Separator column

1. A column defining a gas flow path (A), the column comprising

at least one demister crossing the flow path;

a coalescer deck crossing the flow path upstream of the demister;

wherein the coalescer deck carries at least one coalescer comprising at least one coalescer tube with an upstream open end, a downstream open end, and a swirler between the two open ends;

wherein the at least one coalescer tube is provided with one or more recirculation inlets located above a bottom surface of the coalescer deck and below a level of an overflow drain of the coalescer deck; and

wherein the column further comprises a direct flow path between a downstream edge of the coalescer tube and the demister.

2. The column according to claim 1 , wherein the coalescer deck is provided with an overflow drain.

3. The column according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the recirculation inlets are below the level of the swirler.

4. The column according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the recirculation inlets are at and/or above the level of the swirler.

5. The column according to claim 1 , wherein the demister comprises at least one swirl deck carrying one or more swirl tubes.

6. The column according to claim 5 , further comprising a ratio of 5-10 coalescer tubes to each at least one swirl tube.

7. The column according to claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the swirl tubes is larger than the diameter of the coalescer tubes.

8. The column according to claim 7 , wherein the ratio D c /Ds of the coalescer tube diameter D c to the swirl tube diameter Ds is within the range of 0.2 to 0.75.

9. The column according to claim 6 , wherein the swirl tubes have a larger entrance angle than the coalescer tubes.

10. The column according to claim 5 , wherein the swirl deck is provided with a drain transferring liquid from the swirl deck to the coalescer deck.