Coalescer Filter Elements – Coalescing & Separating

What are coalescer filter elements?

Coalescer is designed for liquid-liquid separation. It contains two types of filter elements: coalescer cartridges and separator cartridges. Coalescer filter elements are commonly used together to gather and filter and eliminate solid particles and waters from fuel oil, natural gas, and other liquids. They play important roles in Electronic, nuclear power plant, pharmaceutical, natural & gas fields, etc.

Working principle of coalescer filter elements

The coalescer filter is equipped with two filter elements with different functions -- coalescer cartridges and separator cartridges. Medium enters coalescer filter shell and assigned to each coalescing filter by the coalescing filter tray, the liquid flow from internal to external of the coalescer cartridges and pass through filtration, demulsification, coalescence, and sedimentation processes. The multi-layer filter material can filter out solid particles and the emulsion layer made of non-woven fibers can break the emulsion of media and gather small water droplets are gathered to large droplets and settling to the bottom of the shell. Some tiny liquid flow to the separation filter elements. Separator cartridges have a Teflon surface which has excellent hydrophobic performance. Small droplets were completely and effectively intercepted outside of the separation filter elements. The water that settles to the bottom of the shell is shown by the level gauge, and the water and dirt can be discharged regularly through the drain valve. The water-free media are collected by the separation filter tray and flow out of the outlet of the separator.

Structures of coalescer cartridges

The main structures of coalescer cartridges include the filtration layer, demulsification layer, gathering layer, and separation layer.

The filtration layer is made of multi-layer pleated filter paper to filter out solid particles.

The demulsification layer is made of non-woven fibers to absorb tiny droplets onto the surface and separate the oil and water.

The gathering layer is made of water-absorbent material to absorb and gather water into large droplets.

The separation layer is made of glass fiber matt, which allows the large droplets to fall down and complete the water-oil pre-filtration.

Structure of separator cartridges

The separator cartridges are manufactured from the inner frame, support mesh, plastic protection mesh, and a hydrophobic material (Teflon) layer, which is specifically designed to repel water. Tiny waters are gathered on the Teflon layer and fall into the water collection sump after large water droplets form.