Determination of pressure drop in wire mesh mist eliminator by CFD

With this article, pressure drop was predicted in a mist pad by CFD and compared with the available experimental data and empirical model. A CFD study was made to determine the pressure drop of wire mesh mist eliminator as a function of broad ranges of inlet velocity 1–7 m/s. The simulation was carried out in an industrial scale layered type demister pad made of stainless steel wires. These variables were measured as a function of vapor velocity (1–7 m/s), packing density (200 kg/m3), pad thickness (200 mm), wire diameter (0.31 mm) and distance between mesh wires of (5 mm). The numerical solutions were carried out using spreadsheet and commercial CFD code FLUENT 6.0. The CFD simulations predict excellently the wire mesh mist eliminator pressure drop under inlet velocity with a maximum deviation of 14% from the Frashband's refinery data and 21% from empirical formula. The efficiency of the demister is at highest at the gas inlet velocity of 6 m/s.