What are they and what is their purpose?
Vane separators are used to remove the liquids particles present in a gas flow.
They are used for the removal of liquids particles that could damage the users downstream of the separation system.
There are two different types of vane separators:
– SL type , where inlet and outlet nozzles are on the same line
– SLV type where the inlet is in the lower part of the vessel and the outlet is on the higher part of the vessel.
SLV type is used when big quantities of liquid (that is to say slugs) are expected.
Vane separators can also be supplied with a demister installed on the inlet surface of the vane pack, in order to agglomerate the small particles and to increase the liquids separation.
Construction
Vane separators are built in various materials:
the casing is generally made either of carbon steel or stainless steel or other types of alloys, depending on the type of fluid they must contain.
As for the vane pack , this consists of plates (in stainless steel 304 or 316) assembled in a box welded to the internal wall of the vessel.
Accessory Instrumentation
Vane separator can be supplied with inlet and outlet valves, drain and vent valves, pressure safety valves, level instrumentation, automatic drain valves, pressure and temperature gauges.
Efficiency
Vane separators have an efficiency of separation of liquids particles having dimensions up to 8 (eight) microns with a percentage of 99.95%.
Market presence
The typical application is in natural gas reduction and measurement stations, in geothermal plant for steam separation, in compression stations.
In more than 40 years of life Forain has produced a lot of them which have been installed in almost all the countries of the world.