exported
equivalent
separator
IRI:
http://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ontologies/copi#Separator
Generated on 2026-04-09
Natural Language Definition
EN
A separator is a vessel that bears a SeparationFunction - designed to separate different substances or phases from a mixed fluid stream into distinct output streams.
PT-BR
Um separador é um vaso que possui uma FunçãoDeSeparação - projetado para separar diferentes substâncias ou fases de uma corrente fluida mista em correntes de saída distintas.
Formal Axioms
Semi-formal (Aristotelian)
Every separator is a vessel that has the function of separating mixed fluid streams into distinct phases or components.
First-Order Logic Theory
Loading…
▸ Stored override
∀x (Separator(x) ↔ (Vessel(x) ∧ ∃f (SeparationFunction(f) ∧ bearerOf(x,f))))
OWL 2 / Turtle
@prefix copi: <https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ontologies/copi/> .
@prefix : <https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ontologies/copi/> .
@prefix owl: <http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#> .
@prefix rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#> .
@prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#> .
@prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#> .
@prefix bfo: <http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/> .
@prefix iof-core: <https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/construct/> .
@prefix iof-av: <https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/annotation/> .
@prefix skos: <http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#> .
@prefix qudt: <http://qudt.org/schema/qudt/> .
@prefix dcterms: <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .
@prefix foaf: <http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/> .
@prefix apv: <http://inf.ufrgs.br/ontologies/apv#> .
### COPI — Core Ontology for Petroleum Installations
### Class module: Separator
<https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ontologies/copi>
rdf:type owl:Ontology ;
dcterms:title "Core Ontology for Petroleum Installations (COPI)"@en ;
dcterms:title "Ontologia Core para Instalações de Petróleo (COPI)"@pt-br ;
dcterms:description "BFO/IOF-Core conformant ontology of equipment classes for petroleum production plants, developed using the five-step RDL enrichment method."@en ;
skos:scopeNote "Material artifacts (bfo:material_entity) that (i) are part of a petroleum production plant, and (ii) bear at least one function whose realization involves the transport (e.g. production and injection), processing (separation and other processes), control, monitoring, measurement, containment or offloading of material or energy."@en ;
skos:scopeNote "Artefatos materiais (bfo:material_entity) que (i) fazem parte de uma planta de produção de petróleo, e (ii) possuem ao menos uma função cuja realização envolve o transporte (p. ex. produção e injeção), processamento (separação e outros processos), controle, monitoramento, medição, contenção ou escoamento de material ou energia."@pt-br ;
skos:scopeNote "COPI provides high-level equipment categories defined by function to demonstrate the defined-class mechanism. Equipment subtypes are annotated with references to CFIHOS and PCA RDL terms. COPI is not a reference data library; organizations should use CFIHOS, PCA RDL, or ISO 14224 for comprehensive equipment classification."@en ;
skos:scopeNote "COPI fornece categorias de alto nível de equipamentos definidas por função para demonstrar o mecanismo de classe definida. Os subtipos de equipamentos são anotados com referências aos termos do CFIHOS e do PCA RDL. COPI não é uma biblioteca de dados de referência; organizações devem utilizar o CFIHOS, o PCA RDL ou a ISO 14224 para classificação abrangente de equipamentos."@pt-br ;
owl:versionInfo "1.1.0" ;
owl:imports <https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/core/Core/> ;
owl:imports <http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/2020/bfo.owl> ;
dcterms:creator "Nicolau Oyhenard dos Santos"@en ;
dcterms:contributor "Cauã Antunes" ;
dcterms:contributor "Haroldo Rojas" ;
dcterms:contributor "Rafael Petry" ;
dcterms:contributor "Régis Romeu" ;
dcterms:contributor "Mara Abel" ;
dcterms:isPartOf <https://inf.ufrgs.br/projetos/OntoKG> ;
dcterms:publisher "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)"@en ;
dcterms:license <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/> ;
dcterms:created "2026-04-08"^^xsd:date ;
dcterms:modified "2026-10-08"^^xsd:date ;
apv:GlobalMinLanguageCoverage "en pt-br" ;
apv:ClassURIFormationRule "https://www[.]inf[.]ufrgs[.]br/ontologies/copi/(COPI_[0-9]{7}|[A-Z][A-Za-z0-9]*)" ;
apv:ClassMinAnnotationCoverage "rdfs:label https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/annotation/naturalLanguageDefinition" .
iof-av:naturalLanguageDefinition rdf:type owl:AnnotationProperty ;
apv:MinAnnotationLength 20 .
### Identity-giving function
:COPI_0000195 rdf:type owl:Class ; # SeparationFunction
rdfs:subClassOf iof-core:DesignedFunction ;
rdfs:subClassOf [
rdf:type owl:Restriction ;
owl:onProperty bfo:BFO_0000054 ; # realizedIn
owl:allValuesFrom :COPI_0000635 # SeparationProcess
] ;
rdfs:subClassOf [
rdf:type owl:Restriction ;
owl:onProperty bfo:BFO_0000054 ; # realizedIn
owl:someValuesFrom :COPI_0000635 # SeparationProcess
] ;
rdfs:label "separation function"@en ;
rdfs:label "função de separação"@pt-br .
### Process type
:COPI_0000635 rdf:type owl:Class ; # SeparationProcess
rdfs:subClassOf :COPI_0000006 ; # MechanicalSeparation
rdfs:label "separation process"@en ;
rdfs:label "processo de separação"@pt-br .
:COPI_0000006 rdf:type owl:Class . # MechanicalSeparation
:COPI_0000635 # SeparationProcess
rdfs:subClassOf [
rdf:type owl:Restriction ;
owl:onProperty iof-core:hasInput ;
owl:someValuesFrom :COPI_0000037 # PortionOfFluid
] ;
rdfs:subClassOf [
rdf:type owl:Restriction ;
owl:onProperty iof-core:hasSpecifiedOutput ;
owl:someValuesFrom :COPI_0000037 # PortionOfFluid
] .
### Equipment universal: Separator
:COPI_0000084 rdf:type owl:Class ; # Separator
owl:equivalentClass [
rdf:type owl:Class ;
owl:intersectionOf (
:COPI_0000158 # Vessel
[
rdf:type owl:Restriction ;
owl:onProperty iof-core:hasFunction ; # Object branch (MaterialArtifact/Assembly/Object/FiatObjectPart)
owl:someValuesFrom :COPI_0000195 # SeparationFunction
]
)
] ;
rdfs:label "separator"@en ;
rdfs:label "separador"@pt-br ;
iof-av:naturalLanguageDefinition "A separator is a vessel that bears a SeparationFunction - designed to separate different substances or phases from a mixed fluid stream into distinct output streams."@en ;
skos:definition "A separator is a vessel that bears a SeparationFunction - designed to separate different substances or phases from a mixed fluid stream into distinct output streams."@en ;
iof-av:naturalLanguageDefinition "Um separador é um vaso que possui uma FunçãoDeSeparação - projetado para separar diferentes substâncias ou fases de uma corrente fluida mista em correntes de saída distintas."@pt-br ;
iof-av:semiFormalNaturalLanguageAxiom "Every separator is a vessel that has the function of separating mixed fluid streams into distinct phases or components."@en ;
iof-av:firstOrderLogicAxiom "∀x (Separator(x) ↔ (Vessel(x) ∧ ∃f (SeparationFunction(f) ∧ bearerOf(x,f))))"@en ;
skos:definition "[ISO 15926-4] A <SEPARATOR> is a <FunctionalObject> that has a capability of <SEPARATING>"@en ;
skos:definition "[CFIHOS] A 'device' intended to separate different types of substances."@en ;
skos:definition "[SLB Glossary] A cylindrical or spherical vessel used to separate oil, gas and water from the total fluid stream produced by a well. Separators can be either horizontal or vertical."@en ;
skos:definition "[OnePetro] A production treating vessel designed to facilitate the separation of gas, oil, and/or water from a produced fluid stream. Also The term separator in oilfield terminology designates a pressure vessel used for separating well fluids produced from oil and gas wells into gaseous and liquid components. A separator for petroleum production is a large vessel designed to separate production fluids into their constituent components of oil, gas and water. Separators include related process control components, like pneumatic controllers, and may contain a heater to enhance phase separation or prevent freezing during cold weather. A separating vessel may be referred to in the following ways: Oil and gas separator, Separator, Stage separator, Trap, Knockout vessel (Knockout drum, knockout trap, water knockout, or liquid knockout), Flash chamber (flash vessel or flash trap), Expansion separator or expansion vessel, Scrubber (gas scrubber), Filter (gas filter). These separating vessels are normally used on a producing lease or platform near the wellhead, manifold, or tank battery to separate fluids produced from oil and gas wells into oil and gas or liquid and gas. https://www.mines.edu/global-energy-future/wp-content/uploads/sites/361/2024/05/Payne_Institute_Responsible_Gas_Glossary_of_Terminology_211022_version-9.pdf"@en .
# Disjointness: Separator and Mixer
[] rdf:type owl:AllDisjointClasses ;
owl:members ( :COPI_0000084 :COPI_0000314 ) . # Separator, Mixer
# Disjointness: Separator and HeatExchanger
[] rdf:type owl:AllDisjointClasses ;
owl:members ( :COPI_0000084 :COPI_0000092 ) . # Separator, HeatExchanger
Axiomatization Decision Log
1
Identity-Giving Function
Function class
SeparationFunction
⊑ DesignedFunction
Realized in
SeparationProcess
⊑ MechanicalSeparation
The identity-giving function is the separation of different substances or phases from a mixed stream. This is the core capability that makes a separator distinct from other process equipment like pumps (which move fluids) or heat exchangers (which transfer heat).
2
Genus Determination
Vessel
From the parent candidates, 'vessel' (CFIHOS) is the most specific and ontologically correct genus. Separators are typically cylindrical or spherical vessels (per SLB definition) that contain the separation process. While 'ProcessEquipment' and 'FunctionalObject' are broader categories, and 'Static Equipment' is too general, 'vessel' captures the essential containment structure. Vessel is not yet enriched in our ontology but represents the appropriate level of specificity - more specific than Assembly but more precise than generic ProcessEquipment.
3
Necessary Parts
No necessary parts recorded (concept may be primitive at this level).
These are the minimal parts required for any separation function to occur - an inlet for mixed stream, chamber for separation process, and outlet(s) for separated phases. Specific separation mechanisms (internals, plates, etc.) vary by subtype.
4
Process Participation Signature ⟨I, O, T⟩
Inputs (I)
PortionOfFluid
— mixed multi-phase or multi-component stream
Outputs (O)
PortionOfFluid
— separated phases or components with different compositions
Transformation (T)
phase separation or component fractionation without chemical reaction
The fundamental signature is one mixed input stream becoming multiple output streams with different phase or compositional characteristics. This distinguishes separators from mixers (opposite transformation) and reactors (chemical transformation).
5
Axiom Mode Decision
Necessary + Sufficient
— modelled as a defined class
(≡, EquivalentClass). Automatic classification is
appropriate for this concept.
Disjointness Axioms
Mixer
HeatExchanger
C4: Mixer, HeatExchanger. Mixers perform the opposite transformation (multiple inputs to one mixed output), reactors perform chemical transformation rather than physical separation, and heat exchangers perform thermal transformation without necessarily separating phases.
Cross-Standard Observations
Strong consistency across sources on functional definition. SLB and OnePetro focus on oil/gas/water separation but this is a subtype. DEXPI has no definition but provides rich subtype hierarchy. ISO 15926 provides most formal definition aligning with BFO principles.