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DROPLET
SEPARATION
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.1 Droplet Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 Separation mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.1 Separation by Inertia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.2 Separation by Interception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.3 Separation by Diffusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
4 Agglomeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 Assembly instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
9 Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
12 Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
14 Efficiency Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
16 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Technical Literature Droplet Separation
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
The liquid droplets in a gas flow normally Every single wire in a knitted wire mesh
have different sizes. The distribution of the droplet separator is an obstacle in the gas
droplet sizes is similar to the normal flow, therefore a deviation of the streamlines
distribution by Gauss. takes place. Entrained droplets can not follow
this deviation due to their inertia and hit the
obstacle. This effect is mainly relevant for
2.2 Separation Mechanisms droplets bigger than 10 µm.
At the wires the single droplets grow together
The separation of droplets bigger than 30 µm (coalesce) to bigger drops, then they form a
normally causes no problems, as an inertia liquid film on the wire surface and fall down
separation can easily be carried out due to the due to gravity where the liquid is drawn off.
relatively large mass of drops. Therefore the The efficiency of the droplet separation
application of RHODIUS knitted wire mesh increases with an increasing number of
droplet separators predominantly yields deviations.
droplet size ranges smaller than 30 µm.
In this droplet size range and a liquid load of 2.2.2 Separation by Interception
about 1 - 5 weight-% the disperse phase
follows the streamlines, so that the gas flow The separation by interception is significantly
itself is not influenced. important, as soon as the diameter of a droplet
The separation of liquid droplets is based on is relatively large compared to the diameter of
the effect, that the particles can not follow the a fibre (wire).
streamlines of the gas when they hit an With respect to the direction of the gas flow
obstacle and stick to a periphery. the interception thus occurs in the boundary
zone of the fibre. The separation of droplets
In principle three separation mechanisms can by using knitted wire mesh is substantially
be distinguished, where the limits between the affected by this interception, in addition to the
single mechanisms are not defined exactly. inertia.
The separation always has to be seen as the
sum of single effects.
2.2.3 Separation by Diffusion
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
Y= 1 − α DF
Rh = ⋅ hydraulic radius
g ⋅ε 3 ⋅ ρ L α 4
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
The orders of magnitude for droplet Solids are washed out by the liquid flow. In
separators range from small pressed parts of a case of less liquid flow and high solid
few centimeters in diameter and thickness to concentration it is advisable to install a
constructions with diameters up to 10 metres. scrubber in front of the knitted wire mesh
droplet separator.
Please notice, however, that RHODIUS does However, in the event of deposits or caking in
not produce vessels or complete solutions. the knitted wire mesh package, it can be
cleaned by jets of water, vapour, or diluted
bases or acids. This treatment must be
chemically compatible with the materials
6 Assembly instructions involved.
The single segments of the droplet separator The cleaning may be done within the vessel
should be arranged according to the with an equipment already installed (counter
presentation on page 19 or the attached stream rinsing equipment) or externally.
detailed drawing, respectively. For designing the cleaning equipment the
Before installing the segments you should kind and quantity of the pollution has to be
check which manner of fastening is taken into account.
prescribed. Some possible fastening methods
are shown on page 27. RHODIUS suggests the following standard
In case of fastening with stud bolts (see page values:
27 figure C) these have to be fixed to the
supporting structure according to the drawing • quantity of water: 20-80 l/m2min
before putting these segments in place. • jetting time: 5-10 min
Installation of the single segments is carried • distance of the nozzles 300-500 mm
out crosswise to the support bars. The outer • distance nozzles - wire mesh: 300-500 mm
segments are installed first then the inner ones • jetting admission pressure: approx. 3 bar
follow, i.e. the middle segment is the one to
be installed at last. As for sealing purposes the
single segments are oversized they have to be 8 Applications
laid tightly together. For pushing in the last
segment metal plates are used which are laid From the many possible applications of
left and right to the segments already RHODIUS droplet separators a few may be
installed. Then you have to remove the metal listed here:
plates and check the sealing effect of the
segments. • Evaporators
Now the segments can be fastened to the To avoid entrainment and to improve
supporting structure as prescribed. product purity
• Absorption- and destillation columns
Increase of flow rates and product purity
7 Maintenance
at the same time
• Vacuum- and compressed air systems
Due to their high porosity of 89 to 99 %
Separation of the condensate generated
droplet separators are relatively insensitive to
• Oil mist separator
soiling. Under normal operating conditions
with sufficient high liquid flow the droplet Waste air abatement and recovery of oils
and lubricants
separator cleans automatically by itself.
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
[3] Bulag, S.
Hochwirksame Tropfenabscheider
bei der Rauchgasreinigung
Chemische Industrie, Jan. 1983
[5] Riemer, H.
Abscheidung von Nebeln, Sprays
und löslichen Feststoffen aus
Gasströmen
CAV, Mai 1979
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
• All usual stainless and acid • PE (Polyethylen) • Glas staple fibre (GSF)
resistant steels (SS) • PP (Polypropylen) • Glas silk
• Special materials: • PVC (Polyvinylchlorid)
- Monel * • PVDF (Polyvinylidenfluorid)
- Inconel * • ETFE (modif. PTFE)*
- Incoloy * • PES (Polyester)
- Titanium
- Copper
- Aluminium
- Brass
- Galvanized steel * Trade Mark * Trade Mark: Hostaflon (HM)
The contents of this documentation are based on the present knowledge of RHODIUS.
They do not imply any guaranty of properties. (December 1995, rev. 2001)
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Technical Literature Droplet Separation
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Application
Operational Data
Operational pressure [bar absolute] Temperature [°C]
Construction
Required design square rectangular circular
Material
Company:
Name:
Tel.:
Fax:
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