API Separator Design Calculations

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The document provides calculations for sizing an API oil-water separator. It inputs design parameters like flow rate, temperature, oil and water densities. It then calculates the minimum siz…

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Jayesh Sangani
  • Introduction and Inputs
  • Technical Notes
  • Density vs. Temperature Graph
  • Viscosity Data Table
  • Turbulence Factors
  • Viscosity vs. Temperature Graph

Hydro-Flo Technologies, Inc.

The Art and Science... of Wastewater Treatment

Company
Location

API Separator Calculations

USER INPUT IN YELLOW


Design Flow rate (in gpm) 250
Temperature (in deg F) 150
Specific Gravity of the Oil (in g/cm3) 0.34 An "oil droplet size" of 150 is typicall
Oil Droplet size (in microns) 150 API separators. Do not change this
Density of the Water (in g/cm3) 0.98022 you have a specific need. The minim
value is 60
Viscosity (in Poise) 0.00439

For more detailed information go to [Link]

RESULTS
Width of separator in feet 5.000
Depth of separator in feet 2.500
Length of separator in feet 25.000

Oil Droplet (in cm) 0.015

Call 630-762-0380 to talk to a Hydro-Flo application engineer

Minimum Maximum
Allowable Design Allowable
Result Result
terminal velocity (in cm/s) 1.80 1.80 1.80
terminal velocity (in ft/min) 3.54 3.54 3.54
Minimum cross sectional area needed (in ft) 11.14 11.14 11.14
Cross Sectional Area (in square feet) 11.14 12.50 160.00
maximum horizontal velocity (15*vt, but must be <=3) 3.00 3.00 3.00
horizontal velocity (in ft/min) 3.00 2.67 0.21
vh/vt 0.85 0.76 0.06
short-circuiting factor 1.20 1.20 1.17
Length of unit (must be at least 5X of width) (in ft) 5.00 25.00 100.00
length/width 5.00 5.00 5.00
minimum horizontal area 11.34 11.31 11.08
Width of channel (in feet) (must be 6 to 20) 1.00 5.00 20.00
Depth (in feet) 0.30 2.50 10.00
Depth/Width Ratio (must be .3 to .5) 0.30 0.50 0.50

Step 1:
Adjust the width and depth of the chanel until you achieve a
horizontal velocity <=3. Ideal horizontal velocity should be in
the <=2 range at average flow. Make sure that you maintain
a depth/width ratio of .3 to .5
Step 1:
Adjust the width and depth of the chanel until you achieve a
horizontal velocity <=3. Ideal horizontal velocity should be in
the <=2 range at average flow. Make sure that you maintain
a depth/width ratio of .3 to .5
An "oil droplet size" of 150 is typically the norm for
API separators. Do not change this value unless
you have a specific need. The minimum useable
value is 60

of the chanel until you achieve a


eal horizontal velocity should be in
ow. Make sure that you maintain
5
of the chanel until you achieve a
eal horizontal velocity should be in
ow. Make sure that you maintain
5
Density vs. Temperature

1
f(x) = 0.00000000277462147773447x^3 - 0.00000211838753585720000x^2 + 0.00013993394855035800000x + 0.99753287920394200000000
R = 0.99995045835253700000000

0.99

0.98
Temperature (in deg F)

0.97

0.96

0.95

0.94

0.93
0 50 100 150 200 250
Density (in g/cm3)
Temp Absolute Viscosity Kinematic Viscosity

F Centipoises Poise Density (g/cm3) Centistokes SSU ft/sec


32 1.79 0.0179 0.9998 1.79 33 1.93E-005
50 1.31 0.0131 0.9997 1.31 31.6 1.41E-005
60 1.12 0.0112 0.999 1.12 31.2 1.22E-005
70 0.98 0.0098 0.99797 0.98 30.9 1.06E-005
80 0.86 0.0086 0.9966 0.86 30.6 9.30E-006
85 0.81 0.0081 0.9958 0.81 30.4 8.69E-006
100 0.68 0.0068 0.993 0.69 30.2 7.39E-006
120 0.56 0.0056 0.9885 0.57 30 6.09E-006
140 0.47 0.0047 0.9832 0.48 29.7 5.14E-006
160 0.4 0.004 0.9771 0.41 29.6 4.42E-006
180 0.35 0.0035 0.9704 0.36 29.5 3.85E-006
212 0.28 0.0028 0.95836 0.29 29.3 3.19E-006
vh/vt turbulence factor f=1.2*turbulence factor
20 1.45 1.74
15 1.37 1.64
10 1.27 1.52
6 1.14 1.37
3 1.07 1.28

1.8
f(x) = 1.7
- 0.0000213597934790414x^3
2.13597934790414E-005x^3 + 9.86213627510133E-005
0.0000986213627510133
R = 0.9981820238082630000
0.9981820238
1.6
1.5
1.4
tor(F)

1.3
itingfac

1.2
rtcircu

1.1
eandsho

1
rbulenc

vh/vt
tu
turbulenceands
1
1.1

vh/vt
986213627510133x^2
627510133E-005x^2 ++0.0349403358x
0.0349403358078105000x
+ 1.1713602582
+ 1.1713602582357000000
582357000000
Viscosity vs. temperature

0.02

0.018
f(x) = 0.0000000000314883016339438x^4 - 0.0000000198359271686222000x^3 + 0.0000047858489752853000000x^2 - 0.0005579906068530540000000x + 0.0314145949124697000000000
R = 0.9997858425917630000000000
0.016

0.014

0.012
Viscosity (in poise)

0.01

0.008

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
0 50 100 150 200 250

Temperature (deg F)

Hydro-Flo Technologies, Inc.
Company
Location
API Separator Calculations
USER INPUT IN YELLOW
Design Flow rate (in gpm)
250
T
Step 1:
Adjust the width and depth of the chanel until you achieve a 
horizontal velocity <=3.  Ideal horizontal velocity s
of the chanel until you achieve a 
al horizontal velocity should be in 
ow.  Make sure that you maintain 
5
An "oil droplet s
of the chanel until you achieve a 
al horizontal velocity should be in 
ow.  Make sure that you maintain 
5
0
50
100
150
200
250
0.93
0.94
0.95
0.96
0.97
0.98
0.99
1
f(x) = 0.00000000277462147773447x^3 - 0.00000211838753585720000x^2
Temp
Absolute Viscosity
Kinematic Viscosity
°F
Centipoises
Poise
Density (g/cm3)
Centistokes
SSU
ft²/sec
32
1.79
0.0179
0.999
vh/vt
turbulence factor
f=1.2*turbulence factor
20
1.45
1.74
15
1.37
1.64
10
1.27
1.52
6
1.14
1.37
3
1.07
1.28
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1
1.1
vh/vt
turbulence and sh
627510133E-005x^2 + 0.0349403358x + 1.1713602582
986213627510133x^2 + 0.0349403358078105000x + 1.1713602582357000000

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