Performance of Louver Type Mist Separator

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the performance of louver-type mist separators of which the blades are set on the slant to air flow. Particle collection efficiencies and pressure losses of two kinds of blade type, i.e. flat and V-shape blades are experimentally obtained under the conditions of 0% and 10% blow-down flow.
1) The collection efficiency of droplets is much higher than that of solid particles. For example, the solid particle collection efficiency is 80%, and the efficiency of droplets is nearly 100%, when the inertial parameter value equals 1 with 10% blow-down flow.
2) Without blow-down flow, collection efficiency of a V-shape blade is much higher than that of a flat blade. For example, the former is about twice the latter, when the latter is 40%, even though pressure loss of the V-shape blade is only three-fourths that of the flat blade.
3) There is little difference in efficiency between V-shape and flat blades under the condition of 10% blow-down flow as in the case of solid particles. Partial collection efficiency of the flat blade with 10% blow-down is much higher than that without blow-down. On the contrary, blow-down flow rate has no effect on the partial collection efficiency of the V-shape blade.
Partial collection efficiencies are estimated by numerical calculation of particle trajectory on the assumption of potential flow model outside the experimentally obtained wake. This is effective in predicting the 50% collection droplet size. The theoretical curve does not completely fit the experimental one, but a modified calculation with turbulent mixing effect is in good agreement with experimental values.