1. Estimate overall volume based on the retention time and expected separation performance for each phase, and the major factors needed to be considered include:
Expected perforamance
Overall through put
Composition of incoming fluids
Intensity of emulsion
Retention time of each individal phase
Types of vessel and internals
levels and alarms
2. Determination of gas cross-sectional area based on settling theory or empirical correlations, and the other factors include
Expected liquid carry-over rate
Avialable mist eliminator
Mean velocity of gas flow
3. Determine oil cross-sectional area based on settling theory or empirical correlations by following similar procedure in Steps 1 and 2.
4. Determine water cross-sectional area based on settling theory or empirical correlations by following similar procedure in Steps 1 and 2.
5. Determine vessel diameter based on cross-sectional area for each phase
6. Determine vessel length to meet the required retention time for all phases
7. Select inlet device and iterate.
8. Evaluation of separation performance for a specific applocation. .