Fiber bed separator and process for removal of aerosols from high

Abstract

A substantially cylindrical mist eliminator bed element for use in removal of liquid aerosols from a moving gas stream by flowing the gas stream through the element. The element comprises a first fiber bed for collection of aerosol particles, and a second fiber bed adjacent the first fiber bed for preventing reentrainment of liquid in the gas stream. The element is adapted to be oriented with respect to a substantially horizontal flow of aerosol containing gas so that adjacent surfaces of the fiber beds are substantially vertical, the first fiber bed being upstream of the second fiber bed with respect to the flow of gas. The first fiber bed comprises a bed of fibers having a mean diameter of at least about 10 microns packed to a substantially uniform bed voidage of 85% to 98%, the mean fiber diameter, bed voidage and distribution of fibers in the first bed being such as to provide for collection of the droplets of liquid aerosol from an aerosol containing gas. The second bed has a substantially uniform voidage of 95% to 99% and comprises a network of fibers having a mean fiber diameter of between 100 and about 450 microns, said network comprising a plurality of layers of generally planar knitted wire mesh material. The second fiber bed may be comprised of a plurality of discrete modular sections.