A mathematical model to calculate the separation efficiency of streamlined plate gas-liquid separator

A mathematical model which can help to calculate the separation efficiency of streamlined plate gas-liquid separator was derived on the basis of the plug flow model. Both experiment and simulation were carried out to verify the model results. In the experiment, an aerosol spectrometer measurement system Promo-3000 by Palas Germany was used for measuring the size distribution and mass concentration of water droplets in the inlet and outlet and further to obtain the grade separation efficiency. Then the performance of the streamlined plates was evaluated at different gas velocities. In simulation, Realizable k-ε and enhanced wall treatment were applied in Fluent 14.5 with the same conditions as that in experiment. The results show that the model results agree well with that from experiment and simulation on the variation tendency of efficiency. The turning angle in space and the width of outlet are two main factors influencing the performance of streamlined plate gas-liquid separator. To increase the angle and reduce the width in every concave or convex channel space can obviously improve the efficiency. A new universal method to design and optimize corrugated plate geometry was provided. According to the model result and this method, the economical and high-efficient variant plates are put forward, which are significant to the industrial application.