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DESIGN AND SIZING CALCULATION

BASED ON API 521 FOURTH EDITION, MARCH 1997

HORIZONTAL KNOCKOUT DRUM

DATA INPUT

Ml liquid flow rate 24.64 kg/s

Mv gas flow rate 58.79 kg/s
dl liquid density 816.14 kg/m3
dv gas density 1.916 kg/m3
p operating pressure 100 kPag
T operating temperature -20 C
vg gas viscosity 0.009 cP
cs drain volume 1.89 m3
t liquid holdup 10 min
D droplet size 300 µm
g filling degree 25 %
vmax maximum allowed velocity 0.5Mach m/s

CALCULATIONS
The drag coefficient is determined as follows: The dropout velocity is : The vapour rate is:

C(Re)2= 6760.23 Uc = 1.02 m/s Qv= 30.68 m3/s

From API 521, figure 20 is determined C=f(C(Re)2)
On this diagram we are reading: C= 1.1

A horizontal vessel with an inside diameter Di and a cylindrical length L should be assumed:
Di= 4.8 m
L= 12 m
The total cross-sectional area is:
At= 18.09 m2
The liquid holdup required is determined as follows:
AL1= 0.16 m2
The cross sectional segment for liquid is determined as follows:
AL2= 1.51 m2
The cross sectional segment for vapor is determined as follows:
Av= 16.42 m2
The vertical depths of the liquid and vapor spaces are determined using standard geometry:
hv= 4.7002 m
hL1= 0.0009 m which means that: ht= hv+hL1+hL2
hL2= 0.0989 m
Total ht= 4.8 m correct depth calculation

The adequacy of the vapor space is verified as follows:

The vertical drop available for liquid dropout is equal to hv in centimeters.
The liquid dropout time is determined as follows:
θ= 4.6 seconds
The velocity of N vapor passes is determined as follows:
N= 1
Uv= 1.87 m/s
The drum length required is determined as follows: Lmin= 8.599 m Acceptable
Lmin must be less than or equal to the above assumed cylindrical drum length, L;
Otherwise the calculation must be repeated with a newly assumed cylindrical drum length.