Sulzer Chemtech

Gas/Liquid Separation Technology

Introduction

Sulzer is a major player in the eld of gas/ liquid and liquid/liquid separation technology, offering a full range of innovative products and related services. Our commitment to development of technology, combined with application knowhow and consistent fabrication standards ensures that a well-engineered solution is available for most separation problems. Our expertise gained from hundreds of successful installations in a broad spectrum of applications ensures that the best possible product is recommended foe each individual duty. Our strategic alliance agreement with Shell Global Solutions International B.V. provides access to state of the art separation technology, including the Shell SwirltubeTM and SchoepentoeterTM. The acquisition of the KnitMesh Separation Business has added KnitMeshTM Mist Eliminators and Coalescers to our existing product range.

Content
Introduction Product Summary Mist Elimination KnitMesh Mist Eliminators Mellachevron Axial Cyclonic Devices Combined Systems Applications 2

Page 2 4 8 11 14 17 18 20

Introduction

Service and Supply

Sulzer offers a exible and comprehensive range of service which can be tailored to suit your project requirements, including: processdesign feasibilitystudies detailedengineering equipmentmanufactureandsupply installation If installation services are required, our technicians are available on your worksite to make sure your equipment meets specications and your project goes smoothly from start to nish. A Sulzer technician inspects your equipment before it leaves our plant. At your worksite, you can count on our technicians, who are specialists in separation and mass transfer systems, to monitor each phase of your installation to ensure you are up and running on time.

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Emergency Delivery
Sulzer can react to the most challenging deadlines and can assist with urgent replacement or repair of separator internals. For emergencies, contact your nearest Sulzer Chemtech ofce - details of which can be found at www.sulzer.com

Specialists in Retro-Fit and Performance Enhancement

Our engineering team relishes the challenges associated with existing installations. Professional advice and tailor-made equipment designs, founded on decades of experience, can overcome a host of separation problems related to: changesinprocessconditions de-bottlenecking agingplant sub-optimalequipmentlayout

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Research and Development

We recognize that investment in research and development is an essential component for long term success. We have laboratories where separation internals and design techniques can be tested and developed in fully instrumented pilot scale columns. Increasingly, computer models are being used to aid the design of new products. Sulzer uses computational uid dynamics (CFD) models to simulate product performance. This technique not only eliminates the requirement for expensive prototypes to be constructed, but provides a much greater understanding of the products operation in advance of any laboratory or operational trials. CFD simulations have also been used to great effect in solving ow distribution problems in a variety of systems.

Product Summary

Type of Separator KnitMeshTM Mist Eliminator

Materials Stainless steels Alloy C22, C276, 400, 625, 825 and 20, Copper PP, FEP, ETFE, PTFE, Glass bers

Applications Broad range of gas/ liquid separation problems. Scrubbing systems and absorbers Evaporators Steam drums Knock-out pots Glycol dehydration Inert gas scrubbers MSF/MED desalination Sulfuric acid absorbers and dryers. Broad range of gas/ liquid separation problems. Scrubbing systems and absorbers Evaporators Steam drums Knock-out pots Glycol dehydration Inert gas scrubbers MSF/MED desalination Sulfuric acid absorbers and dryers. Broad range of gas/ liquid separation problems. Scrubbing systems and absorbers Evaporators Steam drums Knock-out pots Glycol contactors Inert gas scrubbers MSF/MED desalination Sulfur condenser Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD)

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KnitMesh V-MISTERTM

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Stainless steels Alloy C22, C276, 400, 625, 825 and 20, Copper PP, FEP, ETFE, PTFE, Glass bers

MellachevronTM Mist Eliminator

Stainless steels Alloy C22, C276, 400, 625, 825 and 20, PP, PVC, PVDF, FRP

Shell SwirltubeTM

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

Gas processing applications; inlet separators, turbo-expander suction drums, dew-point separators, compressor suction drums, glycol contactors.

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Shell Swirltube LightTM

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

Gas processing applications; inlet separators, turbo-expander suction drums, compressor suction drums. Scrubbing systems and absorbers, PEB neutralization column.

Product Summary

Typical operational Range Relatively low capacity with K-values typically up to 0.107 m/s (0.35 ft/s). High efciency separation down to droplet sizes of 2 to 3 m. Pressure drop typically less than 2.5mbar. Designs available for installation in either horizontal or vertical gas ow.

Characteristics Manufactured as a knitted wire mesh packing. Can be easily tailor-made to suit most vessel shapes and sizes. Cost effective and versatile solution for most mist elimination applications.
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Enhanced capacity with K-values typically up to 0.15 m/s (0.49 ft/s). Limited to horizontal installation with vertical gas ow. High efciency separation down to droplet sizes of 2 to 3 m. Pressure drop typically less than 2.5 mbar Very effective for heavy liquid loadings/ irrigated systems.

Manufactured as a knitted wire mesh packing. Support grids tted with special V-MISTER drainage channels to enhance drainage characteristics. Can be easily tailor-made to suit most vessel shapes and sizes. Cost effective and versatile solution for most mist elimination applications.

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High capacity systems available with K-values up to 0.45 m/s (1.47 ft/s) at the vane face inlet. Effective droplet separation down to ~20 m. Efciency can be enhanced by combination with KnitMesh pre-conditioners. Generally for use at: - surface tension > 10 dynes/cm. - operating pressure < 60 bar in hydrocarbon systems. Pressure drop is typically in the range 1 to 10 mbar. Designs available for installation in either horizontal or vertical gas ow. High capacity systems with K-values up to typically 0.25 m/s (0.82 ft/s) in the vessel. Effective droplet separation down to ~10 m. Efciency can be enhanced by combination with wire mesh pre-conditioners. Pressure drop is typically in region of 30 mbar. High capacity systems with K-values up to typically 0.25 m/s (0.82 ft/s) in the vessel. The Shell Swirltube Light is suitable for higher operating pressures, offers higher capacities than vane packs installed for vertical gas ow and is therefore a useful complement to our Mellachevron mist eliminators.

Constructed from banks of parallel corrugated, chevron proles. High capacity designs provide compact separators ideal for gas processing applications. Lower capacity designs available for fouling service and heavy liquid loadings.
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High performance Swirltubes (HPST) arrayed in boxes or banks provide compact separators designed as Shell SMS, SVS, SMSM and SMMSM units, and are ideal for gas processing at all pressures. Suitable for use in fouling or waxy services.

Array of axial cyclones originated from the Shell ConSepTM Swirltube design. The device can be combined with a Sulzer Mellachevron or KnitMesh preconditioner. The separation efciency of the Shell Swirltube Light is lower than the Shell Swirltube and is in the range of vane packs.

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Product Summary
Applications Gas processing applications; inlet separators, turbo-expander suction drums, compressor suction drums, glycol contactors.

Type of Separator MKS Multi CassetteTM Mist Eliminator

Materials Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

Shell SchoepentoeterTM and Schoepentoeter PlusTM Inlet Device

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

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The Schoepentoeter is the most commonly used vane inlet device for introducing gas/liquid mixtures into columns. The Schoepentoeter Plus is an advanced feed inlet vane device with considerably increased de-entrainment efciency and rst choice for all demanding tasks such as in vacuum towers, crude distillation and hydrocracker main fractionators and high pressure separators. The Sulzer Treelnlet is an axial ow vane gas inlet device for vertical feed nozzles. Ideal for bulk liquid disengagement in a wide range of services and applications.

TreelnletTM Device

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

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GIRZ Cyclone Inlet Device

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

The GIRZ is used as defoaming cyclonic inlet device to suppress and break many types of process foams. Some typical applications include FWKO drums, ash drums, test separators, 2 and 3-phase production separators.

GITV Vapor Horn

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

The Sulzer Vapor Horn GITV as well as the new Sulzer VantaTM inlet device GITD are primarily used in fractionators where ashing feeds require high pre-separation of any free liquids.

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VantaTM Inlet Device GITD

Stainless steels, Alloy 625, 825

Product Summary

Typical operational Range High capacity device with K-values up to 0.3 m/s (1 ft/s) in the column. High efciency separation down to droplet sizes of 8 to 10 m. Efciency can be enhanced by combination with KnitMesh pre-conditioner. No limitation in operating pressure. Very suitable for glycol contactors. Meets glycol loss requirement of 0.1 USgal/ MMSCF (~ 14 lt./MMNm3) or less Generally designed at dynamic pressures < 8000 Pa, but can perform well at higher values. Is typically used for feeds having a gas volume fraction of > 70 vol%. Suitable for installation in horizontal or vertical separators. Suitable for liquid slugs.

Characteristics The patented MKS Multi Cassette device combines axial cyclonic and cross ow separation technology to create an efcient and attractive mist eliminator. One or more MKS Multi Cassette candles are assembled on a support plate acting as liquid collector with drain pipes.

Constructed from banks of swept vanes. Designs available for operation in most gas/liquid ow regimes. The Schoepentoeter Plus is equipped with sophisticated catching rims to minimize entrainment.

The Treelnlet provides a superior liquid pre-separation and gas distribution and is normally effective up to dynamic pressures of about 10000 Pa.

By installing a Treelnlet and a high efciency KnitMesh mist eliminator, liquid carryover losses are reduced to virtually zero.

The GIRZ cyclonic inlet device utilizes the momentum of the feed stream inlet in order to generate high g-forces. Defoaming is achieved as gas bubbles are separated from the liquid phase by the centripetal forces in the cyclone tubes. Gas is released from the top of the device and the bottom opening of the cyclones is submerged below the liquid in the separator in order to avoid a gas blowout. The tangential vane gas inlet device GITV and GITD can be used for very high vapor velocities in the feed pipe of F-Factors up to 120 Pa. The feed ows radially around the vessel projecting and collecting the liquid droplets on the inner wall of the vessel.

The GIRZ consists of an arrangement of two or more cyclones symmetrically arranged off a common, centrally located header. The device can be installed in vertical or horizontal vessels. If required, mixing elements at the cyclone gas outlet will improve the distribution to the downstream device.

The gas distribution is performed by bafes according to a vane gas inlet device. The device is suitable for vessel inner diameters larger than 4 m.

Flash zone

The new Sulzer VantaTM inlet device combines high liquid separation efciency with high gas distribution quality.

Mist Elimination

Liquid entrainment in a process gas stream can be formed by either dynamic processes, such as contact between gas and liquid phases in a mass transfer operation, or thermal processes such as condensation. For example, droplets can result from bubbles bursting or jetting at a gas/liquid interface - typically in distillation columns, evaporators, bubble columns and ooded packed bed scrubbers. Where there is a high relative velocity between gas and liquid, droplets can be sheared from the wet surfaces. This type of problem is likely to occur in venturi scrubbers, two-phase ow in pipes and packings. Droplets can also be formed by thermodynamic changes in a system. For example, vapor condenses when saturated gases are cooled in condensers and heat exRain Drop

changers and, although most of the liquid will remain on the heat transfer surfaces, the gas can become supersaturated in places causing droplet formation. This type of condensation mist can occur during heat exchange processes, the sudden release of pressure or by mixing hot and cold gas streams. Similar mists can result from gas phase reactions which yield a liquid product. Typical applications suffering from mist contamination include sulfuric, phosphoric and nitric acid plants. If the gas is travelling too fast to allow the liquid droplets to settle out under gravity, they become suspended (or entrained) in the gas or vapor. In most cases, the entrainment must be removed to purify the gas and prevent potential process or environmental contamination.

Sulzer mist eliminators provide an effective solution to liquid entrainment problems in many types of equipment including: scrubbing,absorption,strippingordistillation columns evaporators fallingfilmcondensers knock-outvessels 3phaseseparators desalinationplants refrigerationplants gasdehydrationplants compressionsystems

Drizzle Entrainment from water cooling & spray cooling towers

Mist

Fog

Spray produced by bubble bursting at a liquid vapor interface Entrainment from evaporators, distillation & absorption Condensate from gas coolers Condensate from intercoolers on compression plant Condensate from high pressure compression plant Knock out drums & collectors tted mesh mist eliminators Knitted mesh mist eliminators Vane mist eliminators Cyclonic devices Bafes, louver separators Fiber bed mist eliminators Typical process applications

Types and operating range of equipment

500

200

100

50 20 10 5 Droplet diameter (microns)

0.5

Mist Elimination

Several types of mist eliminators are available for the separation of entrained liquid. To choose the appropriate equipment, the four basic mechanisms of droplet capture should be considered. DiffusionalDepositionisonlyeffectivein the separation of very nely dispersed aerosols with droplets typically smaller than 1m - that are small enough to be affected by Brownian Motion. DirectInterceptionassumesthatadroplet of a given diameter and negligible mass follows the stream line around the

target wire or ber and is separated as it touches the target or collection ber. InertialInterceptionconsidersthedroplet mass and predicts how momentum will make it deviate from the gas stream. Gravitational Deposition works on the principle that large, slow moving droplets may separate from a gas stream under gravity. This is restricted to large droplet sizes and low supercial gas velocities making separator dimensions both prohibitively large and uneconomical.

Each mechanism is critically dependent on the droplet size distribution for a given application. For example, in gas drying applications using glycol contactors, droplet size distributions are often in the range of 5-25 m and high separation efciency is critical. In these circumstances, direct and inertial interception are the most appropriate mechanisms and separation is best achieved by impingement of droplets on the wires and bers of high performance mesh mist eliminators. Diffusional deposition is an important mechanism in the design of ber bed mist eliminators (candle lters) used for removal of sub-micron droplet dispersions found in applications such as acid mists.

Droplets

Inertial interception

Diffusion

Flow streamlines

Direct interception

Gravity
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Assuming that gravity separation can be disregarded as an effective option, the remaining mechanisms provide the design basis for Sulzer mist elimination equipment: SulzerMellachevronTM ShellSwirltube
TM

inertial interception inertial interception inertial/direct interception inertial/direct interception

SulzerKnitMeshTM SulzerMKSMultiCassetteTM

Mist Elimination

Gravity Bafes/louvers Vane packs separators/ simple vanes knockout drums Separation mechanism Gas handling capacity Turndown capacity Efciency Gravitational deposition Low Very high Inertial interception High 30 % Inertial interception High 30 %-50 %

Vane packs with drainage channels Inertial interception High 30 %-50 %

Axial Cyclone separators Inertial interception Very high 30 % Higher with preconditioner High down to approx. 10 m High Moderate-high

Knitted mesh mist eliminators Inertial/direct interception Moderate 25 %

Candles/ ber beds Direct interception/ diffusional deposition Low Very high

Low except for large droplet sizes Very high

Low except for large droplet sizes Very high Very high Suitable for high viscosity Very low

High down to approx. 25 m Moderate Moderate

High down to approx. 25 m High Low

Very high down to 2-5 m Moderate Low

Very high at sub-micron droplet sizes Low Very low

Liquid load capacity

Solids handling Very high capability Liquid viscosity Suitable for high viscosity Pressure drop Very low

Suitable for high Prone to fouling Suitable for high viscosities/waxes with high liquid viscosities/waxes viscosities/waxes Low Low Moderate

Prone to fouling Unsuitable for high with high liquid liquid viscosities viscosities/waxes Low High

Table A: Summary of relative performance characteristics for mist elimination

Design Advice
Comprehensive performance information is available on a wide range of standard designs, enabling Sulzer engineering staff to tailor the mist eliminator design to suit most applications. For best performance, it is important to achieve uniform gas ow distribution and maximum effective area, and recommendation can be given on the most appropriate positioning, in terms of disengagement distances from vessel inlet, outlet and other vessel internals. v = K v

rl - rv rv

= maximum supercial gas velocity

rl = liquid density rv = gas density K = a constant which is specic to the separation equipment and is a function of process parameters such as: Liquidloading Gasandliquidviscosity Gaspressure Surfacetension Equipment Type Gravity Sulzer Mellachevron simple proles

Derating factors are often applied to allow a safety margin for exceptional conditions such as liquid slugs and gas surges, and the K-value can be optimized to suit specic process conditions, and challenging physical properties such as low surface tension systems. The selection of K-value is therefore critical and we recommend that designs should be checked by our engineering team.

Sizing
For equipment based on direct and/or inertial interception, gas stream velocity affects all three principles involved in separation (impingement, coalescence and drainage). Flooding, or re-entrainment of liquid, can occur if the ow of gas prevents drainage, and the effective area of the mist eliminator is therefore established by determining an appropriate supercial velocity for the equipment. The overall performance of the mist eliminator is then a balance between efciency and pressure drop.

K-Value m/s 0.07 0.13 0.17

ft/s 0.23 0.42 0.56 0.49 1.46 0.26 0.35 0.26 0.49 0.33 1.00 0.82

Sulzer Mellachevron high capacity proles with drainage channels 0.15 0.45 Sulzer KnitMesh Mist Eliminator Sulzer KnitMesh V-MISTER Sulzer MKS Multi Cassette Shell SMS, SMSM 0.08 0.107 0.08 0.15 0.10 0.30 0.25

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KnitMesh Mist Eliminators

Sulzer KnitMeshTM Wire Mesh Mist Eliminators

Sulzer KnitMesh mist eliminators have an excellent track record as a low cost, highly versatile and efcient method of removing liquid entrainment from gas streams. They are produced as a bed of knitted mesh which presents a tortuous path and large surface area to the droplets entrained in the gas stream. Separation is achieved by impingement on, and capture by, the laments of the mesh where the droplets coalesce and drain. Installation can be made in a variety of ways but gas ow is usually either vertically upwards, with the liquid draining counter-current to gas ow, or horizontal, with the liquid draining in a direction perpendicular to the gas ow.

Gas outlet

Sulzer KnitMesh mist eliminator Liquid drains countercurrent to gas ow Gas outlet Gas inlet Schoepentoeter Sulzer KnitMesh mist eliminator

Gas inlet

Liquid outlet

Liquid drains perpendicular to direction of gas ow

Liquid outlet

Each mist eliminator is tailor-made to suit the dimensions of the vessel or housing into which it will be installed. Most KnitMesh wire mesh mist eliminators are supplied complete with rigid support grids, which allow direct installation onto appropriate supports such as beams and rings within the vessel. Sectional installation allows ease of handling and access through vessel manways. Accessories such as tie wire, bolting, clamps and support beams can be supplied where necessary.

Standard designs are available for routine applications, providing excellent separation efciency down to droplet sizes as small as 2 m, and with a pressure drop typically less than 2.5mbar. A selection of standard styles is described in Table B. Alternatively, we can provide optimized designs to suit specic duties using sophisticated design tools.

Metal Designs Material Metal

Type number 9001 9033 9032 9030 9030-L2 9059 9036 4530 4540

Free volume 97.5% 97.5% 97.75% 98% 98% 98.5% 98.75% 98.75% 99%

Density (lb/ft3) 12 12 10.5 9 9 7 6 6 5

(kg/m3) 192 192 170 144 144 107 96 96 80

Specic Surface Area (ft2/ft3) (m2/m3) 196 643 110 350 93 305 79 258 147 482 109 358 52 172 52 172 44 145

Application Very high efciency, very clean service Heavy duty For general use Standard general purpose media High efciency for ne entrainment Fine entrainment High velocity, dirty service High velocity, clean service Minimum pressure drop, dirty service

Plastic and Other Materials Glass Wool 9036 9048 Polypropylene 9008 9030 9036 9048 Multilament 9033 (glass wool/ 9030 stainless steel) 9036 FEP 9048 ETFE 9048

93% 95% 95% 93% 95% 97% 94% 95% 96% 94% 95%

12 8.25 2.75 4.5 2.75 2 19 13.5 9 8 5.25

195 135 45.5 74 44.5 41 305 215 145 128 85

450 300 320 250 150 110 340 250 160 250 220

1500 1000 1050 820 495 360 1115 820 525 820 725

Coalescer-very ne mists Coalescer ne mists High performance-acid mists Acid mists and marine engine intakes with minimum pressure drop Fine mist conditions where stainless steel can be allowed and minimum pressure drop is important Highly corrosive conditions Highly corrosive conditions

Table B: Standard Sulzer KnitMesh Mist Eliminator Types

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KnitMesh Mist Eliminators

Sulzer KnitMesh V-MISTERTM

The patented Sulzer KnitMesh V-MISTER (formerly Sulzer KnitMesh VKR Mist Eliminator) provides high performance wherever liquid entrainment must be removed from a vertically owing gas stream. Mist eliminators with Sulzer KnitMesh V-MISTER technology employ the mechanism of a Von Karman Roll around a bluff body (see Figure 1a) to obtain high vapor and liquid handling capacity. A vortex develops in a low pressure zone downstream of the channel that has been attached to the bottom of the mesh pad. Collected droplets deposit in the trough and form a owing liquid stream there. Contrast this with the standard mesh pad (see Figure 1b) where a two phase uidized zone of gas and liquid develops in the bottom third to half of the pad and from which large coalesced droplets must ultimately drain counter-current to the ascending stream. The high capacity channels of the Sulzer KnitMesh V-MISTER shield the collected liquid and then drain it in steady streams from two sides of the mist eliminator at the column wall, where gas velocity is so low that re-entrainment is limited. (see Figure 2) This simple enhancement to a standard mesh pad improves mist elimination because the higher velocities increase the droplets inertial impaction with the wires or laments. Summarized the V-MISTER collecting channels provide an increased liquid capacity of up to 300 % and a higher gas throughput of up to 20 %.

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Fig. 1a

Fig. 1b

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Fig. 2 Velocity (ft/s)

8 8.2 10 12 14 16.4

Flood Flood

Pressure drop (mbar)

7 6 5 4 3 2 2.5 3 3.5

Conventional Pad

V-MISTER Pad

Liquid load: 1.1 m3/m2 hr Velocity (m/s)

4 4.5 5

The New and Unique Sulzer KnitMesh XCOAT Mist Eliminator: The Perfect Solution for Corrosive Services
Sulzer has developed a completely new KnitMesh mist eliminator for corrosive services. The Sulzer KnitMesh XCOAT is based on a metal wire which is coated with 100% pure PTFE. This new mesh material is unique and available exclusively through Sulzer. Sulzer KnitMesh XCOAT mist eliminators are characterized by a high deformation, corrosion and temperature resistance, and are therefore ideal for applications which have to deal with acids such as sulfuric, acetic and nitric acid. The advantage of longer service time of the Sulzer KnitMesh XCOAT mist eliminator compared to common wire mesh pads using Teon laments or higher alloyed and acidresistant steel wires has been demonstrated with rst industrial applications.

Sulzer KnitMesh XCOAT mist eliminator for a sulfuric acid drying column

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KnitMesh Mist Eliminators

High Performance Sulzer KnitMeshTM 9797 Mist Eliminators
The Sulzer KnitMesh 9797 Mist Eliminator technology provides a means of optimizing designs to meet the challenges of specic applications. Unlike industry standard mist eliminator design methods, which predict performance using bulk density and lament diameter of the separation media, the 9797 modeling techniques consider the characteristics of individual mesh layers as a mathematical model so that the entire process within the separator (capture, coalescence and drainage) can be predicted on a layer by layer basis. This enables Sulzer to produce unique structures where the free volume and mesh free area can be varied through the depth of the pad, giving the best balance of mist eliminator characteristics, such as liquid hold-up and efciency, from inlet to outlet. Additionally, separation efciency can be predicted in terms of liquid entrainment concentration providing meaningful, measurable information on separator performance; a considerable improvement on droplet size efciency predictions which are extremely difcult to verify in practice. Fig. 3 illustrates one layer of mesh within the mist eliminator and stages of separation considered by the performance model: D1avoidscaptureandmovesintothe next layer of mesh. D2iscapturedbythemesh. D3 and D4 coalesce to form a bigger droplet or lm. D5drainsfromthemeshsurface.
Fig. 3: The stages of droplet separation on a wire mesh.

D1 D3 D5 D4 D2

Liquid drains towards adjacent pore

An extensive range of mesh styles have been analyzed for a variety of process systems ranging from air/water to more challenging hydrocarbon conditions. The performance of the mist eliminator is established by calculating the cumulative effect of combined mesh layers and their characteristics. The model allows a high degree of optimization so that layer specications can be varied to meet specic process challenges. For example, high free volume/low liquid hold-up may be an important feature of the inlet region of the mist eliminator with a gradual increase in separation efciency towards the outlet.

i=N i = n+1 Direction of Gas Flow i=n i = n-1

Existing applications for Sulzer KnitMesh 9797 Mist Eliminators include: glycol contactors minimization of TEG entrainment from natural gas dehydration columns (see p 20). gassweeteninginstallationinamine absorbers. dew-point separators 9797 designs have helped reduce water and hydrocarbon dew-points in natural gas processing (see p 22). rotary screw compressors reduction of entrainment of synthetic oil from compressor system knock-out drums. steam drums guaranteed steam dryness can be achieved using Sulzer KnitMesh 9797 mist eliminators.

i=2 i=1

Fig. 4

Fig. 4 represents a bed with N layers of mesh. By assuming that: V0 is the volume of droplets entering Layer 1 VN is the volume of droplets leaving layer N Ei is the individual layer efciency, then the overall efciency of the mist eliminator can be expressed as:

VN = V0

i=1

i=N

(1 Ei )

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Mellachevron

Sulzer MellachevronTM Mist Eliminators

Sulzer Mellachevron vane mist eliminators are high capacity inertial separators constructed as banks of parallel, chevron proles which cause the gas to change direction several times from inlet to outlet. Momentum forces entrained liquid droplets to impinge on the vane surfaces where they form a liquid lm and drain. The Sulzer Mellachevron range is divided into a number of categories depending on direction of gas ow and the complexity of the vane prole. Simple Sulzer Mellachevron proles separate liquid by impingement, coalescence and drainage on the vane surface with no disengagement of the liquid from the gas stream. They are particularly suitable for applications with a signicant risk of fouling due to solid particles or high viscosity liquids in the feed but have relatively low gas handling capacity.

Sulzer Mellachevrons are available in various proles and materials such as stainless steels, alloys or plastics. Gas

More sophisticated designs provide special separation channels to allow disengagement of liquid and drainage from the vane surface. This increases the capacity of the separator and gas load factors of up to 0.45 m/s are possible. This makes them an excellent choice when equipment size is critical, for example, in offshore applications or for de-bottlenecking existing equipment.

Complex Mellachevron proles require housings which ensure that the vanes are assembled accurately and provide a liquid sump for drainage of liquid into the vessel or column.

Simple Mellachevron prole with countercurrent drainage of liquid from vane surface.

Drainage slots on vane surface allow liquid to disengage from gas stream

Removable spacer channel to allow installation of the vanes Jacking bolts

Liquid drain channel integrated in beam

Liquid drains in special channels separated from the gas ow

Liquid collects at bottom of drainage channels and moves laterally to Mellachevron housing where it is collected in a sump and drained through downcomer pipes

Liquid drain channel integrated in vane housing

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Mellachevron

Mellachevron designs are available for installation in either vertical or horizontal gas ow. When gas ow is horizontal, the liquid lm on the surface of the vane drains vertically downwards into a liquid sump. Complex Mellachevron proles are used with hooks or drainage channels which help to disengage the liquid from the gas stream and prevent re-entrainment from the downstream face.
Gas

Typical housing arrangement for crossow Mellachevron. Sectional installation allows installation and removal through manway and vane proles can be dismantled individually for cleaning if necessary. Liquid is collected in the sump and drained through the downcomer pipe connection.

Liquid drains down vane surface to a sump. Horizontal gas ow arrangement.

Mellachevron simple vanes Type Prole C prole Z - prole

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Mellachevron Complex proles with drainage channels C or Z - prole with large vane spacing Complex prole - integral drainage channel Z-prole with drainage hooks Z-prole with large vane spacing

Flow Direction Installation Gas handling capacity (K-values) Turndown capability Efciency

Vertical No housing 0.17 m/s

Vertical No housing 0.14 m/s

Vertical No housing 0.14 0.17 m/s

Vertical or horizontal Housing and drainage system required. 0.17 0.45 m/s

Horizontal Housing and drainage system required. 0.35 m/s

Horizontal Housing and drainage system required. 0.35 m/s

30 - 50 % Medium down to 30 40 Moderate Moderate to High Suitable for high viscosities/waxes

30 - 50 % Medium High down to 25 Moderate Moderate Suitable for high viscosities/waxes

30 - 50 % Low Medium down to 30 50 High High

30 - 50 % High down to 10 15 Moderate to High Low

30 - 50 % Medium down to 25 30 High Low Prone to fouling with viscosities/waxes

30 - 50 % Low Medium down to 35 40 Very High Low to Moderate Suitable for high viscosities/waxes As for C and Z proles but high fouling / low pressure drop services

Liquid load capacity Solids handling capability Liquid viscosity Typical applications

Very suitable for high Prone to fouling with viscosities/waxes high viscosities/waxes

Vacuum, general Desalination, general As for C and Z use, fouling service use, fouling service proles but high fouling / low pressure drop services Very low Low Very low

Debottlenecking, offHorizontal scrubbers shore, clean services, gas & steam processing

Pressure drop

Moderate

Low

Low

Table C: Sulzer Mellachevron Mist Eliminator Styles

15

Mellachevron

Sulzer Mellachevrons can be installed in a variety of vessel congurations and as arrangement of multiple vane boxes to provide optimum ow and drainage characteristics within the space available. Typical box and vessel arrangements are illustrated below in Fig. 5a and 5b.

Sulzer Mellachevron H45D cross ow high capacity vane pack for installation in a discharge drum of an ethylene plant. The sophisticated vane prole and integral drainage channels of our Mellachevron H45D high performance mist eliminator provide signicant advantages over conventional vane mist eliminators, including: reducedpressuredropathighgasload factors improved liquid drainage based on hollow blade concept upto40%highergasloadcapacity

Double Box with KnitMesh Pre-conditioner

Fig. 5a

Four Box

V-bank

1. Vertical Flow

2. Cross ow Horizontal vessel 3. Cross ow Two-stage separator 4. V-bank 5. Cross ow In-line separator

Fig. 5b

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Axial Cyclonic Devices

Shell SwirltubeTM
The Shell Swirltube is, in essence, a stainless steel tube with a swirler at the inlet and longitudinal slits in the tube wall. Liquid is separated by impaction of droplets on the tube wall by the centrifugal forces induced by the swirling gas ow. Re-entrainment of this liquid is prevented by draining the lm via the slits to the liquid collection chamber outside the tube. To ensure the proper functioning of the Swirltube it is essential that some gas is also bled through these slits. This gas leaves the liquid collection chamber via the secondary outlets at the top of the Swirldeck assembly. Performance can be improved by using a secondary KnitMesh mist eliminator to separate entrainment from the gas leaving the secondary outlets. The main fraction of the gas leaves the Swirltube via the primary gas outlet at the top. Drain pipes guide the liquid, collected in the space between the tubes and on the upper cover of the Swirldeck, to below the liquid level. Scaling-up of a separator equipped with a Swirldeck is done simply by increasing the number of Swirltubes proportional to the gas ow in the separator.

Sec. gas

Liquid

Droplets

Swirldeck

Swirldeck with secondary KnitMesh

Shell Swirltube LightTM

The Shell Swirltube Light is available as an attractive alternative to vane packs for high capacity bulk separation. The Swirltube Light is based on the sophisticated de-entrainment device used in the Shell ConSepTM Tray. Recommended use: comparableefficiencybuthighercapacity compared to vane packs. operation possible at higher pressures/ lower surface tensions than vane packs.

compact design makes it suitable for offshore industry or in general for high pressure conditions. for debottlenecking of existing separators. forhighturndownswithpre-conditioner. (up to factor 10). application for slightly fouling service and may be used where complex vanes or wire mesh mist eliminators may become plugged.

17

Combined Systems

Combined Systems
Increasing gas capacities and higher performance requirements in mass transfer equipment are challenging the capabilities of conventional mist eliminator equipment. To solve this, Sulzer offers combined systems which optimize the benets of individual types of equipment and improve overall performance. For example, KnitMesh mist eliminators can be used in combination with Sulzer Mellachevron vane packs or Shell

Swirltubes to produce very high separation efciencies at high gas loadings. By using the KnitMesh mist eliminator as a pre-conditioner for the Mellachevron, it is operated above its normal re-entrainment or ooding point and consequently liquid is stripped away from the downstream surface. The liquid dispersion re-entrained from the mesh mist eliminator has a larger mean diameter (See Figure 6) and is suitable for subsequent separation by secondary, high capacity equipment.

By analysis of the inlet uid conditions, Sulzer can design optimized mesh structures to provide the best possible outlet conditions for the downstream separator. Additional benets of combined systems include: The ability to design the equipment to provide very high turndown capabilities Atlowgasvelocities,wherehighcapacity separators tend to be ineffective, the mesh pre-conditioners behave as conventional mist eliminators

Gas with ne mist KnitMesh as primary preconditioner operates beyond ooding point

Mist free gas

Frequency 0

Coalesced large droplets efciently removed by Mellachevron

10

20 30 Drop size (m)

40

50

Fig. 6

Coalesced large droplets fed to secondary Mellachevron mist eliminator

Separated liquid drains

Provisional gap, if required

High Capacity Separators with Sulzer Mellachevrons Vertical ow Separator In-line Separator Two-stage Separator

Gas inlet Mellachevron KnitMesh Pre-conditioner Downcomer pipe

Gas outlet Mellachevron mist eliminator KnitMesh Pre-conditioner

Gas outlet Mellachevron mist eliminator

KnitMesh Pre-conditioner Downcomer pipe

Schoepentoeter Downcomer pipe Liquid sump Liquid sump

High capacity packing MellapakPlus

Liquid outlet

Liquid outlet

18

Combined Systems

Shell High Capacity Separators

Shell proprietary high-capacity gas/liquid separators, such as Shell SMS, SVS, SMSM and SMMSM separators, combine the best features of the separation products from Sulzers portfolio. Shell gas/liquid separators combine Swirldeck, KnitMesh, and Schoepentoeter separation technologies in a single vertical vessel drum. Selection of separation technologies is function of the dispersed liquid phase concentration, droplet size and the required separation efciency. Their typical application window is for separation of liquid/gas or three-phase liquid/liquid/ gas mixtures, when a high capacity and high separation efciency is required, SMS(M) Technology is the lowest weight and volume solution for phase separation offshore and onshore. It gives up to 2.5 times more capacity compared to a conventional KnitMesh mist eliminator without vessel replacement.
100 0

Gas load factor, ft/s 0.33 0.66 SMS

0.99 SMMSM SMSM

Efciency, %

95 KnitMesh 90

85

0.1 0.2 Gas load factor, m/s

0.3

Description Shell SMS, SMSM and SMMSM gas/liquid separators are named after the conguration of the different internals used for each type of separator: SchoepentoeterorSchoepentoeterPlus(S)-usedasfeedinletdeviceforvapordistribution with bulk liquid removal KnitMesh(M)-whichactsascoalescerandseparator,dependingonthegasflow rate DoublePrimaryKnitMesh(MM)-speciallydevelopedforapplicationswithtwoimmiscible liquid phases in the feed to the separators (such as glycol/condensate in DewPoint Separators) Swirldeck(S)-comprisingmultipleSwirltubes A second KnitMesh (M) is used downstream of the Swirldeck in SMSM gas/liquid separators for demisting secondary gas. In fouling or waxy service the KnitMesh can be replaced by a Sulzer Mellachevron vane pack (SVS systems).

0604 2508-8

KnitMesh Swirldeck Mellachevron Vane pack Schoepentoeter Swirldeck KnitMesh Schoepentoeter

KnitMesh Swirldeck 2nd Primary KnitMesh 1st Primary KnitMesh Schoepentoeter

SVS

SMS/SMSM

SMMSM 19

Applications

Natural Gas Dehydration with TEG Old Fashioned

Bubble Cap trays and KnitMesh mist eliminators

State of the Art

Mellapak and KnitMesh mist eliminators incl. the sophisticated KnitMesh 9797 type

High Capacity
MellapakPlus and our high capacity mist eliminators such as MKS Multi Cassette, Mellachevron, Shell SMS

The Ultimate
Shell Swirl Tube Trays and Shell SMS (see also the Brochure Trays for any Applications)

TEG

TEG

TEG TEG

NG

NG

NG

NG

Characteristics 100 % capacity

Characteristics 190 % capacity > 20 % more efciency

Characteristics 300 % capacity > 20 % more efciency ~ 4.5 F-Factor

Characteristics 400 % capacity 20 % more efciency ~ 6.0 F-Factor

~ 1.5 F-Factor ( Pa)

~ 2.9 F-Factor

Using Sulzers sophisticated KnitMesh 9797 Technology in Glycol Contactors

The rst application for Sulzer KnitMesh 9797 mist eliminators was for installation on an offshore platform in the North Sea. The requirement was to control and reduce the glycol entrainment (as liquid drops) in the gas prior to compression and export. In off-shore facilities the implications of entrainment from the dehydration columns are not only on the value of the glycol lost (and re-supply from shore), but also the consequences of admitting the excess glycol into the gas export pipeline. Not withstanding possible operational problems for the pipeline, the increased separation load at the shore terminal to separate gas condensate and glycol, and disposal of the glycol phase, are signicant costs. The industry standard gure dening the maximum entrainment of 0.1US gallons per MMSCF gas was therefore challenged and had to be improved upon. The mist eliminator supplied with this application was shown to signicantly reduce the free glycol loss in the exit to < 0.05 US gallons per MMSCF gas, a gure veried after measurement of total glycol loss from the dehydration unit.
Sulzer KnitMesh 9797 Glycol contactor mist eliminator Lean TEG

Dry gas outlet

Manway Liquid distributor

Sulzer Mellapak/ MellapakPlus

Chimney tray Sulzer KnitMesh 9798 Scrubber section mist eliminator Wet gas inlet Schoepentoeter

Rich TEG Manway

Liquid outlet

20

Applications

Using Sulzers MKS Multi CassetteTM Technology in Glycol Contactors

The rst application for Sulzer MKS Multi Cassette mist eliminators was for installation in Glycol Contactors in Russia. The contactors were revamped from trays to Sulzer MellapakPlus and were operated at very high gas loading factors. In order to keep the glycol loss low at this high column gas throughput the MKS Multi

Cassette mist eliminators were installed in the contactor top section. The application was shown to meet measured glycol losses of < 0.1US gallons per MMSCF gas. The patented Sulzer MKS Multi Cassette mist eliminator combines the useful centrifugal forces in cyclones with the high separation efciency of wire mesh packings to give a new superior demisting device.

4 Cassettes equipped with structured wire demisting packing

Vapor is free of mist

Collector Tray

Swirl Tube Swirling Elements Drain Pipe

Vapor carries mist

Glycol Dehydration Process using Shell SMSM internals in the Feed Inlet Scrubber and MKS Multi Cassette in the Glycol Contactor
Highly efcient liquid scrubbing from the gas feed to glycol contactors is needed in order to avoid bottlenecks in the dehydration system caused by hydrocarbon carry over which can lead to foaming and excessive overall glycol losses. Sulzers mist elimination products such as Sulzer KnitMesh, Sulzer MKS Multi Cassette and Shell Separators meet for these high process demands.
Sulzer MKS Multi Cassette at top of glycol contactor

Glycol Contactor

SMS(M) Separator

Glycol Regenerator Flash Drum

Condensate Treatment Unit Application of Sulzers liquid/liquid separator products such as: SulzerMellaplateplatepack SulzerDCCoalescer SulzerDusecandDusecPlus SulzerStaticMixers

Glycol Regeneration Unit Application of Sulzers mass transfer products in the glycol regeneration facility.

21

Applications

Low Temperature Separation (LTS) Process

The performance of the gas separators in LTS Processes is crucial in order to meet the hydrocarbon and water dew point specications. The dew point separator is especially essential for the overall performance of the plant. Even small amounts of entrained liquids will rapidly appear as increased dew point in the sales gas. To obtain the best from the LTS Process, our high performance Shell SMMSM separator internals are implemented in the Expander Suction Drum and in the Dew Point Control Separator, and Shell SMS separator internals in the Inlet Separator and in the Export Compressor Suction Drum.
SMS Inlet Separator SMMSM Exp. Suction Drum SMMSM Dew Point Control Separator

SMS Compressor Suction Drum To Compression

Compressor From Slug Catcher Expander

JT Valve

Glycol Injection

Molecular Sieve Dehydration Process

The effect of a high performing Feed Inlet Separator on the deactivation rate of the molecular sieves is substantial. The water absorption capacity deteriorates badly over time as the co-adsorbed hydrocarbons accumulate in the molecular sieve. Sulzer recommends the use of a drum with Schoepentoeter and a high efciency KnitMesh mist eliminator or the Shell SMSM separator internals when high capacity and efciency are required.
Compressor Suction Drum Mol Sieve Driers Dried Gas to LNG Unit

KnitMesh Separator

Compressor

Feed Inlet Separator SMSM Separator Flash Gas to Fuel Gas System

Water/HC

22

Applications
Mist Eliminators in Desalination Processes
Desalination by multi-stage ash evaporation or multiple effect distillation units is by far the most widely used method of generating fresh water from brine or sea water in the world. It is extremely reliable and can produce high purity water from almost all forms of feed. The process involves evaporating water from a brine solution and condensing the vapor as fresh water. However, the performance of any ash evaporator can deteriorate if liquid entrainment is carried over from the ash chambers into the condenser tube bundles. This is a very likely occurrence in view of the high velocities and volumetric owrates experienced in these plants, and can lead to problems such as: Reducedwaterpurity Scaling of condenser tube bundle and downstream equipment such as boilers Corrosionofdownstreamequipment Sulzer Mist Eliminators are designed to reduce these problems and are installed in most desalination systems. Our experience in desalination has helped us develop a range of equipment to meet the specic process needs of our customers, and great care is taken to ensure that the optimum design is offered for any particular duty. The main factors to consider in desalination applications are: Efficiency Pressuredrop Foulingcharacteristicsandthetendency to scale Materialsofconstruction Cost Sulzer KnitMesh Mist Eliminators Sulzer KnitMesh mist eliminators are ideally suited to most desalination applications. In multi-stage ash evaporators the mist eliminators are installed directly above the ash chambers. Water vapor rises vertically upwards through the mist eliminator and passes into the condenser tube bundle. Any entrained liquid droplets are captured on the wires where they coalesce and drain, counter-current to the vapor ow, back into the ash chambers. The separation mechanism is similar to this in multiple effect distillation systems. The combination of high free volume and specic surface area mean that excellent efciencies can be achieved for droplets as small as 5 m while presenting minimum pressure drop. High capacity designs To achieve the required capacity, the evaporators are often very large and the mist eliminators usually cover a large effective free area above the ash chambers. The total area required is determined by calculation of the mist eliminator capacity and is a very important part of the plant design. Clearly, any opportunity to reduce the capital cost of the evaporators is very attractive and the capacity of the mist elimination equipment is of vital importance in this calculation. Most installations are designed using a conventional K-value of 0.107 m/s but Sulzer has developed the high capacity type 4540NS KnitMesh mist eliminator which can operate at up to 20% higher Kvalues, providing the opportunity for either reduced equipment size or an increase in capacity. Major projects have been successfully commissioned using the Sulzer KnitMesh 4540NS mist eliminators in Oman, Algeria and the UAE. Sulzer Mellachevron Mist Eliminators Precipitation of salts and scale on the wires of KnitMesh mist eliminators can be a problem in some plants, particularly in the rst two or three effects of the evaporation. In these circumstances, the Mellachevron Type V20Z has been used to overcome the problem. This simple vane prole provides high separation efciency performance for droplets larger than 30 m, and its ability to withstand heavy scaling applications makes it an ideal alternative to the KnitMesh mist eliminators when fouling is of concern. Its robust construction makes it easy to clean, and the Mellachevron V20Z also has a relatively low pressure drop compared to the more complex Mellachevron designs with drainage hooks and channels an important factor when designing for large volumetric owrates at low pressure.

Steam

Vent ejector

Feed pump

Condensate pump

KnitMesh or Mellachevron Mist Eliminator

Brine Product pump pump

23

www.sulzer.com
Please check for your local contact

Sulzer Chemtech Ltd, a member of the Sulzer Corporation, with headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, is active in the field of process engineering and employs some 4000 persons worldwide. Sulzer Chemtech is represented in all important industrial countries and sets standards in the field of mass transfer and static mixing with its advanced and economical solutions.

The activity program comprises: Process components such as fractionation trays, structured and random packings, liquid and gas distributors, gas-liquid separators, and internals for separation columns Engineering services for separation and reaction technology such as conceptual process design, feasibilities studies, plant optimizations including process validation in the test center Recovery of virtually any solvents used by the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, or difficult separations requiring the combination of special technologies, such as thin film/short-path evaporation, distillation under high vacuum, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane technology or crystallization. Complete separation process plants, in particular modular plants (skids) Advanced polymerization technology for the production of PLA and EPS Tower field services performing tray and packing installation, tower maintenance, welding, and plant turnaround projects Mixing and reaction technology with static mixers Cartridge-based metering, mixing and dispensing systems, and disposable mixers for reactive multi-component material

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Legal Notice: The information contained in this publication is believed to be accurate and reliable, but is not to be construed as implying any warranty or guarantee of performance. Sulzer Chemtech waives any liability and indemnity for effects resulting from its application.