Optimization of Circular Plate Separators with Cross Flow for Removal of Oil Droplets and Solid Particles

Abstract

A circular gravity-phase separator using coalescing medium with cross fiow was developed to remove oil and suspended solids from wastewaters. Coalescence medium in the form of inclined plates promotes rising of oil droplets through coalescence and settling of solid particles through coagulation. It exhibits 22.67% higher removal of total suspended solids (TSS) compared to separators without coalescing medium. Moreover, it removed more than 70% of oil compared to conventional American Petroleum Institute separators, which exhibit an average of 33% oil removal. The flowrate required to attain an effluent oil concentration of 10 mg/L {Q^jo) at different influent oil concentrations (C,") can be represented by Q^jo X 10"^ = -0.0012C," + 0.352. The flowrate required to attain an effluent TSS concentration of 50 mg/L (Qssso) at different influent TSS concentrations (C¡,,) can be represented by Qssso X 10"^ = 1.0 X 10"^ C¡ss '^'"^ The smallest removable solid particle size was 4.87 ^im. Water Environ. Res., 84, 299 (2012).

Optimization of Control Loops and Operating Parameters for Three-Phase Separators Used in Oilfield Central Processing Facilities

“…According to Eqs. ( 1)-( 4), the minimum particle size of oil and water droplets that can be separated in the three-phase separator can be expressed as follows [12]. Droplets smaller than this size cannot be separated.…”