Drained coalescer

1. An apparatus for separating liquid from a gas/liquid mixture, comprising:

a housing;

a gas/liquid mixture inlet located at a lower side of the housing;

a coalescer placed in the housing above the gas/liquid mixture inlet for increasing the average size of liquid droplets from the mixture passing the coalescer;

at least one liquid feed, which liquid feed runs at least partially through the coalescer and ends at location below the gas/liquid mixture inlet;

a liquid outlet for the separated liquid fraction located at a lower side of the housing under the coalescer; and

a gas outlet for the separated gas fraction located at an upper side of the housing above the coalescer,

wherein the coalescer comprises at least two different coalescer layers,

the first coalescer layer causing a first concentration of liquid particles to accumulate in liquid droplets having a typical first size that is, on average, larger than the size of liquid droplets entering the first coalescer layer,

and a second coalescer layer causing the first concentration of liquid particles emerging from the first coalescer layer to accumulate in liquid droplets having a typical second size that is, on average, larger than the size of the liquid droplets entering the second coalescer layer, and wherein

the two coalescer layers are oriented substantially horizontally to one another.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the different coalescer layers comprise different types of coalescers.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the different coalescer layers comprise identical types of coalescers with different dimensioning of the coalescer elements.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the different coalescer layers are stacked substantially horizontal layers.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises liquid collectors connecting to the liquid feed.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the liquid collectors are located in the coalescer.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the liquid collectors slope downward to the liquid feed.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid feed runs at a central location.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the coalescer layers is a mesh coalescer.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the coalescer layers is a lamellar coalescer.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an upper part of the coalescer slopes downward to the liquid feed.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises one liquid feed coaxially located in a vertical cylindrical vessel.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises plural liquid collectors located on different vertical levels.