Use the design method suggested by Towler and Sinott [5] to design a vertical decanter to separate oil droplets suspended in water (the continuous phase). The design method suggests that an oil-droplet particle size, d_p, of 150 mm be assumed; that the height of the decanter be increased by 10% to allow for a dispersion band at the oil/water interface (where the feed enters); that the velocity of the continuous phase, μ_c, be less than the settling velocity of the oil droplets, μs; and that the decanter length be twice the diameter. Check the dimensions of your decanter to make certain that the residence time is reasonable (2–5 minutes), and for the maximum size of water particles that may be carried out by the oil phase. For the oil, flow rate = 1,000 kg/h, density = 900 kg/m³, and viscosity  = 3 cP.

For the water, flow rate = 5,000 kg/h, density = 1,000 kg/m³, and viscosity = 1 cP.