.

Sizing Mist Eliminators For New or Retrofit Existing Separators

Principles of Gas/Liquid Separation

Inertial Capture in Vanes and Mesh Droplet Size Strand Diameter or corrugation spacing Gas Velocity Liquid Density relative to gas density Gas Viscosity Pad Density and Thickness Interception Capture Brownian Capture

Figure 15. Droplet capture by Brownian motion in a Fiber candle or panel

Sizing Mist Eliminators

Mesh
General Purpose (9# Density) 99% of 10 Micron

Vane
99% of 30 Micron

Mesh/Vane

Comments
None Critical Equipment downstream or where Mesh plugs

Improved Design
High efficiency & 10% high capacity High efficiency high Liquid load Medium efficiency & 50% extra high capacity Ultra high efficiency 99.9% of 1 micron 99.9% 8 micron Double Pocket Vane 99.9% of 1 micron 99.9% 5 micron 99.9% 5 micron To protect compressors Catalyst & beds, etc. To avoid mesh flooding In applications where Mesh plugs To minimize solvent losses (MEA, MDEA, etc)

Ultra high efficiency 50% extra capacity

00.0% of 1 micron Double Pocket Vane

Souders Brown Equation

VG K = PL PG PG
K = vapor load factor (Souders-Brown velocity) VG = gas velocity PL = liquid density in same units as PG PG = gas density in same unit as PL

Recommended Vapor Load Factors

Mesh Pads K=0.20-0.40 Vane Unit Vertical Flow K = 0.45 (max) (no hooks) Vane Unit Vertical Flow K=0.65 (max) (no hooks) Double Pocket Vanes (Vert/Horzt Flow) K=1.2 (max)

Mist Eliminator Sizing Calculation Example:

Flow Rate: 100 ACFS Pressure: 400psig Area required 100ACFS Vd1 Vd1 = .30 42 -1 = 1.7 1.25
K=1.1 (DP vane) Wt: 1500lbs

Pg: 1.25lb/ft3 Pl: 1.21lb/ft3

K=0.30 (mesh pad) Wt: 4000lbs

K=0.5 (vane) Wt: 2800lbs

Vane Profiles

F L O W

F L O W

Amistco Six-Pass Vane Unit

Amistco Double-Pocket Vane Unit

Challenges to overcome when Providing High Capacity in smaller Separators

Limited Vessel diameter or height Restricted disengaging space for the incoming gas / bad gas distribution High gas velocity creates turbulences in the liquid phase reduces oil/water gravity separation Higher mist loading in the gas phase could flood the M.E. Build new support structure with welding to the vessel wall (Retrofit)

Configuration

Standard

One Bank

Alternative Configuration

2 Bank

4 Bank

Double Expansion Ring

Support Ring Frame Installed

Installation of support Frame

Knockout Drum Retro-fit

Support Ring Installed without welding

Vane Retro-fit

Vane Retro-fit

Vane Retro-fit

Retrofit Vane/Mesh

Double-Pocket Vane Retro-fit

Vane with Support Frame

Rukovena Consulting

Inlet distributors Impact on Separators Performance

CFD velocity profile at A-A Identified poor gas distribution as a cause. Red velocity is 3 times design velocity and 4 times green velocity

Inlet Diffuser view 1

Inlet Diffuser view 2.

Typical Situation

Corrected Situation: High Capacity/High Efficiency