Did you really size a 3-phase slug catcher vessel type with weir?

[eastorca]

Hi friends,

Have you sized a 3-phase slug catcher which acts as a G/L/L separation during ramp-up regardless the fluctuation of surge effects?

[sadra3]

Hi,

Yes. I have seen such finger type slug catcher at a gas plant while I was working in Qatar (QP) Dukhan gas plant. The system was designed by KBR. The benefit is that when you separate the liquids (condensate and water) in storage sections (bottles) within the slug catcher where the gas is also being separated at the separation area, there would be no need for a second separator downstream of slug catcher. Moreover separation of condensate and water within the bottles takes place at high pressure which eliminates emulsification which could occur if you decrease the pressure across the liquid let down valve (due to jetting effect on the downstream side of the valve). However, alternatively you may also direct the mixed liquid phase to downstream liquid/ liquid high pressure separator to separate the water from condensate (liquid H.C.). This design is more common in gas processing plants. However the design is case specific and depends on the volume of slug , slug catcher size, separation of gas from liquid while no slug coming during normal operation, gas /liquid ratio, plot restriction, gas volume , downstream liquid processing capacity and last but not the least the optimum total installed cost of equipment.