Vortex Mist Separators

Mist separators remove entrained droplets >5 microns with 99% efficiency.  Vortex mist separators are a type of coalescing separator using centrifugal force for separation of droplets larger than 10 microns in the vortex section and droplets as fine as 0.3  microns in the second, coalescing section.

The process gas enters into the side of the centrifugal mist separator, forming a low velocity centrifugal vortex due to the entry angle, nozzle size and vessel diameter.  The inlet to the mist elimination section is located within the low velocity (center) portion of the centrifugal vortex, thus droplets and particles larger than 10 microns are propelled to the vessel walls where they coalesce to a common drain under the vortex containment plate (VCP).  The VCP prevents re-entrainment of the separated fluid into the process gas.

The process gas with droplets finer than 10 microns enter the mist separation section, consisting of a filter cartridge manifold.  The filter cartridges are made of epoxy saturated borosilicate microglass fibers.  This matrix of fibers creates a drain channel for each cartridge, thus the fine droplets are coalesced into larger droplets and drained from the cartridge and back into the separator body via a common drain port.

The fineness of the droplets removed is dependent upon the filter cartridge design, which can be as low as 0.3 microns removed with 99.7% efficiency.  The body of mist separators have a chamber cover to enable periodic filter cartridge replacement which might be required if particulate fouls the filter cartridge media.

Our article "Coalescer gas/liquid separator designs" explains the mist separator design in detail.