Droplet Separator
Droplet separators / Weather louvers are used to remove water droplets from the airflow to protect downstream equipment from corrosion or filters clogging. They can be installed either on ventilation systems or on combustion air intake systems. It’s common to find these moisture separators suitable for horizontal flow being used on static combustion air intake filter system for gas turbine, compressor, engines and other rotating equipments.
Filsure droplet separator is specifically designed to remove free moisture found in fogs, mists, and heavy rain from inlet air. Low operating pressure drop makes the FilVanes a truly cost-effective first stage droplet separator to any air intake filter system, providing higher moisture removal performance.
FilVane captures airborne moisture by change the direction of the air a number of times. Through inertial separation, the droplets impinge onto the vane surface and coalesce together to form larger droplets. This is drained quickly and effectively to the bottom of the vanes, where it is then removed from the filter system to avoid re-entrainment into the air stream. Separation efficiency of droplet separator is high when there is high intake velocity on other side due to higher intake air velocity pressure drop across vanes is also increases.
While selecting the droplet separator size one should take into account the bottom drain channle volume. Droplet separator profile when assembled into units forms a vane type separator suitable for horizontal flow. The streamlined profiles ensure low levels of pressure drop combined with high separation efficiencies.
The profiles are available in various materials, the most popular being talcum reinforced polypropylene. Other material options available is PVC, Aluminum and stainless steel. PVC material is suitable for SATP conditions (25 Deg.C temperature) and for higer temperature site conditions PP vanes are recommended. For harsh and corossive environment Aluminum or Stainless steel vanes recommended. At the time of Aluminium vanes selection, risk of galvanic corrosion must be considered specially for sea shore environment.
Droplet separator profile is designed for air intakes as a first stage for moisture and droplet removal. It’s also used after cooling coils to remove residual moisture. The profile is suitable for application at face velocities between 3 and 5 m/s. Most suitable air intake face valocity is 2.5 m/s.
With rich experience in the supply of air treatment solutions, Filsure has delivered hundreds of weather louvers with droplet separators integrating a wide range of options:
- Mounting on flange or bulkhead type construction.
- Multivane separators for enhanced separation performances.
- Option of secondary filtration stage downstream the vane separator.
- Different drain options e.g. flange, slot, flexible pipe etc.
- Heat tracing (Anti Icing) option available with ATEX / IECEx execution optoins.
- Wide range of dimensions. Maximum recommended cross section is approximately 2.4 m. x 3.0 m.
Some of the main features and benefits of FilVane are:
- High separation efficiency
- Suited to all geological locale (Including harsh weather sites)
- Low pressure = Low operating costs
- Wide operating velocity range from 2 m/s to 5 m/s
- Corrosion free material
- Wide range of dimensions
- Close to 100% droplet removal efficiency at 25 microns or greater.
- Protects filters downstream, helping to extend filter life and reduce maintenance costs.
- Can be tailor-made to fit any inlet air filter system.
Typical specifications
- Type: Vertical vane type droplet separator / Weather louvers
- Standard Framework: Carbon steel painted, SS 304 / 304L / 316 / 316L, Aluminum for special cases.
- Size: Width min. 300 mm., maximum 2400 mm. / Height minimum 300mm, Maximum 3000 mm.
- Vane profiles: PVC, Extruded polypropylene strengthened with talcum (PPTV), high-grade marine Aluminum or Stainless steel
- Spacer: Spacers are available for equidistant spacing of 33 mm. (standard) and 25 mm. (optional)
- Drain: 30 mm pipe connection (Standard)
For more details please refer droplet separator catalogue:
