL
T
6000
3750
1

*For no separation device max allowable rhov2 = 1000

261865889.xls - Data Input

Page 2 of 8

02/27/2015

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

CALCULATION

Client:
Job No:
Project:

0
0
0

Vessel Name:
Tag No:
Case:

0
0
0

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

SHEET

Vessel Sizing Variables

Estimated Vessel Diameter
User Selected Vessel Diameter
Dead Oil Length
Vessel Separation Length
1

(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)

0
1100
0
3300

Maximum Liquid Levels

Max Liq Level (HHLL) as a percentage of vessel diam. (%)

Max interface level (HIL) as a percent of vessel diam. (%)
Residence Times:

70
28 Not Required
Calculated

Oil Residence Time (NIL to NLL)

Water Residence Time (Bot to NIL)
Total Liquid Residence Time (Bot to NLL)
(To NLL for 2 phase separator only)

(min)
(min)
(min)

N/A
N/A
#DIV/0!

API 12 J Recommended

(min)

1.00
2 phase

(m3)

User Specified
N/A
N/A
0

Slug Handling Capacity

From NLL to HHLL

Note 1: A good starting point is 40% for HIL and 60% for HHLL
261865889.xls - Calculations (1)

Page 3 of 8

02/27/2015

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

RESULTS

SUMMARY

Project Details
Client:
Job No:
Project:

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

Sizing Case
0
0
0

Vessel Name:
Tag No:
Case:

0
0
0

Process Input Data

Operating Pressure
Oil Mass Flowrate
Gas Mass Flowrate

(Bara)
(kg/h)
(kg/h)

65
0
31,143

Water Mass Flowrate

(kg/h)

Oil Viscosity
Oil Density
Gas Density
Water Density

(cP)
(kg/m3)
(kg/m3)
(kg/m3)

0.07
428.00
76.25
1000.00

Results
Vessel Dimensions

Diameter
Length T/T

(m)
(m)

1.1
3.3

Residence Time

Total Liquid
Water

(min)
(min)

#DIV/0!
N/A

Gas Velocities

Allowable
Actual

(m/s)
(m/s)

#DIV/0!
0.47

Liquid Levels

High
Normal
Interface High
Interface Normal

70%
40%
N/A
N/A

Inlet
Gas Outlet
Oil & Water Outlet

(ins)
(ins)
(ins)

Nozzles

(Above HHLL)
(%
(%
(%
(%

Vessel
Vessel
Vessel
Vessel

Diameter)
Diameter)
Diameter)
Diameter)

calculated
5.7
5.7
0.0

selected
6
6
#N/A
#N/A

3 PHASE SEPARATOR
INLET

High High Liquid Level

High Liquid Level
Normal Liquid Level
Low Liquid Level
Low Low liquid level
Weir Height
High Interface Level
Normal Interface Level
Low Interface Level
Low Low Interface Level
Bottom of Vessel

Level (mm)
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
0

HHLL
HLL
NLL
LLL
LLLL
HIL
NIL
LIL
LLIL
BV

N/A m TAN/TAN

___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___

N/A m ID

Water

261865889.xls - Report

GAS OUTLET

Page 4 of 8

Oil
N/A m
Dead Oil Length

02/27/2015

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

HORIZONTAL
Client
Job No
Project

VESSEL

SIZING

0
0
0

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

ROUTINES

Vessel Name
Tag No
Case

0
0
0

PROCESS DATA
Oil

Gas

Water

Mass Flowrate
Density @ operating conditions

(kg/h)
(kg/m3)

0
428

31,143
76.25

Volume flowrate

(am3/h)

0.0

408.4

Dynamic viscosity

(cP)

Kinematic viscosity

(m2/sec)

0
1000
0.0

0.1
1.7E-7

2 Phase Separator Dimensions

calculated vessel diameter (mm)
user selected vessel diameter
vessel separation length (mm)
dead oil length (mm)
2 or 3 phase separation

0 (ESTIMATE)
1100
3300

cross section (m2)

radius (mm) :

0.95
550

heights above bottom (mm)

Default

Heights
User Input

Space
(mm)
1

Time Gap
(sec)

Selected

Interface Levels
minimum allowable nozzle
water outlet nozzle
interface low-low (LLIL)
interface low (LIL)
interface normal (NIL)
interface high (HIL)
weir height
2

Light Phase Levels

oil low-low (LLLL)
oil low (LLL)
oil normal (NLL)
oil high (HLL)
oil high-high (HHLL)

220
370
520

gas cap height

129
150
0
0
0
0
0

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

220
370
445
520
770

220
150
75
75
250

#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!

330

Note 1: The selected levels are the DEFAULT levels or where a value is entered by the user, the user input value will be used
Note 2: Minimum allowable nozzle height limited by 50 deg entry angle to vessel shell.

261865889.xls - Calculations (2)

Page 5 of 8

02/27/2015

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

API SIZING CRITERIA

Oil gravity
Min residence time (API Criterion)

=
=

199.1 API
1 mins 2 phase

oil residence time nil-nll (mins)=

Total Liquid Residence Time (mins)=
water res. time nil-outlet (mins)=

#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!

alowable gas vel -API-(m/s) =

K-Value for Wiremesh Demister
actual gas velocity (m/s)
- above nl
- above hll
- above hhll

#DIV/0!
0.35 (ft/s)
=
=
=

time to overflow above hhl (sec)=

0.192
0.223
0.473

User Selected

#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!

#DIV/0!

NOZZLES
Minimum inlet diam.
Min gas outlet diam.
Minumum liquid outlet
Minumum liquid outlet
Minumum liquid outlet

261865889.xls - Calculations (2)

5.7
5.7
0.0
0.0
0.0

ins
ins
ins
ins
ins

i.d.
i.d.
(oil + water)
(oil only)
(water only)

Page 6 of 8

02/27/2015

Drawings

Client:
Job No:
Project:

0
0
0

Vessel Name:
Tag No:
Case:

0
0
0

3 PHASE SEPARATOR
INLET

High High Liquid Level

High Liquid Level
Normal Liquid Level
Low Liquid Level
Low Low liquid level
Weir Height
High Interface Level
Normal Interface Level
Low Interface Level
Low Low Interface Level
Bottom of Vessel

Level (mm)
#VALUE! HHLL
#VALUE! HLL
#VALUE! NLL
#VALUE! LLL
#VALUE! LLLL
#VALUE!
#VALUE! HIL
#VALUE! NIL
#VALUE! LIL
#VALUE! LLIL
0
BV

N/A m TAN/TAN

GAS OUTLET

___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___

N/A m ID

Water

N/A m
Dead Oil Length
Oil

PROJNo.:__________
CALC No.:_________

Self Chck:__________
Date:________
HORIZONTAL

VESSEL

SIZING

ROUTINES

VESSEL NUMBER

SLEIPNER LP SEPARATOR

CASE DESCRIPTION

NEW GUNGNE CASE DATA WITH 3MSM3/D LP PRODUCTION

oil rate (kg/h)

gas rate (kg/h)
water rate (kg/h)
2 or 3 phase separation

:
:
:
:

1240
24167
100
2

vessel diameter (mm)

vessel separation length (mm):
dead oil length (mm)

5000 oil viscosity (cP)

:
5000 oil viscosity (m2/sec) :
971
space
time
heights
(mm)
gap
(sec)
585
150
n/a
1564
n/a
n/a
1714
n/a
n/a
1864
n/a
n/a
2014
n/a
n/a
2114
n/a
n/a

heights above bottom (mm)

minimum allowable nozzle
water outlet nozzle
interface low-low
interface low
interface normal
interface high
weir height

: note 1
:
:
:
:
:
:

oil low-low (LLL)

oil low (LL)
oil normal (NL)
oil high (HL)
oil high-high (HHL)
s cap height

:
:
:
:
:
:

oil density (kg/m3) :

gas density (kg/m3) :
water dens. (kg/m3) :

2630
2780
2855
2930
3180
1820

2630
150
75
75
250

API SIZING CRITERIA

Chkd:________
Apprvd:________
Date:________ Date:________

795
97.4
1034

0.2
2.0E-7

oil vol (m3/h)

gas vol (m3/h)
wat vol (m3/h)

cross section (m2)

135831 - above oil outlet

9698
4827
4806
15809
64% of vessel diam.

1.6 Liquid rate (kg/h)

248.1 Tot liq vol (m3/h) :
0.1 mix liq dens

:
:

19.64 radius

1340
1.7
###

###

- CHECK - 50% MAX FOR VANES, 60% FOR MISTMAT

- OK

SHELL DEP 31.22.05.11-Gen February 1991 SIZING CRITERIA

Oil gravity
Min residence time (API Criterion)

=
=

oil residence time nil-nl (mins)

water res. time nil-outlet (sec)=

alowable gas vel - API - (m/s)

actual gas velocity (m/s)

- above nl
- above hl
- above hhl

=
=
=

time to overflow above hhl (sec)=

NOTE - minimum allowable nozzle height limited
by 50 deg entry angle to vessel shell.

46.5 API
3 mins3 Phase
945.2 OK
1209870
0.430

0.009 - OK
0.009 - OK
0.011 - OK
83829

Feed flow parameter

0.019

Gas Demisting:
Scaled gas flow, Q*
Design flow multiplier
Design gas flow, Q*max
Slugging service? (y/n)

=
=
=

0.026 m3/sec
1.3
0.033 m3/sec
n

Q*max/A (above NL)

Q*max/A (above HL)
Q*max/A (above HHL)
Allowable m/s

=
=
=
=

0.004 m/sec 0.004 m/sec 0.005 m/sec -

Liquid Handling:
Diam req for degassing
Diam req for defoaming

=
=

1 mm
11 mm

OK
OK

Control vol (LL to HL)

Min recommended

=
=

160.5 min 2.0 min

OK

Slug capacity (NL to HHL)

Full feed pipe

=
=

9.5 m3
136.7 secs (2-5 normal)

VANES
OK
OK
OK
0.150

WIREMESH
OK
OK
OK
0.089

Nozzles:
Minimum inlet diameter
Minimum gas outlet diam.
Minumum liquid outlet
Minumum liquid outlet
HSEP, Version 2, Revision 0
261865889.xlsoriginal

Page 8 of 8

=
=
=
=

4.7
4.7
1.0
0.9

ins
ins
ins
ins

i.d.
OK - ADEQUATE SPACE FOR SCHOEPENTOETER
i.d.
(oil + water)
(oil only)
02/27/2015