Plat Pack Coalescer

Plate Pack Coalescer

(for liquid-liquid and three-phase separators)

Plate pack thin layer coalescers (interceptors) are used to separate emulsions with droplet diameter above 30 μm.

Plate pack is a pack of thin parallel flat or wavy plates installed at equal distances. When the flow moves through thin passages between plates, droplets sit on plates thanks to gravity forces. Globules leave plates via gutters. Plates are inclined (usually 45° or 60°). Distance between plates varies around 15…60 mm (lower figures for cleaner liquids, higher figures for contaminated liquids).

Thin layer plate pack coalescer. Section size is selected so sections fit through a standard manhole (Ø 500 or 600 mm).

Plate pack coalescers are more effective than sump separators due to the following reasons:

1. When liquid moves between plates the distance a droiplet has to go is ewual to the distance between plates. So plated design decreases Raynold’s number. The distance a droplet has to go to meet another drop and form globule is decreased. This decreases both time required for separation and device’s size.
2. Plate packs supress turbulent vertical flows in a separator, so the probability of droplet returning to the liquid decreases.