Skimmed Oil Volume Calculation

[Sawsan311]

Dear All,

For applications where oily water is being skimmed in a produced water tank, the oil skimmed needs to be recovered in a drum which is equipped with a pump. Considering a specific oil in water content entering and settling in the tank. What recommended basis you advise for estimating the hold up volume of the oil inside the recovery drum such that drum size is optimized. Skimmed oil would only occupy a specific level gap inside the tank above which skimming would be mandated.

Appreciate your views

 

[don1980]

On the upstream side of a separator, the volume (and geometry of that volume) is critically important, but the holding volume of the separated phases isn't critical. How large that volume should be is an application-specific question for which there's no right or wrong answer. In some cases, such as those where the volumetric rate of one phase is very small, you may choose to empty the chamber batch-wise. If the volumetric rate is relatively high, then a continuous outflow is probably preferred (level controlling the chamber). In such cases choose a minimally sufficient holding volume that allows for good process control.