Drained coalescer

An apparatus for separating liquid from a gas/liquid mixture, comprising:

• a housing;
• a gas/liquid mixture inlet located at a lower side of the housing;
• a coalescer placed in the housing above the gas/liquid mixture inlet for increasing the average size of liquid droplets from the mixture passing the coalescer;
• at least one liquid feed, which liquid feed runs at least partially through the coalescer and ends at location below the gas/liquid mixture inlet;
• a liquid outlet for the separated liquid fraction located at a lower side of the housing under the coalescer;
• and
• a gas outlet for the separated gas fraction located at an upper side of the housing above the coalescer,
• wherein the coalescer comprises at least two different coalescer layers,
• the first coalescer layer causing a first concentration of liquid particles to accumulate in liquid droplets having a typical first size that is, on average, larger than the size of liquid droplets entering the first coalescer layer,
• and a second coalescer layer causing the first concentration of liquid particles emerging from the first coalescer layer to accumulate in liquid droplets having a typical second size that is, on average, larger than the size of the liquid droplets entering the second coalescer layer, and wherein
• the two coalescer layers are oriented substantially horizontally to one another.