Mist eliminators provide a critical function in industrial processes. Most industrial processes involving gas-liquid contact rely on mist eliminators to remove trapped liquid droplets from vapor streams. Two main designs dominate the market: wire mesh and chevron mist eliminators. Grasping the differences between these technologies allows operators to select the right solution for a specific use case.
Understanding Wire Mesh Mist Eliminator Designs and Performance
Wire mesh mist eliminators feature multiple layers of knitted or woven wire screening. These layers are held together with support grids. As gas flows through the mesh matrix, droplets collide with the wire surfaces and coalesce into larger droplets, which then drain under gravity. When projects require extremely fine separation efficiency, mesh mist eliminators are appropriate for achieving organizational goals.
MACH Engineering manufactures wire mesh mist eliminators in multiple materials. For metals, this includes stainless steel, MONEL®, nickel and Hastelloy. Our experts also utilize engineered polymers like Kynar®, polypropylene, Teflon® and Tefzel®.
Material versatility enables customization tailored to working environments. With mesh mist eliminators, completing projects in corrosive environments or locations with high temperatures is straightforward.
Chevron Mist Eliminators and Their Characteristics
Chevron mist eliminators are also referred to as vane-type or baffle-type eliminators. They feature parallel plates configured in a zig-zag fashion. Gas passes through these vanes through a tortuous path, resulting in droplets impinging on vane surfaces where they quickly coalesce and drain. Chevron designs are exceptional for capturing droplets approximately 10 microns in size while maintaining low pressure drops.
MACH Engineering designs chevron mist eliminators for high-velocity and high-capacity applications in which wire mesh products would experience fouling. A chevron mist eliminator’s open structure minimizes the risk of solid particulates or viscous liquids interfering with results. The technology offers consistent performance for a wide range of flow rates, providing excellent turndown characteristics that support process variability.
When to Use Each Type of Mist Eliminator
MACH Engineering recommends using wire mesh and chevron mist eliminators in different environments:
- Wire mesh mist eliminators: The technology is appropriate for fine droplet removal, which is useful for distillation towers, wet scrubbers, knockout drums, evaporators and processes demanding product recovery or downstream purity. Industries relying on wire mesh eliminators include oil and gas and chemical processing.
- Chevron mist eliminators: A chevron mist eliminator thrives in high liquid load conditions with elevated gas velocities. The low-pressure drop aspect minimizes energy consumption in large throughput systems. Consider incorporating a chevron mist eliminator within pulp and paper mills, upstream and downstream gas processing and steel foundries.
Why Trust Us for Wire Mesh and Chevron Mist Eliminators?
Our team designs odor control systems, air and water emission control vessels and water treatment solutions that meet specific client needs and use cases. As a full-service company, we pride ourselves on solving unique problems for clients and keeping business operations under one roof, rather than working with multiple service providers.
Our professionals install the equipment they design once it is complete, and many of our customers have been with us for over 25 years — a testament to the level of customization, customer support, premium quality and quick turnaround timelines we provide. We enjoy working with businesses that have all levels of experience with wire mesh and chevron mist eliminators. When companies partner with us, they benefit from having a point of contact who listens to unique project specifications and preferences to make their custom build a reality.
Design a Mist Eliminator with MACH Engineering
MACH Engineering’s technical team considers droplet size distribution, gas velocity, liquid loading, fouling potential, temperature control and the working environment to help design a wire mesh or chevron mist eliminator. We deliver engineered solutions that maximize facility performance and dependability. Contact MACH Engineering to discuss an organizational mist eliminator build.
