99% Efficiency at 10 Microns | Compressor Service
Understand centrifugal separation principles, tuyere inlet design, and high-efficiency particulate removal
Performance Specifications:
Typical Applications:
• Compressor interstage separation
• Compressor discharge knockout
• In-line high-efficiency separation
Loading Limit: Max 5% by weight liquid/solid
A centrifugal tuyere separator uses angled tuyere vanes to spin the gas stream, throwing liquid droplets and solid particles outward against the vessel wall by centrifugal force. It achieves 99% efficiency at 10 microns for liquids and 15 microns for solids — typical for high-efficiency cyclonic inlet devices per Perry's Section 14-92.
Target inlet velocity of 70–100 ft/s. General service uses 80 ft/s, compressor interstage 85 ft/s (higher velocity acceptable between stages), and compressor discharge 75 ft/s. Below 70 ft/s, centrifugal force is insufficient for 99% efficiency; above 100 ft/s, re-entrainment of collected liquid begins.
5% by weight liquid or solid loading. Above 5% loading, consider a multi-cyclone separator (handles up to 10% wt) or two-stage separation (bulk knockout followed by polishing). At 3–5% loading, monitor for liquid carryover.
Velocity-head method: ΔP = K · ρ · V² / (2 · gc · 144), where K ≈ 6.0 for an optimized tuyere inlet, ρ is gas density (lb/ft³), and V is inlet velocity (ft/s). The result is in psi. The design specification is ΔP less than 1% of absolute operating pressure per GPSA Section 7.
3:1 turndown — the separator maintains its 99% efficiency specification from 33% to 100% of design flow. For wider operating ranges, a multi-cyclone separator (5.625:1 turndown) or filter separator may be more appropriate.