GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Most gas streams contain liquid and solid particles smaller
than five microns in diameter. These ultra fine particles are difficult to remove
by conventional means. In many cases these contaminates present a serious
process problem. QBJ filter separators are specifically designed to remove
contaminates such as fine mists, fogs and dust from gas streams.
Filter separators are designed in either a horizontal or
vertical configuration. The filter vessel is comprised of two stages. The first
stage contains replaceable molded fiberglass elements mounted on supporting
carriers welded into a filter partition plate. The filter partition plate separates
the inlet filter section from the second separation stage. A Full Diameter
quick-opening closure is provided for installing and removing elements. The
second stage compartment contains a stainless steel high-efficiency mist
eliminator. In order to prevent the gas flow from bypassing the first stage due
to implicit and accumulated pressure drop, both the filter stage and the
separation stage have separate liquid accumulation areas.
The inlet gas enters the filter stage of the filter
separator. Solids and free liquid droplets 10 microns and larger cannot
penetrate the element and collect on the exterior of the element. These liquid
droplets collect and drain to the first stage liquid accumulation section. Some
entrained solid particles will flow with the draining liquid. The remaining
solid particles on the element exterior will form a cake. Due to normal
operational pulsation’s in the gas stream, this cake will build up and flake
off, falling to the bottom of the vessel. As solids build up, the differential
pressure increases across the element, necessitating online or offline
cleaning.
Because of the nature of the fiberglass elements, all of the
solid particles one-micron and larger are trapped in the element. In addition,
liquid droplets do not wet the fibers, but remain attached to them as beads of
liquid. As more liquid droplets are separated, these droplets are agglomerated
and coalesced into large drops due to their large surface attraction to one
another. When the coalesced liquid drops reach a sufficient size, 100 to 200
times their initial size, the force of the gravity and frictional drag of the
gas cause the super liquid drops to flow out of the depth, into the central
core of the element. From the central core, these super drops flow into the second
stage of the separator. Due to their super size and sub-shear velocities, these
agglomerated rivulets are stripped by the second stage separator, draining to
the bottom of the liquid sump. The filtered and separated gas stream free of
particulate and liquid contaminates exits the filter separator through the
outlet nozzle.
Typical applications for filter separators:
Upstream of dry desiccant dehydrators to prevent compressor lube oil fog or other liquid contaminants from entering the adsorber bed causing degradation and loss of efficiency.
Downstream of dry desiccant adsorbers to remove desiccant dust and liquid particles which cause valve erosion and small orifice erosion or plugging in controllers.
Upstream of compressors to remove dust and liquid which cause damage to the compressor valves and cylinders.
Upstream of glycol dehydrators and amine desulfurizer units to prevent contamination of the glycol or lean amine solutions.
Downstream of glycol dehydrator and amine desulfurizer units to recover expensive treating chemicals.
Upstream of cryogenic systems to prevent plugging and freezing of the heat exchangers.
Upstream and downstream of refrigerated lean-oil absorption units to prevent contamination of the lean-oil and subsequent processes.
Upstream of metering and regulating custody transfer stations and of town border stations to decrease maintenance and to prevent service interruption.
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