Low pressure drop modular centrifugal moisture separator

A modular separating unit for separating a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture having an initial linear direction of flow, comprising:

• at least two means for imparting a helical flow to the gas-liquid mixture, whereby the liquid is separated from the gas, said first and second imparting means being arranged at substantially equal intervals about an axis parallel to the initial direction of the flow of the mixture, each of said imparting means having a trailing surface contained in a plane which is at an angle of approximately 37.degree. to said axis for imparting a helical flow to the mixture, a trailing edge adjacent said trailing surface a leading surface parallel to said axis, a leading edge adjacent said leading surface, and a transition surface intermediate said leading and trailing surfaces, the projections of said leading edge of one of said imparting means and said trailing edge of an adjacent one of said imparting means onto a plane perpendicular to said axis forming an angle of approximately 22.5.degree. therebetween whereby the linear direction of flow is smoothly transformed to a helical direction of flow, and the liquid is separated from the gas;
• means surrounding said imparting means for containing the gas-liquid mixture at said imparting means and maintaining the helical flow of the gas-liquid mixture above said imparting means;
• means forming a pathway around said containing means for transporting the liquid out of said separating unit;
• and
• means associated with said containing means for transferring the liquid into said pathway-forming means.

A separating unit for separating a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture, comprising:

• (a) a housing through which a flow of the gas-liquid mixture is directed and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, said housing being perforated by spaced-apart holes adjacent said outlet end;
• (b) a hub having an axis, and leading and trailing ends disposed substantially parallel to said flow of the gas-liquid mixture, said hub disposed coaxially within said housing;
• (c) a plurality of blades mounted between said hub and said housing in front of said holes, said blades being spaced at substantially equal intervals about said axis of said hub, each of said blades having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a leading surface adjacent said leading edge, and a trailing surface adjacent said trailing edge, said leading edge and said leading surface being disposed substantially adjacent said inlet end of said housing and contained substantially in a first plane, said first plane oriented substantially parallel to said flow of the gas-liquid mixture, said trailing edge and said trailing surface being contained in a second plane, said first plane intersecting said second plane to define an intersection line, said intersection line disposed at an angle with respect to an imaginery plane disposed perpendicular to said axis, said angle being approximately 37.degree. to maximize the swirl imparted to said flow of the gas-liquid, while at the same time minimizing the pressure drop established by said flow of the gas-liquid mixture over said plurality of blades.