Coalescers are devices used to separate components of a liquid emulsion, commonly used in the petroleum industry to remove moisture from fuel mixtures. They work by attracting tiny droplets of water or other liquid, which are then removed from the system. Mechanical coalescers use filters or baffles, while electrostatic coalescents use electric charges. They are used in fuel delivery systems for land and air vehicles, and can be in liquid or vapor form.
A coalescer is a device that is used to separate and consolidate the distinct components of a mixture, usually a liquid emulsion. This process is known as coalescence. Devices of this type have many uses, but are primarily used on an industrial scale in the petroleum and refining industries to separate and remove moisture from fuel mixtures. A mechanical coalescer uses a series of filters or dividers, known as baffles, to cause water molecules to move out of a mixture and build up. An electrostatic coalescent uses weak electric charges to pull water molecules to the surface where they collect.
The petroleum and refining industries make extensive use of coalescents to remove all traces of water or other contaminants from various products, from crude oil to high-grade aviation fuels. Many fuel delivery systems for land and air vehicles incorporate one or more coalescing devices to remove moisture that may be present in the fuel due to condensation, contact with moist air, or other factors. Most coalescing devices are small, removable cartridges with no moving parts of their own, but larger coalescing units may be used in industrial applications.
Coalescers work by attracting tiny droplets of water or other liquid, perhaps even as small as a single molecule. As the droplets collect, they are pulled together by the force of molecular attraction and surface tension. When they reach a sufficient size, they can be removed from the system by gravity or by centripetal forces generated by the rotation of the coalescing group. The material to be separated from a coalescer can be in liquid or vapor form depending on the component substances.
A mechanical coalescer relies on a series of barriers, known as baffles or filters, made with very fine meshes, which can be made from a variety of materials, including fiberglass fibers. Vapor or liquid passes through the filter and water is attracted to the filter material or baffle surface. In an electrostatic coalescent, a weak electric charge is passed through a collection device which imparts a tiny charge that attracts molecules of water or other designated material for removal.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
