A study of mist eliminator wire mesh systems using the centrifugal adhesion balance

Using a Centrifugal Adhesion Balance (CAB) we measure the surface adhesion forces between water and three common wire mesh materials used in industrial mist elimination systems. The adhesion force increases mildly with the time the drop rests on the wire. For the same resting time, the adhesion force is almost constant for different drop sizes. We use the data to equate a force balance of water droplets as they coalesce and detach from mist eliminator wire. This study provides the exact relation between mist eliminator coalesced droplet size and gas velocity for different wire sizes and materials of construction in industrial test equipment operating with water and humid air at ambient temperature and pressure.