feed inlet

Feed Inlet

The function of the inlet device is to initiate gas/liquid separation and distribute the gas flow evenly in the gas compartment of the vessel.It comprises of the inlet nozzle & inlet device, if any.The diameter of the inlet nozzle is the function of the feed flow rate and the pressure.The criterion for nozzle sizing is that the momentum of the feed shall not exceed prescribed levels. The maximum allowable inlet momentum can be increased by fitting inlet devices.The nozzle internal diameter may be taken equal to that of the feed pipe but also momentum criteria shall be satisfied, as per the table given below:

Inlet Device Momentum

None: mV2m ≤ 1400 kg/m.s2

Half Open Pipe: mV2m ≤ 2100 kg/m.s2

Schoepentoeter: mV2m ≤ 8000 kg/m.s2 (1)

Cyclone (conventional): mV2m ≤ 10,000 kg/m.s2 (1)

Multi-cyclone: mV2m ≤ 35,000 kg/m.s2 (1)

Where m is the mean density of the mixture in the feed pipe in kg/m³ and Vm, in is the velocity of the mixture in the inlet nozzle in m/s.

Note 1: Vendor to confirm the values

Gas and Liquid Outlets

After the separation of the gas & liquid phases, the two phases will exit the separator via their respective nozzles.

The nozzle sizing criteria is as below:

Gas

The internal diameter of the gas outlet nozzle should normally be taken equal to that of the gas outlet pipe but additionally the following criterion shall be satisfied.

GV2G ≤ 3750 kg/m.s2

where;

G = the density of the outlet gas from the separator

VG,out = the velocity of the gas in the outlet nozzle

Liquids

For new installations the liquid outlet nozzle shall be sized considering velocity below 2 m/s.