Gas Liquid Vortex Separators

Chemical manufacturers routinely process oil, natural gas, air, water and minerals into products consumed directly or as a component of an additional product or process.  Gasses are processed at various pressures and temperatures (dew points) to purify and refine the desired product.  These processes often benefit from removal of entrained droplets and particulate for the same reasons vortex style separators are used for steam and compressed air systems.  Sometimes the liquid and particulate removed ARE the desired product.

The majority of our customers consist of Earths largest chemical manufacturers and we have worked directly with plants in at least 66 countries solving liquid and particle entrainment applications.  Our customers include:

It is commonplace for vortex separators to be designed to handle atypical temperatures, pressures and aggressive chemistries which require using exotic alloys.

How Centrifugal Separators Work
Vortex separators rely on centrifugal force, reduction in velocity and torturous paths to remove droplets and particulate greater than 10 microns with 99% efficiency from the gas stream.  Multiple stage designs are available to reduce the droplet size removed to as low as 0.30 microns.

Infinite Turndown Ratio
Vortex separators have an infinite turndown ratio, which means that a reduction in centrifugal force resulting from reduced flow does not reduce their efficiency.  The reason vortex separators maintain their efficiency at low flows is due to the greater reduction in velocity associated with lower flow rates.

The internal baffle geometry is oriented at right angles to the inlet of the vessel and thus droplets with sufficient mass cannot "navigate" through the baffles without impinging on or within the baffle assembly.  All of the droplets and particles coalesce from the baffle and interior walls to a common drain.  Therefore the vortex separator vessel and internal baffle are sized to handle the design liquid load as well as ensure minimal pressure drop across the vessel.

Vortex separators are custom fabricated to your specific application requirements which includes the rate of liquid removal required,  material of construction, number of nozzles and their orientation, plus design pressure and temperature.  We can comply with special NDT/NDE/Coatings and special documentation requirements.  All of our centrifugal vortex separators are fabricated in accordance with ASME B and PV Code Section VIII Division 1 in compliance to current published addenda and may be U or UM stamped.