Help on a medium fidelity seperator model

[MedFidelityArtist]

Hi,

I am charged with doing a medium fidelity simultion of a gas/oil/water seperator. It is controlled at 50psig with a water interface LIC for the bottom water and a weir over which the oil flows when over a particular level.

I have it modelled somewhat as I would expect it to act in real life. I know the oil and water flowrates in. The retention time I am saying is the holdup in MBD divided by the (water + oil flowrates out). How would I model this though for intial startup as retention time would be infinity with no flow rates out but holdup increasing (thus producing immediate and full seperation which isn't correct I presume). It would seemingly work for the steady state condition.

Also, what if the vessel was inventoried already with a fully seperated volume of water and oil.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Greg

 

[MedFidelityArtist]

Hi, clarificatioin regarding the original post, it is obviously controlled to 50 psig with a PIC on the vent line to flare. The water interface is controlled by the LIC.

Any help would be very much appreciated! Thanks and have a productive day problem solving!