Droplet separator

1. A droplet separator comprising

a jacket defining a central flow passage for a flow of a droplet-carrying gas in a main flow direction;

a vortex generation apparatus in said central flow passage for setting the droplet-carrying gas into a rotary movement whereby droplets in the droplet-carrying gas are directed by centrifugal force in a radial direction relative to said flow passage and at least some of the droplet-carrying gas is deflected from the main flow direction radially outwardly; and

at least one annular separator element downstream of said vortex generation apparatus for receiving the droplet-carrying gas therein, said separator element including a plurality of grid-like structures for separating droplets from the droplet-carrying gas passing there through.

2. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grid-like structures of said separator element direct the droplet-carrying gas from said jacket in a flow direction which includes an angle of >0° and <180° relative to said main flow direction.

3. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said grid-like structure is annular and is disposed concentrically to said jacket.

4. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said grid-like structure is at an angle of from 45° to 60° relative to said jacket.

5. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of separator elements and a plurality of base plates disposed in alternating manner with said separator elements, each said base plate being substantially perpendicular to said main flow direction and supporting said grid-like structures of a respective separator element thereon.

6. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a plurality of collection means, each said collection means being disposed for collecting liquid separated in said grid-like structures on each respective base plate.

7. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one mat for droplet coalescence disposed in the flow of droplet-carrying gas upstream of said vortex generating apparatus relative to said main flow direction.

8. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vortex generating apparatus includes a plurality of stationary guide surfaces disposed radially of said main flow direction in circumferentially spaced apart relation to deflect the flow of droplet-carrying gas passing there between.

9. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 8 wherein each said guide surface is disposed on an angle of inclination of from 45° to 65° relative to a plane perpendicular to said main flow direction.

10. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 9 wherein each said guide surface has a curved edge and said angle of inclination is variable along said edge.

11. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said vortex generating apparatus further includes a deflection body arranged on a central axis of said jacket downstream of said guide surfaces relative to said main flow direction.

12. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said guide surfaces are arranged between a centrally disposed disc having a predetermined outer diameter and an annular ring having a predetermined inner diameter, and wherein each adjacent pair of said guide surfaces define an outlet opening sufficient to induce a rotational flow in the gas flow around said central axis due to a combined effect through said deflection body and said guide surfaces.

13. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said guide surface is connected to and extends between said disc and said annular ring and is bent.

14. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said guide surfaces are integral with said disc and said annular ring.

15. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 12 wherein said inner diameter of said annular ring has a value of from 150 mm to 250 mm.

16. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said deflection body is one of a conical shape and a plate shape and an outlet opening defined between said deflection body and said guide surfaces is at least 20% smaller than an inlet opening defined between said guide surfaces.

17. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 16 wherein the number of said guide surfaces is larger than 3 and smaller than 13.

18. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 16 wherein each said guide surface includes an angle of inclination with said inlet area which is larger than 20° and smaller than 70°.

19. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 16 wherein each said guide surface has at least two planar part surfaces inclined with respect to one another.

20. A droplet separator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said deflection body is conical and has a cone angle matching upper edges of said guide surfaces and is secured to said upper edges.

21. A droplet separator comprising

a jacket defining a central flow passage for a flow of a droplet-carrying gas in a main flow direction;

an apertured plate secured across a bottom of said jacket for passage of a droplet-carrying gas into said central flow passage;

a vortex generation apparatus in said central flow passage for setting the droplet-carrying gas into a rotary movement whereby droplets in the droplet-carrying gas are directed by centrifugal force in a radial direction relative to said flow passage and at least some of the droplet-carrying gas is deflected from the main flow direction radially outwardly; and

at least one annular separator element disposed concentrically outside said jacket downstream of said vortex generation apparatus for receiving the droplet-carrying gas therein, said separator element including a plurality of grid-like structures for separating droplets from the droplet-carrying gas passing there through.

22. A droplet separator comprising

a jacket defining a central flow passage for a flow of a droplet-carrying gas in a main flow direction and having a plurality of openings therein;

a vortex generation apparatus in said central flow passage for setting the droplet-carrying gas into a rotary movement whereby droplets in the droplet-carrying gas are directed by centrifugal force in a radial direction relative to said flow passage and at least some of the droplet-carrying gas is deflected from the main flow direction radially outwardly; and

a plurality of annular separator elements connected sequentially in said main flow direction downstream of said vortex generation apparatus and about said jacket for receiving the droplet-carrying gas therein, each said separator element being in communication with respective openings of said openings in said jacket to receive the droplet-carrying gas and including a plurality of grid-like structures for separating droplets from the droplet-carrying gas passing there through.