Sulzer Chemtech

Gas Liquid Separator

Sulzer Chemtech provides high performance

gas/liquid separation technology

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Contents Sulzer Chemtech

1 Basic Separators
2 High Capacity & Efficiency SMS and SMSM Separators
3 High Performance SMMSM Separators
4 Typical Applications
5 Summary

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Vertical Wiremesh Demister Sulzer Chemtech

Mistmat

Schoepentoeter

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Schoepentoeter Vane Inlet Device Sulzer Chemtech

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Operating Window Sulzer Chemtech

Mistmat
Efficiency, %

Schoepentoeter

Gas load factor, m/s

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Design Parameter Sulzer Chemtech

Q ρg (m/s)
load factor λ =
Ac ρl − ρ g

where Ac = vessel cross section (m2)

Q = gas flow rate (m3/s)
ρg = gas density (kg/m3)
ρl = liquid density (kg/m3)

The gas load factor is independent of operating pressure

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SMS(M) Separator Sulzer Chemtech

Secondary Mistmat
Swirldeck

Mistmat

Schoepentoeter

European Patent 0 195 464 B1

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SMS(M) Separator Sulzer Chemtech

The liquid dispersion re-entrained from the primary mistmat

has a larger mean diameter and can be more easily
separated by downstream high capacity swirldeck
Frequency

Drop size (microns)

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Swirl Devices Sulzer Chemtech

Swirl devices

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Separation Swirltube Sulzer Chemtech

Primary gas
outlet

Secondary outlets (from slits)

Top plate
Secondary gas

Separation part

A swirler creates a strong

Swirl part rotation in the primary gas flow.
Liquids Liquid droplets are forced to
Bottom plate the wall.

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Separation Swirltube Sulzer Chemtech

Separation efficiency is increased by demisting

of secondary gas downstream of the swirldeck

Primary gas outlet

Secondary
outlets Secondary mistmat
(from slits)

Top plate
Secondary gas

Separation part

Swirl part
Liquids

Bottom plate

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Secondary Mistmat Sulzer Chemtech

Primary gas outlet

Secondary mistmat

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Swirltube Deck Sulzer Chemtech

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Operating Window of Separators Sulzer Chemtech

SMS

SMSM
Efficiency, %

Mistmat

Gas load factor, m/s

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Separation Performance Sulzer Chemtech

SwirltubeTM
Efficiency, %

80 bar

Droplet size, micron

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The cumulative volume
as a function of droplet size Sulzer Chemtech

dco = 15 µm
Cumulative volume, %

d50 = 50 µm
d50 = 150 µm

Droplet size, micron

dco = cut off droplet size

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The cumulative volume
as a function of droplet size Sulzer Chemtech

dco = 15 µm
Cumulative volume, %

≈ 93.5%
d50 = 50 µm

d50 = 150 µm
≈ 99%

Droplet size, micron

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High Performance SMMSM Separators Sulzer Chemtech

Secondary Mistmat

Swirldeck

2nd Primary Mistmat

1st Primary Mistmat

Schoepentoeter For problematic hydrocarbon-

aqueous fluid mixtures two
primary mistmats with different
wetting characteristics lead to a
superior separation performance

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Operating Window of Separators Sulzer Chemtech

SMMSM
SMS

SMSM
Efficiency, %

Mistmat

Gas load factor, m/s

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Comparison to other Multicyclones Sulzer Chemtech

Condensate removal efficiency,%

Anjum 1998

Kollsnes 1999

Sean Papa 2000-

Alternative multicyclones

Gas load factor, m/s

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Relative Sizes Sulzer Chemtech

Conventional Separator SMS(M) Separator

• For new built applications

the vessel size can be
reduced substantially by
using SMS(M)-Separator
internals.

• Due to its high capacity

SMS(M)-Separator
internals are ideal for
revamping of existing
vessels.

D 0.7 D
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SM Separators Installed 1983 - 2003 Sulzer Chemtech

> 600 in total

Number of separators

Separator size, m

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Typical Applications Sulzer Chemtech

• Inlet Separators, Compressor Suction Drums

• Inlet Scrubber of a Gas Dehydration and Gas Treating Plants

• Cold Separator in Low Temperature Separation Plants

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Gas Platform-Inlet Separator (SMSM)
Upstream of Glycol Contactor Sulzer Chemtech

Swirldeck

Glycol
Contactor

SMS (M)
Separator

Glycol
Regenerator
Flash Drum

Condensate
Treatment

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LNG Plant (Gas Sweetening Unit) Sulzer Chemtech

SMSM Amine Amine

Separator Absorber Regenerator

Treated Gas

Acid Gas

Feed
Water make-up
Gas

To LP Fuel

From V1303

Accumulator

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LNG Plant – Dehydration Unit Sulzer Chemtech

Mol Sieve
SMS(M) Driers Dried Gas
Separator to
Mercury Unit

SMS(M)
Separator
Flash Gas to
Fuel Gas System

Water / HC to
Sulfinol Unit
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LNG Plant – Liquefaction Train Sulzer Chemtech

SMS
Separator
Cryogenic
HEX

Natural Gas
Fractionation

to NGL Processing Nitrogen Rejection

Unit LNG

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Low Temperature Separation (LTS) Process Sulzer Chemtech

Wet gas JT Valve

Gas/gas Cold
Pre-separator
heat exchanger Separator

Condensate Condensate +
glycol

Glycol Sales gas

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Cold Separator (CS) Operating Line
vs. CS Efficiency Sulzer Chemtech

Required CS operating temperature, oC

Delivery Pressure

CS efficiency = 99.9%

CS efficiency= 99.0%

CS Pressure, barg

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NAM Anjum Cold Separator - Efficiency Sulzer Chemtech

Condensate removal efficiency, %

2nd Generation
3nd Generation

Gas load factor, m/s

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Low Temperature Separation (LTS) Process Sulzer Chemtech

SMS Compressor
Suction Drum

To Compression

SMS SMMSM Expander SMMSM

Inlet Separator Suction Drum Cold Separator

Expander Compressor
From Slug
Catcher

JT - valve

Glycol Injection

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Statoil Kollsnes Separator
Train Debottlenecking Sulzer Chemtech

Debottlenecking
Compressor Suction Drums & Expander
Suction Drums

Debottlenecking Cold Separators

Total capacity, MMSm3/day

+ 50%

Startup

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SMMSM References Sulzer Chemtech

• 98 NAM Anjum V-1130 (Cold Separator)

• 99 Statoil Kollsnes 25-VA-x03 (Cold Separator)

• 00 NAM L9 V-1 (Inlet Scrubber)

• 02/04 Statoil Troll A 20-VA-001 (Inlet Scrubber)

• 03 NAM Blija V2 (Cold Separator)

• 04 NAM NOGAT V-1x01 (Cold Separator)

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Summary Sulzer Chemtech

• Shell SM(M)SM separators offer the best available

solution for critical and difficult separation duties, notably
in LTS process service and as inlet scrubbers in gas
dehydration and gas treating plants.

• For new built applications the vessel size can

substantially reduced by using Shell Separator internals
leading to considerable vessel cost, volume and weight
savings.

• Due to its high capacity Shell Separator internals are

ideal for revamping of existing vessels. It gives up to
150% increased capacity compared to wire mesh
demisters.

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