Separator Modelling Screening

Use this skill for public, educational gas/liquid separator screening examples. It provides simple indicators that help agents structure early questions before moving to validated process simulation or detailed design.

When to Use

• When a user asks for a simple separator capacity screening example.
• When an agent needs a public placeholder model for gas load and liquid residence time.
• When examples must run without confidential separator geometry, project data, or company design rules.

Inputs

• gas_flow: gas volumetric flow rate in a consistent public unit, default examples use m3/h.
• liquid_flow: liquid volumetric flow rate in the same time basis, default examples use m3/h.
• pressure: operating pressure in bar.
• temperature: operating temperature in C.
• gas_density: gas density in kg/m3.
• liquid_density: liquid density in kg/m3.

Outputs

• gas_load_indicator: dimensionless screening load where values above 1.0 indicate high gas load for the placeholder basis.
• residence_time_indicator: dimensionless screening residence indicator where values below 1.0 indicate low liquid residence time for the placeholder basis.
• capacity_warning: ok, watch, or high.
• assumptions: public assumptions used by the placeholder model.

Engineering Method

The Python class SeparatorModel uses open placeholder calculations only:

• gas load indicator increases with gas flow and gas-density square root
• liquid residence time is estimated from a configurable public holdup volume and liquid flow
• warnings are rule-based thresholds on the two indicators

This is educational and screening-only logic. It is not a design standard, separator sizing method, vendor method, or replacement for a validated NeqSim process model.

Python Usage Pattern

from separator_modelling import SeparatorModel

model = SeparatorModel()
result = model.evaluate(
    gas_flow=18_000.0,
    liquid_flow=120.0,
    pressure=55.0,
    temperature=35.0,
    gas_density=18.0,
    liquid_density=720.0,
)

print(result.capacity_warning)
print(result.gas_load_indicator)
print(result.residence_time_indicator)

If the optional neqsim Python package is available, the result records that fact so an agent can recommend moving to validated NeqSim calculations. If it is not installed, the example still runs with fallback placeholder logic.

Validation Checklist

• Inputs are non-negative where applicable and densities are positive.
• Example inputs are public and synthetic.
• Tests cover normal, warning, and invalid-input cases.
• Results are described as educational screening indicators.
• Real design work is redirected to validated NeqSim methods and qualified engineering review.

Common Mistakes

Limitations

• No proprietary separator internals, demister rules, vendor data, or project standards are included.
• No phase equilibrium calculation is performed.
• No droplet settling, foam, carryover, control, or slugging model is included.
• Not suitable for safety-critical, design, guarantee, or standards-compliance work.

Related NeqSim Functionality

This educational screening corresponds to validated, rigorous functionality in the NeqSim Java library that a qualified engineer should use for design-grade work:

• neqsim.process.equipment.separator.Separator and neqsim.process.equipment.separator.ThreePhaseSeparator — rigorous gas/liquid separation with phase equilibrium.
• Separator.setEntrainment(val, specType, specifiedStream, phaseFrom, phaseTo) — models imperfect separation / carry-over by transferring a fraction of one phase into another outlet (specType mole/mass/volume; basis feed or product). The base Separator supports oil->gas, aqueous->gas, gas->liquid; ThreePhaseSeparator supports all six phase-to-phase paths.
• neqsim.process.mechanicaldesign.separator.SeparatorMechanicalDesign — Souders-Brown gas-load factor, retention-time sizing, and demister/inlet-device internals.

In Python the same classes are reachable through the neqsim package (for example from neqsim import jneqsim).

References

• NeqSim repository: https://github.com/equinor/neqsim
• NeqSim Skills Guide: https://github.com/equinor/neqsim/blob/master/docs/integration/skills_guide.md
• Public process engineering textbooks for general separator concepts.