GB2520485A

GB2520485A - Engineering Educational Tool

Info

Publication number: GB2520485A
Application number: GB1320226.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Bolton; Martin Bevan; Sam Jago; Phil Westmorland; Luke Johnson
Original assignee: TECHNICAL SIMULATION CONSULTANTS Ltd
Current assignee: TECHNICAL SIMULATION CONSULTANTS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-15
Filing date: 2013-11-15
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-15
Also published as: GB2520485B; GB201320226D0; ES2539077R1; ES2539077B1; ES2539077A2

Abstract

An educational tool comprises a fluid separation system that visually enhances learning of fluid separation by allowing visualisation and/or interaction of the separation process. The apparatus comprises a fluid separation vessel 10 and a plurality of fluid reservoirs (38, 40, figure 2). Each reservoir comprises a fluid of specific density and the reservoirs are arranged to feed a mixture of the liquids to the fluid separation vessel. The fluid separation vessel comprises a transparent outer wall 14 to allow visualisation of the separation of the fluids therein. The vessel also includes a plurality of outlets 30, 32, separated by a weir, through which the fluids can be separately extracted. The separation vessel may comprise a three-phase separator, and one reservoir may contain an oil. The educational tool may comprise also a computer model for controlling the fluid separation system or for operation in isolation of the fluid separation system.

Description

Engineering Educational Tool The present invention concerns educational tools and, more particularly, educational tools for teaching aspects of science and/or engineering.

There exist difficulties in teaching certain subjects, for which a significant portion of the subject is concerned with computational and/or conceptual subject matter. For example, within engineering, there has been a focus on engineering modelling of physical systems and phenomena for a number of decades. Such modelling allows detailed understanding of the manner in which a system operates and how individual parameters can affect the larger system. Thus it is becoming increasingly possible, and often cost-effective, to teach whole areas of a syllabus entirely theoretically.

However the ability to see and experiment with physical equipment in a tangible sense can be a significant aid to understanding, particularly for individuals of a kinaesthetic learning persuasion. Furthermore the ability to see physical phenomena in action can add a depth of understanding that is not possible by pure theory. That is to say, by experiencing a phenomenon in action, a person can gain a wider appreciation of many more attributes of a system, thereby obtaining a more intuitive feeling for how the system behaves.

There exist a number of conventional classroom experiments that aim to demonstrate physical phenomena in a clear and concise way. However there is a general trade-off in any such experiment between the complexity of a system and the clarity with which the relevant phenomena can be demonstrated. That is to say a balance needs to be struck between the level of detail that an individual can understand from an experiment and the breadth of understanding across a wide audience.

The above considerations may apply equally to academia as to vocational learning or training. In the latter example, there is an added concern that many technical systems or plants in industry are operated via control systems. Thus, whilst operators can become highly skilled in interaction with the relevant control interfaces, they may be lacking some basic understanding of the physical system or phenomena that are taking place. This can cause problems if, for example, the control system malfunctions or else if a situation arises which is not adequately accommodated by the control algorithms. There is a risk that an operator may be required to intervene in a system for which he/she does not have the required level of understanding.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an educational tool that overcomes or substantially mitigates one or more of the above-described problems. It may be considered an additional or alternative aim of the invention to provide an educational tool that can demonstrate a variety of levels of complexity and/or scientific principles within one or more physical system.

According to the present invention there is provided an educational system comprising a fluid separation vessel and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, said reservoirs comprising fluids of different densities and being arranged to feed said liquids to the fluid separation vessel such that a mixture of the liquids is present in the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel comprises a plurality of outlets, through which the fluids can be separately extracted from the separation vessel.

The educational system differs from a conventional fluid separator used in a commercial or industrial setting due to the separation of the fluids prior to delivery to the separator, such that the fluids are mixed on demand for an educational purpose.

The educational system may be provided as a table-top sized system, allowing simple installation, unlike industrial units.

The fluid separation vessel may comprise a transparent outer wall to allow visualisation of the separation of the fluids therein and The reservoirs may comprise liquid reservoirs. Each reservoir may be in fluid communication with the vessel. The system may comprise a regulator for independently controlling the flow to the reservoir from each reservoir.

The vessel may comprise a plurality of liquid outlets and a gas outlet.

The vessel may comprise an internal wall, such as a baffle or weir, e.g. for isolating a first liquid from a second liquid in dependence on the height of the interface there-between. The internal wall may be upstanding from an internal base of the vessel. An outlet may be provided on either side of the weir.

The vessel may comprise a circumferential outer wall, which may be transparent.

The flow rate through one or more inlets and/or outlets may be controllable, for example by regulators. Each inlet and/or outlet may have a respective regulator, such as a valve. The flow rate through one or more inlet and/or outlet may be used to control flow rate through the separation vessel. The vessel may be arranged such that at least a portion of the flow regime, e.g. in the direction between the inlets and outlets, is laminar. The flow regime may be laminar at least in a portion of the vessel in the vicinity of (e.g. towards) the internal wall and/or an outlet.

A vessel inlet may be arranged to promote mixing of the fluids within the vessel. A turbulent flow regime may be established in the vicinity of (e.g. towards) one or more vessel inlet or an associated end of the vessel. One or more inlet may promote entrainment of a gas into the liquid contained in the vessel.

One or more inlet may be arranged at a height in the vessel so that fluid flowing through the inlet falls under gravity into fluid within the vessel. Said inlet may be above the height of an internal wall (e.g. a weir) in the vessel.

The vessel may be elongate in form, wherein the inlets are located towards one end of the vessel and one or more outlet is located towards an opposing end.

One reservoir may comprise a hydrocarbon, e.g. an oil, such as a synthetic oil.

The oil may be selected to be particularly safe in an educational environment. The reservoir may comprise an ester, such as isopropyl myristate.

One reservoir may comprise water.

The ratio of the densities between the different liquids used may be 10:9 or greater. The liquids may be immiscible. One liquid may have a high weight percent hydrocarbon chain.

Each reservoir may have an associated regulator for independent control of flow from the reservoir to the vessel. The flow paths from the reservoir outlets may combine upstream of the vessel inlet, e.g. to cause mixing of the fluids from each reservoir prior to delivery to the separator vessel.

The system may comprise one or more sensor, such as a flow sensor, for determining a corresponding operational parameter of the system. The sensor may comprise a flow rate or fluid pressure sensor in respect of any, or any combination, of the inlet(s) or outlet(s) of the separation vessel. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor may comprise a fluid level sensor within the vessel.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor may comprise a fluid composition sensor (e.g. a chemical composition), such as a gas or liquid composition sensor.

The system may comprise a controller, typically in the form of one or more processor, for controlling the flow of the plurality of fluids to the separation vessel from the plurality of respective reservoirs. The controller may control operation of one or more regulator.

The educational system may comprise a data store comprising a computer model of fluid separation system. The model may comprise a graphical and/or mathematical model of the fluid system. The model may comprise any, or any combination of: a fluid level/volume for the, or each, fluid in the vessel; a flow rate through the inlet(s) and/or outlet(s); and/or a chemical composition of fluids passing through the inlet(s) and/or outlet(s).

The model may comprise a graphical user interface in which is displayed a graphical model of the fluid system. The graphical user interface may comprise one or more parameter displays, e.g. which may comprise numerical parameter values. One or more parameter values may be editable by a user to alter the operation of the computer model and/or the fluid separation system.

The model may or may not receive sensor outputs from the fluid separation system. Accordingly the model may operate in real-time with the fluid separation system or may operate in isolation of the fluid separation system.

Practicable embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a fluid separator for use in conjunction with the invention; Figure 2 shows a fluid system circuit according to one example of the invention; Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of an educational system according to an example of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a graphical user interface comprising a computational model of a fluid system according to the invention.

The invention derives, in a general sense, from the realisation that a fluid separator encompasses a number of important learning objectives for both scientific principles and system control, particularly if customised to enhance the learning experience, for example by allowing visualisation and/or interaction with the separation process.

Turning firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a separation vessel 10 in the form of a three-phase separator. The separation vessel is arranged to be substantially horizontal in use and in this example is supported relative to a support surface by a plurality of legs 12.

The separation vessel is elongate in form and comprises a transparent outer wall 14 that allows visualisation of the vessel interior. The outer wall 14 is generally tubular/cylindrical in form in this example but may otherwise be ovoid or else rectangular in plan. Any single outer wall or a plurality of walls or one or more portion thereof could be transparent in order to allow suitable visualisation of the separation process in the vessel in use.

The vessel 10 comprises first and second ends, each having a respective end wall 16, 18. At the first end wall, there is provided a fluid inlet 20 and gas inlet 22. In this example a plurality of fluid compositions are commonly provided via a single inlet port 20, although in other examples a plurality of liquid inlets may be provided for a corresponding number of distinct fluids to be supplied to the vessel interior.

The gas inlet port 22 allows ambient air into the vessel 10, typically in a controlled manner as will be described below.

Part-way along the vessel, between the opposing ends 16, 18, there is provided a weir 24, which extends part way up the height of the vessel interior volume. Thus the weir 24 impedes flow there-past in a lower portion of the vessel interior but allows passage of fluid there-over in an upper portion of the vessel interior. The weir 24 is located towards the second end 18, i.e. offset from half way along the vessel length so as to define a major interior portion 26 and a minor interior portion 28, separated by the weir. The major and minor portions of the vessel thus define adjacent well in the vessel interior.

A plurality of outlet ports 30, 32 are provided in a lower portion, i.e. in the base, of the vessel 10. One outlet port 30 is provided to a first side of the weir, in the major portion 26, and the other outlet port 32 is provided on the other side of the weir, in the minor portion 28. The outlet ports 30 and 32 provide liquid outlets.

One or more further outlet 34 is provided in an upper portion, e.g. in a ceiling, of the vessel 10 to allow gas flow from the vessel interior in use.

A fluid level sensor is provided in the interior of the vessel in the form of a float 36.

The float buoyancy is customised according to the lowest density liquid to be used in the vessel 10. Accordingly the height of the float on the lowest density liquid in the vessel can be accurately determined. The float is connected by an intermediate arm to a mount on the end wall 16 by a pin or pivot connection. Thus the incline of the arm can be determined by an associated incline sensor to determine the height of the float and thereby the level of liquid in the vessel in use.

The arm spaces the float 36 from the end wall 16 such that it is not impacted by the fluid flow entering the vessel in use.

Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown the layout of a larger fluid system according to an example of the invention, so as to customise the fluid separation system for educational purposes. Figure 2 shows both the fluid connections, typically comprising pipes/ducts, as well as the relevant sensor/control signal connections.

The system comprises two separate liquid reservoirs in the form of tanks 38, 40, which each hold different fluids. Tank 38 is a water tank and tank 40 is an oil tank.

Tank 40 contains a synthetic oil, selected to be safe in an educational environment, in particular an oil that is non-toxic and is not a skin irritant. Isopropyl myristate is used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries as a lubricant, emollient, as well as within oral hygiene products and is mild in odour. To the best of the inventor's knowledge, its use in educational tools has not been previously proposed and is particularly apt. This synthetic oil has a boiling point of 120° and does not evaporate at ambient (i.e. classroom) conditions.

Disposed in the flow path between the outlet of each tank and the separator inlet are provided respective flow control valves 39 and 41 to allow independent control of the flow rate from each tank to the vessel inlet 20, according to received control signals. The pipes from each tank are joined downstream of the respective valves 39, 41 to provide a single common inlet pipe to the vessel 10. A controlling valve 42 may be provided for the common inlet pipe upstream of the inlet 20.

The air inlet 22 in this example is in fluid communication with ports 44, 46 in the upper portions of respective tanks 38, 40 via ducting 48. A corresponding controlling shut-off valve may be provided for each port 44, 46. The gas outlet 34 of the vessel 10 provides for controlled venting of gas from the vessel interior and comprises a gas valve, operable under received control signals. The gas outlet may comprise a pressure sensor and/or a silencer 52.

In this example, the gas connections/ducts define a closed gas-tight interior, which can be selectively opened to allow gas to enter/leave the system. Each of the tanks 38, 40, separator vessel 10, gas inlet 22 and gas outlet comprise a pressure sensor and associated control valve to allow the fluid pressure in the system, particularly in the vessel, to be monitored and controlled. It will be appreciated that various configurations of pressure sensor(s) and/or valves may be provided at different portions of the gas system to provided for variable levels of control. A simplified embodiment may require a pressure sensor only for the separator vessel 10.

A fluid sensor, such as a static liquid pressure sensor 53 is provided in respect of the minor vessel portion 28 (e.g. for oil).

The vessel liquid outlets 30 and 32 are independently connected to tanks 38 and respectively by corresponding pipes 54 and 56, which provide retun paths to the respective tanks 38, 40. Thus the pipework between the tanks 38, 40, and the vessel 10 define a closed circuit, comprising flow loops for each of the water and oil tanks.

Each vessel outlet 30, 32 may have a controlling valve 55, 57. Each vessel outlet may also have an independent drain valve.

Each return pipe 54, 56 has a return flow control valve 58, 60 operable under the control of received control signals. In this example a respective pump 62, 64 is provided in each return path to drive independent return flows back to the tanks 44, 46. The pumps and/or return control valves may be controlled under the influence of a plurality of different control inputs as will be described below, including any or any combination of: inlet flow into the vessel (e.g. from the respective tank); fluid level in the vessel or a portion thereof; fluid level in a respective tank; vessel/tank/system pressure; and/or material composition of fluid in either return path or the gas leaving the vessel 10.

The return flow paths, and optionally the gas outlet 34, each comprise a material/chemical composition sensor. Such a sensor may also be provided for each tank 38, 40, for example at the outlet thereof, to allow sensing a change in chemical composition of the respective oil/water flows both before and after fluid separation has taken place. Thus the purity of the independent fluid flows, and changes thereto due to operation of the fluid separation system, can be assessed.

The return pipes 54, 56 may each have a port to allow selective filling of the respective fluid circuits/tanks. The ports each comprise a shut-off valve which is closed in normal operation.

Non-return valves may be provided at any or any combination of the tank outlets, the ait inlet 22.

The vessel has a plurality of fluid level sensors, comprising a fluid level sensor at a relatively low level (i.e. a lowest threshold level) in the vessel, in each of the major and minor portions. A further fluid level sensor is provided at a height (i.e. at a maximum threshold fluid level) above the height of the weir.

In the example shown the flow from the tanks 38, 40 occurs substantially under the pressure applied within the tanks, relative to that within the separation vessel.

Accordingly the pressure applied to the vessel and/or tanks according to control signals can be set in order to allow fine control of the driving force of the fluid to the vessel 10. The tank pressure may be fixed, e.g. such that the vessel pressure is adjusted to control flow rate. The flow may be in part influenced by gravity, or in other embodiments, could be entirely gravity controlled, although the pressurisation of the tanks in this example is beneficial in that it allows another control parameter that can be varied to increase the complexity of the control system, or else fixed to simplify the control system as necessary.

The return flow to the tanks is pumped mechanically. However it will be appreciated that pumps may be provided at either of the tank outlets and or vessel outlets as necessary depending on the system configuration.

A view of the system as laid out for use in the form of a table-top educational tool is shown in Figure 3. The benefit of a system of this type is that each pipe, valve and sensor location in the system is readily visible and may be labelled accordingly.

In use, the flow from each of the respective tanks 38 and 40 to the separation vessel 10 is user controlled as well as the outlet flows from the vessel via ports 30, 32. Figure 3 shows user controls 66, provided as part of the fluid separation system. Those controls comprise mechanical controls, such as buttons, dials or the like, with an individual actuator being assigned to each control variable, e.g. in the form of a control panel. In other examples, the control variables could be entered via a computational model of the system as will be described below.

The flow into the vessel from inlet 20 falls under gravity (and may be propelled by the applied pressure in the tanks), thereby causing eddies/turbulence at the point of entry in the existing liquid in the vessel. This ensures complete mixing of the two liquids and entrains air into the liquid. The separation of the oil from the water due to their respective densities is visible through the transparent outer wall of the vessel as the liquid mixture flows along the vessel towards the weir.

The fluid in the vessel is allowed to separate, with gas being released into a gas phase. In the liquid phase the heavy water would sink to the bottom and the less dense oil would rise to the top of the liquid. Thus an interface between the oil and water becomes visible. Once the depth of the liquid phase exceeds the height of the weir the lighter oil will be able to flow over the top while the heavier water is kept back. This allows for 3 phase separation in the vessel, with the oil collecting in the vessel portion 28, where it is separated from the water, which collects in the lower part of vessel portion 26. The respective oil and water components can thus be drawn from the vessel via outlets 30 and 32 respectively.

The operator may alter the pressure within the vessel 10 by varying the gas outlet valve, i.e. by setting a threshold pressure above which gas will be vented from the vessel.

In any example described above, temperature control may be accommodated by providing a temperature sensor within the vessel. Temperature sensors may also be provided in respect of the tank outlet flow(s) and/or the vessel outlets (i.e. in the return paths to the tanks. One or more heat control member (e.g. a heater or heat exchanger) may be located in any or any combination of: the tanks 38, 40; the tank outlet flows, either individually or in combination; and/or return paths 54, 56.

Turning now to Figure 4, there is shown a graphical user interface 68 for a computational model that accompanies the physical system described above. The computational model may be stored in a memory store, such as a conventional hard drive or any other data storage media, and may be operated by one or more processor and displayed on screen. Conventional computing equipment may be used for this purpose, including a desktop PC, laptop, tablet computer, mobile telephone or similar.

The interface comprises a graphical representation 70 of the vessel and the key pipes leading to/from the vessel and the controllable valves in the system. Whilst not shown in this graphical representation, the tanks 38, 40, and/or other areas of the process system, may also be selected to be graphically depicted in the user interface. Thus the controllable elements of the system are displayed graphically and the relevant flow paths there-between.

The computational model comprises a mathematical model in which a series of operational variables and control parameters are defined. Mathematical algorithms determine the impact of control parameter changes on the operational variables.

Parameter displays 72 for operational parameters of the system are provided within the graphical model displayed in the user interface 68. A variety of numerical/textual 72A and pictorial 72B parameter displays are provided in this example, although the parameter displays could be exclusively one type or the other. Fluid levels in the vessel are displayed pictorially in this example.

The computational model accommodates any or any combination of the following operational variables in respect of any or any combination of the tanks or tank outlet(s); the vessel inlet; the minor and/or major vessel portions; the vessel gas outlet; the vessel liquid outlet(s): * Flow rate * Temperature * Pressure * Valve condition * Fluid level or volume (in the tanks or vessel) * Material composition (e.g. represented as a molar fraction) Any of the above operational variables may have predetermined maximum and/or minimum thresholds. In the event that the operational variable value in the model exceeds a threshold value, the model may output an alarm in the form of a visual or auditory output to a user. The operational variables may have one or more threshold indicative of a normal operational range and one or more further threshold indicative of a critical threshold. Accordingly a first output may be generated to indicate abnormal operation (but within a non-critical operational range) and a second output may be generated upon crossing a critical threshold.

The user is able to adjust the degree to which any controllable valve is open or closed in the model using user controls (i.e. entering a parameter value or interacting with an on-screen control). The user can adjust pressures in the tanks and/or vessel to vary flow rate (e.g. in combination with the valve control). The user may also adjust the fluid temperature. The fluid levels and material composition of the flows at different locations in the system may be passively adjusted in response to the valve/flow rate settings.

In one example, the computational model is run in real time with the fluid separation system described above in relation to Figures 1-3, wherein sensor readings in the physical system are fed into the computational model. Control adjustments in the physical model may also be communicated to the computational model as corresponding signal inputs and/or vice versa. Thus the relevant phenomena can be witnessed both on the real system and the virtual model. In another example, the computational model may be run independently of the physical model. For example, multiple computational models may be run independently on a plurality of computers within a classroom, lab or other teaching setting.

Using the above system, the physical separation process occurring in the vessel can be readily seen and appreciated by one or more students. The students also have the ability to manually change a number of control variables, notably the flow rates from tanks 38, 40, the flow rates leaving the vessel via return paths 54, 56. Those respective flow rates allow the level of liquid in the separator to be changed as well as the flow rate through the separator. The student may also alter the gas pressure within the vessel and/or temperature. The impact of any change can be seen within the physical system and/or in the computer model on screen.

Once an appreciation of the physical system has been gathered by the student(s), the student can experiment with the model entirely independently of the physical system.

In any example of the invention, the model may comprise one or more preset scenarios, e.g. in addition to a normal start-up scenario, in which system parameter and/or control values have been preset. Parameter value ranges indicative of normal system operation may be predefined and the value of one or more parameter in the scenarios may be outside of said normal operation range.

These scenarios are particularly useful learning tools since they require a student to analyse abnormal system behaviour and determine the one or more control variable required to be changed in order to restore normal operation. Accordingly the scenarios define a set of problems to be solved by student and may be set to provide a range of difficulty/complexity, for example involving a plurality or sequence of control variable changes to solve the problem.

The above described educational system can cover a significant variety of educational topics in a manner that could conventionally not be taught in a single setting, including topics concerned with fluid dynamics and separation, general control systems, distributed control systems and simulation models.

Claims

Claims: 1. An educational tool comprising a fluid separation system having a fluid separation vessel and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, said reservoirs comprising fluids of different densities and being arranged to feed said liquids to the fluid separation vessel such that a mixture of the liquids is present in the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel comprises a transparent outer wall to allow visualisation of the separation of the fluids therein and a plurality of outlets, through which the fluids can be separately extracted from the separation vessel.
2. An educational tool according to claim 1, wherein one reservoir is isolated from another reservoir, each reservoir having a respective outlet and wherein a flow path between said outlets and the separation vessel is arranged to promote mixing of the fluids from the reservoirs.
3. An educational tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoirs comprise liquid reservoirs and a flow regulator is provided for each reservoir to control the flow from each reservoir to the vessel independently.
4. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of separation vessel outlets are spaced by a weir within the vessel, each outlet having a flow regulator associated therewith.
5. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises a transparent circumferential outer wall.
6. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the separation vessel comprises a three-phase separator extending substantially horizontally in use between an inlet end and an opposing end, wherein the vessel is configured to promote a flow regime therein which tends from a turbulent flow regime at the inlet end to a laminar flow regime between the inlet and opposing ends.
7. An educational tool according to claim 6, wherein the flow rate through the vessel is controllable by relative adjustment of between flow rate regulators for the inlet and one or more outlet of the separation vessel.
8. An educational tool according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a vessel inlet is arranged to cause fluid to fall under gravity into the vessel so as to promote mixing and/or entrain gas at the inlet end of the vessel.
9. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid in one reservoir comprises an oil.
10. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more flow sensor, such as any or any combination of a flow rate sensor, a pressure sensor, a fluid level sensor, a fluid composition sensor and/or a temperature sensor.
11. An educational tool according to claim 10, comprising user controls for inputting one or more flow regulator setting in the system and a controller for outputting control instructions to said one or more regulator based on the input settings.
12. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising a data store having a computational model of the fluid separation system stored thereon.
13. An educational tool according to claim 12, comprising one or more processor arranged to output a graphical user interface in which is displayed a graphical model of the fluid system, the interface comprising one or more parameter displays
14. An educational tool according to claim 13, wherein the parameter values displayed by said parameter displays are editable by a user to alter the operation of the computer model and/or the fluid separation system.
15. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein one or more sensor outputs from the fluid separation system are fed as inputs into the computational model.
16. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the model may operate in connection with the fluid separation system and/or in isolation there-from.
17. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein one or more predetermined scenario is stored on the data store, said scenario defining a predetermined set of parameter values representative of abnormal operation of the fluid separation system, wherein an operator of the model is required to alter user controls to restore a normal operating condition for said fluid separation system.
18. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid separation system is a table-top system, for example mounted to a common support structure or display.
19. An educational tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. An educational tool comprising a fluid separation system having a fluid separation vessel and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, said reservoirs comprising fluids of different densities and being arranged to feed said liquids to the fluid separation vessel such that a mixture of the liquids is present in the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel comprises a transparent outer wall to allow visualisation of the separation of the fluids therein and a plurality of outlets, through which the fluids can be separately extracted from the separation vessel.2. An educational tool according to claim 1, wherein one reservoir is isolated from another reservoir, each reservoir having a respective outlet and wherein a flow path between said outlets and the separation vessel is arranged to promote mixing of the fluids from the reservoirs.3. An educational tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoirs comprise liquid reservoirs and a flow regulator is provided for each reservoir to control the flow from each reservoir to the vessel independently.4. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of separation vessel outlets are spaced by a weir within the vessel, each outlet having a flow regulator associated therewith.5. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises a transparent circumferential outer wall.6. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the separation vessel comprises a three-phase separator extending substantially horizontally in use between an inlet end and an opposing end, wherein the vessel is configured to promote a flow regime therein which tends from a turbulent flow regime at the inlet end to a laminar flow regime between the inlet and opposing ends.7. An educational tool according to claim 6, wherein the flow rate through the vessel is controllable by relative adjustment of between flow rate regulators for the inlet and one or more outlet of the separation vessel.8. An educational tool according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a vessel inlet is arranged to cause fluid to fall under gravity into the vessel so as to promote mixing and/or entrain gas at the inlet end of the vessel.9. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid in one reservoir comprises an oil.10. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more flow sensor, such as any or any combination of a flow rate sensor, a pressure sensor, a fluid level sensor, a fluid composition sensor and/or a temperature sensor.11. An educational tool according to claim 10, comprising user controls for inputting one or more flow regulator setting in the system and a controller for outputting control instructions to said one or more regulator based on the input settings.12. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising a data store having a computational model of the fluid separation system stored thereon.13. An educational tool according to claim 12, comprising one or more processor arranged to output a graphical user interface in which is displayed a graphical model of the fluid system, the interface comprising one or more parameter displays 14. An educational tool according to claim 13, wherein the parameter values displayed by said parameter displays are editable by a user to alter the operation of the computer model and/or the fluid separation system.15. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein one or more sensor outputs from the fluid separation system are fed as inputs into the computational model.16. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the model may operate in connection with the fluid separation system and/or in isolation there-from.17. An educational tool according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein one or more predetermined scenario is stored on the data store, said scenario defining a predetermined set of parameter values representative of abnormal operation of the 0 fluid separation system, wherein an operator of the model is required to alter user controls to restore a normal operating condition for said fluid separation system. (418. An educational tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid separation system is a table-top system, for example mounted to a common support structure or display.19. A data store comprising a computational model for operation by one or more processor in an educational system, the computational model comprising operational variables and control parameters defining the operation of a fluid separation vessel and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, said reservoirs comprising fluids of different densities and being arranged to feed said liquids to the fluid separation vessel such that a mixture of the liquids is present in the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel comprises a plurality of outlets, through which the fluids can be separately extracted from the separation vessel, and wherein the computational model determines the impact of control parameter changes on the operational variables and outputs the operational variables to a display.
20. An educational tool substantially as bereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. r (4