Coalescer plate with phyllotaxis-derived pattern
Coalescer plates, coalescer plate units, and coalescers, are provided. An exemplary embodiment provides a coalescer plate for separating a mixture of immiscible fluids. The coalescer plate comprises a pattern of wetting and non-wetting regions, wherein the pattern is based, at least in part, on phyllotaxis.
1 . A coalescer plate for separating a mixture of immiscible fluids, comprising a pattern of wetting and non-wetting regions, wherein the wetting regions are oleophilic and the non-wetting regions are oleophobic when droplets of oil are entrained in a water continuous phase, and the wetting regions are oleophilic and the non-wetting regions are oleophobic when droplets of water are entrained in an oil continuous phase, and wherein the pattern is based on a planar projection of a pattern found on leaves on a plant stem, and wherein the pattern comprises recesses.
2 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses comprise a spiral based, at least in part, on a Fibonacci sequence.
3 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses are arranged in a spiral according to a golden ratio.
4 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein an angle between consecutive nodes of the recesses is about 137.5°.
5 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses comprise nodes that are circular, square, rectangular, rhombic, a parallelogram or triangular, or any combinations thereof.
6 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses are arranged in a Lucas spiral, an anomalous spiral, a bijugate, a multijugate, a tricussate, or a whorled pattern.
7 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses comprise a surface that is substantially perpendicular to fluid flow.
8 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses are formed into a bottom surface of the coalescer plate to separate oil droplets from a water continuous phase.
9 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses are formed into a top surface of the coalescer plate to separate water droplets from an oil continuous phase.
10 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses are formed into a top surface of the coalescer plate to separate water droplets from a gas continuous phase.
11 . The coalescer plate of claim 1 , wherein the recesses comprise lines.