Mesh Pad vs Vane Mist Eliminator
A mesh pad (knitted wire mesh) removes fine droplets, down to about 5 µm at above 99% efficiency, at low cost, but it can block with solids or sticky liquids. A vane mist eliminator (zigzag plates) handles larger liquid loads and dirty gas with low resistance, but it is less suited to the finest mist. Many systems use both: the mesh pad first, the vanes after.
Side by Side
| Mesh pad (wire mesh demister) | Vane mist eliminator (chevron) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Gas flows through knitted wire mesh. Droplets hit the wires, merge and drain off the bottom. | Gas is forced through zigzag channels between plates. Droplets cannot turn with the gas, hit the plates and drain away. |
| Droplets removed | Fine mist and droplets down to 5 µm at above 99% efficiency (drawer type: above 99.8% for droplets over 5 µm). | Larger droplets. The finest mist is better caught by a mesh pad. |
| Pressure drop | Standard type: about 250 Pa. | Low. The channels are open. |
| Blocking by solids or sticky liquids | More likely to block. | Less likely to block. |
| Heavy liquid load | Suited to normal loads. | Suited to gas carrying large amounts of liquid. |
| Materials | Metal wire or PTFE (long-term use up to 260 °C). | Polypropylene (PP) or metal. |
| Typical use | Knock-out drums, evaporators (including desalination), inert gas systems on tankers, tops of columns. | Tops of towers, wet scrubbers, flue gas, horizontal gas flow in ducts. |
Choose a Mesh Pad When
- You need to remove droplets down to 5 µm.
- You need removal efficiency above 99%.
- You want a simple, low-cost unit that is easy to install.
- The gas is clean enough that solids will not block the mesh.
- Your service is very hot or corrosive (PTFE type).
Choose a Vane Mist Eliminator When
- Liquid droplets leave the top of your tower with the gas.
- Your gas carries large amounts of liquid.
- Your gas contains solids or sticky material that could block a mesh pad.
- You need to protect the compressor after the tower.
- You need a plastic (PP) or metal unit, or the gas flows horizontally in a duct.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. A mesh pad catches fine droplets and makes them bigger, and vanes then remove them at a higher gas velocity. This combination is common when the gas carries both fine mist and large amounts of liquid.
Related Terms
Demister pad · Mist eliminator · Chevron · Carryover (entrainment) · Pressure drop
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