MX2008007125A - Vane-type demister - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a vane-type mist eliminator device (100) having formed or corrugated sheets (102, 202, 302), flat sheets (104a, 104b, 204, 304), and integral louvers (108, 110). The corrugated sheets and flat sheets are layered such that the arrangement of sheets and integral louvers creates at least one tortuous fluid flow channel from an inlet to a vapor outlet of the device. An outer casing or frame is sufficient to hold the sheets together.

Description

DEVICE OF TYPE OF ASPECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices for separating a liquid from a vapor. Various industrial processes use vapor-liquid separation devices to remove liquid droplets from a vapor stream. For purposes of the present application, the terms "steam" and "gas" are used interchangeably. In equipment for mass and / or heat transfer, drops of liquid are frequently generated by contact or change of vapor-liquid phase. An example of such a process is co-current fractionation, in which a liquid that generally flows downwardly comes into contact with a vapor phase that flows upwardly. Although the general flow of vapor and liquid in this process is countercurrent, the flow of vapor and liquid is co-current when the vapor comes into contact with the liquid if the liquid is suspended in the vapor, and is transported upwards and towards a vapor-liquid separation device, in which the liquid is extracted from the vapor. Then the liquid flows down to a lower stage, and the steam flows upward to a higher stage. It is also common for air conditioning systems to require vapor-liquid separation systems to remove water from the cooled air.

A method to extract liquid from the vapor is a device that causes the current to change direction. Since the liquid droplets have a higher density than the vapor of the current, the moment of the liquid will tend to cause the liquid to move in a straight line, and not change direction as quickly as the vapor. It is well known in the art to use various vapor-liquid separation devices at, or near, the vapor outlet of a variety of process vessels, such as evaporation drums, vapor-liquid separators, receivers, storage tanks, purification towers, absorbers and distillation columns. One such extraction device includes a series of vanes arranged in parallel, where each vane is a thin sheet formed in ridges and valleys. Conventionally, the blades are separated from one another by spacers, to provide a narrow flow path for the current. Many times the blades and spacers are welded or riveted in position, which leads to high production costs in terms of time, training and materials. The steam current enters on one side, to reach the other side through a zigzag path. The drops in suspension can not sustain the speed of the zigzag and collide with the blades, to which they adhere and slide down their walls. The extraction devices to Sometimes they also include grids welded to the blades. The grids provide bags that trap and drain the liquid, and greatly reduce the re-suspension of the liquid, and improve the vapor-liquid separation. However, the soldier, riveted or fastened by other means of the grids, increases the complexity of its manufacture. The blades and grids need to be geometrically designed to allow the current to flow at a high velocity with maximum liquid particle removal from the stream, and a minimum pressure drop. With advances in industrial technology, there has also been an increasing demand for eliminators that operate at high speeds, with a high level of efficiency, and a minimum pressure drop. A variety of such vapor-liquid separation devices have been disclosed, for example in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,802,901, 5,296,009, 3,912,471 and 6,852,146. Therefore, what is needed is a vapor-liquid separation device with a simplified structure and assembly. It is also desirable to eliminate the need for additional components and / or steps such as clamping or welding of spacers to at least partially define the fluid flow paths. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises, in one of its forms, a blade-type moisture eliminator that has formed or corrugated sheets, flat sheets and integral grids. The corrugated sheets and the flat sheets are placed in layers, so that the arrangement of integral sheets and grids creates at least one tortuous channel of fluid flow, from an inlet to a steam outlet of the device. One compartment or outer frame is sufficient to hold the plates. Some variations include the order of the layers of corrugated sheets and flat sheets, and whether the grids are formed on the corrugated sheets, the flat sheets, or both. Other variations include the size and shape of the grids, as well as the size and shape of the corrugated sheets and the configuration of the outer frame. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a vapor-liquid separation structure, comprising a plurality of corrugated sheets, a flat sheet between each pair of corrugated sheets; and an outer frame that holds layers of corrugated sheets and flat sheets. Each of the corrugated sheets comprises at least one integral grid. In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a vapor-liquid separation structure, comprising a plurality of flat sheets, a corrugated sheet or placed between each pair of flat sheets, and an outer frame that supports the layers of flat sheets and sheets corrugated Each of the flat sheets comprises at least one integral grid. In another form, the present invention includes a method of producing a blade-type moisture eliminator. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of corrugated sheets and a plurality of essentially planar sheets, where the corrugated sheets and the flat sheets have an anterior edge and a trailing edge, forming integral grids in the corrugated sheets and / or the sheets flat, and layers are formed with corrugated sheets and flat sheets so that the arrangement of integral sheets and grids creates at least one tortuous path of fluid flow from an entrance near the leading edge of the sheets to a nearby vapor outlet to the back edge of the leaves; and securing the layers of corrugated sheets and flat sheets in a frame. An advantage of the present invention is that the flat sheets and corrugated sheets with grids are placed in simple layers, forming a self-supporting separating structure. That is, the sheets in layers and channels for fluid flow that they define can maintain the desired separations without the need for other elements such as spacers, fasteners or welds. In addition, variations of the geometrical design of the blades and grids of the present invention can be provided to obtain a high separation vapor-liquid, and avoiding unacceptable pressure drops in dynamically disparate systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure IA is a top view of a central section of a blade type moisture eliminator of the present invention. Figure IB is an isometric view of an exterior frame of the moisture remover of the present invention. Figure 1C is a top view of the unassembled components of the blade type moisture eliminator of Figure IA before the integral grids are formed. Figure ID is a cross-sectional view of the blade-type moisture eliminator, showing the pre-formed grids in dotted lines. Figure 2A is a plan view of the corrugated sheet with integral grids. Figure 2B is an end view of the corrugated sheet of Figure 2A. Figure 3A is a planar view of a flat sheet with an integral grid. Figure 3B is an end view of the flat sheet of Figure 3A. Figure 4A is a planar view of a flat sheet with two integral grids.

Figure 4B is an end view of the flat sheet of Figure 4A. Figures 5A and 5B are top views of a central section of a blade-type humidity eliminator of the present invention. Figure 6A is a top view of a central section of a blade type humidity remover, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6B is a top view of the disassembled components of the blade type moisture eliminator of Figure 6A, before the integral grids are formed. Figure 7A is a top view of a central section of a blade type moisture eliminator, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7B is a top view of the disassembled components of the blade type moisture eliminator of Figure 7A, before the integral grids are formed. Figure 8A is a top view of a central section of a blade type moisture eliminator, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8B is an end view of a flat sheet having grids, in accordance with Figure 8A. The corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various views. The figures illustrate various embodiments of the present invention, although they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure IA, there is shown a top view of a central section illustrating the arrangement of the integral blades or blades and defining the fluid flow channels according to one embodiment of the present invention. invention. The moisture remover or dehumidifier 100 includes a plurality of corrugated sheets 102, a plurality of flat sheets 104a and 104b, and an outer frame that is shown in Figure IB. Each of the corrugated sheets 102 comprises a plurality of integral grids 108, and the flat sheets 104a, 104b comprise integral grids 110. The sheets or blades have an anterior edge 116 near the inlet of the vapor-liquid separator or dehumidifier, and a trailing edge 118 near the steam outlet. Figure IB shows an embodiment of an outer frame having a solid upper plate 106 and two solid side walls 107 welded together, or otherwise fixedly assembled to contain the corrugated sheets 102 and the flat sheets 104a, 104b. The outer frame in this mode includes perforated plates, where steam and liquid enter and leave the dehumidifier 100. The vapor-liquid stream enters the dehumidifier in the direction of the arrow A from the rear through an inlet, the current it is separated, and exits through a steam outlet 112 and a liquid outlet, which is the bottom of the dehumidifier. The amount of steam that comes out of the liquid outlet, and of the liquid that comes out of the steam outlet, varies according to the efficiency of the specific design. Perforated plates are an example of flow manipulators that can be used. Other non-limiting examples of flow manipulators include expanded metal, porous solids, network meshes, screens, gratings, meshes, shaped wire screens, and honeycombs. It has been found that the fractional open surface of the flow manipulators affects both the separation efficiency and the pressure drop of the dehumidifier 100. The fractional open surface of the flow manipulators can vary on different sides and on the same side, for optimize the separation efficiency and pressure drop of the dehumidifier 100. Various types of flow manipulators can be used in a single dehumidifier. The steam outlet 112 of the dehumidifier 100 may include a optional non-perforated upper portion 113 extending from the upper plate 106 towards the bottom of the dehumidifier. The non-perforated upper portion 113 can be a separate plate, or it can be an extension of the upper plate or the side walls that are bent over the steam outlet. The upper portion 113 may be coplanar with the vapor outlet or the associated flow handler if present, or may be superimposed thereon. In one embodiment, the upper portion 113 extends to 10% of the height of the dehumidifier. In another embodiment, the upper portion 113 extends up to 30% of the height of the dehumidifier. In yet another embodiment, the upper portion 113 extends up to 50% of the height of the dehumidifier. It has been found that this perforated upper portion 113 of the vapor outlet 112 improves the vapor-liquid separation efficiency. In other embodiments, the flow manipulators do not use any or all of the inputs and outputs of the dehumidifier 100, and the fluid channels defined by the blades or blades remain open. Although the outer frame may include three solid plates, as illustrated, the frame may simply be an inclined or flat support securing the edges of the sheets 102, 104a and 104b. In other modalities, belts or bands define the frame that joins the leaves together. A framework can comprise a variety of these and other elements commonly known to hold the leaves together. The frame can be secured by any known way. Non-limiting examples include welding, rivets, glue, fasteners, pressing, hinges and pressure fittings. The modes of plates without a solid frame can be used, for example inside a process container, to prevent the liquid from leaving the container through a conduit connected to the steam outlet. The outer frame may also comprise the walls of the container or conduit in which the dehumidifier is located. The dehumidifier can be oriented in any direction of steam flow. In some embodiments, the primary steam flow is horizontal. In other embodiments, the primary steam flow is vertical. The dehumidifier can also be positioned inclined so that the steam flow has both horizontal and vertical velocity components. The primary steam flow may have an ascending or descending velocity component. Figure 1C shows how layers with three corrugated sheets 102 and flat sheets 104a, 104b can be formed within an outer frame to form a dehumidifier with three fluid flow channels. The leaves are shown without the grids formed and with a gap between the leaves, to illustrate the general structure. However, in the assembly process, the sheets are interspersed with the lattices formed, and tightly walled between the side walls 107, so that the corrugations of a corrugated sheet 102 separate a flat sheet 104a from a flat sheet 104b, without the need to weld the sheets or use spacers to separate the sheets. In other words, a flat sheet 104a and a flat sheet 104b are interleaved between each pair of corrugated sheets 102. In this way, the stack of sheet layers defines fluid flow channels in a self-supported manner, and the outer frame provides a shape to hold the leaves. Figure 1C shows a flow manipulator at the inlet proximate the leading edge 116 of the sheets, and an open steam outlet 112. That is, there is no flow manipulator on the trailing edge 118 of the sheets. When the device is assembled with the grids, the primary steam flow will be from right to left, and the separated liquid drains to the bottom, in a direction normal to the plane of the page. If grids are desired in the outer flow channels, they can be fixed by any conventional means to the inner surface of the side walls 107, or a conventional flat sheet 104a or 104b can be interposed with grids between the outer corrugated sheets 102 and the side walls. 107, as appropriate. Figure ID is the cross-sectional view of a thin section of corrugated sheet 102 sandwiched between a flat sheet 104a and a flat sheet 104b, illustrating the formation of the grids 108 and 110, showing the grids preformed in dotted lines. However, in the manufacture the grids are formed before interleaving the sheets. The corrugated sheet 102, which is also shown in Figures 2A and 2B, includes several corrugation ridges 114, a leading edge 116, and a trailing edge 118. As shown in Figures ID and 2B, it is not necessary that the pattern corrugation of sheet 102 is uniform. The pattern can be varied at any point, especially near the leading and trailing edges, where changes can improve the overall stability of the device. In this embodiment, a broad "U" -shaped portion of each diagonal corrugation wall that connects two corrugation ridges 114 along a significant length of the sheet is removed, leaving the ends intact, for structural support and for touching flat sheets 104a, 104b. In this way, this removed portion defines the edges of the grids 108, which are integrally formed by folding a portion of the corrugated sheet 102, away from the next corrugation ridge 114 to form a pocket between the grid 108 and the flat sheet 104a or 104b. The spaces formed by the grids 108 and the eliminated portions allow the fluid to pass from the inlet to the steam outlet 112. The passages or fluid channels are off-center or are tortuous, so that the fluid does not pass through. straight line from the entrance to the steam outlet 112. In the application, the liquid captured by a bag must be drained at the bottom of the bag, and the captured liquid must not leak through spaces between the corrugated sheets 102 and the flat sheets 104a and 104b. The small flat segments on the ridges 114 of the corrugated sheets 102 facilitate the corrugated sheets 102 to form a sufficient seal with the flat sheets 104a and 104b at the contact points, when the sheets are walled in the outer frame. However, it is noted that the present invention does not require flat segments in the corrugation ridges 114. Any geometry forming a seal is sufficient to prevent the captured liquid from leaking through the spaces between the corrugated sheets and the flat sheets when assembling the device. Figure ID shows that, in this embodiment, the louvers 110 are directed from the leading edge 116 and towards the pocket formed by the adjacent louver 108. In other embodiments, some or all of the louvers 110 are oriented towards the leading edge 116. flat sheet 104a, which is also shown in Figures 3A and 3B, includes a grid 110, while the flat sheet 104b, which is also shown in Figures 4A and 4B, includes two grids 110. The grids 110 are integrally formed in the flat sheets 104a, 104b, either by cutting or pressing through the sheet, to define three edges of the grid, and twice folding the grid 110 to form a diagonal portion and a flat portion. In a particular embodiment, the flat portion of the grid 110 is essentially parallel to the rest of the flat sheets 104a, 104b. In a particular embodiment, the shapes of the grids 108 and 110 are drilled in a single movement, instead of being formed by the multiple steps described above. In addition, the grids 108 can be formed before, at the same time, or after forming the corrugations in the corrugated sheets 102. Alternatively, the corrugated sheets 102 and the flat sheets 104a, 104b are molded, for example by injection molding, and the grids are formed integrally in the sheets during the molding process, particularly if the manufacturing material is plastic. According to the present embodiment, the dehumidifier 100 has a conventional size and manageable weight, and the outer frame can include interlacing devices that cooperate with other dehumidifiers 100 to form a row of dehumidifiers 100. For example, as shown in Figure IB , the concealed side wall includes an optional male flange 117 which will interlock with the optional female flange 119 located on the opposite side wall of the next dehumidifier. In the illustrated mode, these tabs extend throughout the height of the dehumidifier along the leading edge of the sidewalls, to effectively prevent fluid flow between interlaced dehumidifying units. In other embodiments, the flanges are located along the rear edges of the side walls. These tabs can also be located on the other edges of the dehumidifying units. Multiple male or female tabs can be used, such as along the anterior and posterior edges of the dehumidifying units. This modular configuration allows the manufacturer to produce dehumidifiers 100 of a manageable size to be assembled in rows of variable length. Some custom-made dehumidifiers 100 may be required for particularly short rows, or to match the required length. In a similar manner not illustrated, interlocking mechanisms can be incorporated into the flat sheet 104a of a dehumidifier, so that it can be connected with the flat sheet 104b of the next dehumidifier of the spinneret, thereby eliminating the need for side walls between each dehumidifier. Any interlacing mechanism can be used to improve the structural integrity of an assembled row or stack, or any two- or three-dimensional arrangement of dehumidifiers. In use, the grids 108, 110 are formed in several corrugated sheets 102 and flat sheets 104a, 104b, respectively, and the sheets are interleaved as described above to form the assembly shown in Figure IA. The interleaved sheets can be placed in the outer frame, so that the leading edges 116 and trailing edges 118 of the sheets are each close to a flow handler at the fluid inlet and the steam outlet 112, respectively. The outer frame supports the interleaved sheets, so the sheets do not require welding or spacers for assembly. In the present embodiment, there is a flat sheet 104a and a flat sheet 104b for each corrugated sheet 102. The specific details for a dehumidifier in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Figure IA, or other embodiments of the present invention, such as the total number of sheets, the width of the sheets 102, 104a and 104b from the leading edge to the opposite trailing edge, the height of the sheets from the upper plate 106 to the liquid outlet, the dimensions and configuration of the corrugated sheets 102, as the number and type of the corrugations, for example sinusoidal, triangular, rectangular or other, and the number and dimensions of the grids 108 and 110, will vary from the specific vapor-liquid separation objectives. Factors such as the volume of fluid to be separated, the physical properties of the vapor and liquid, the size and The distribution of liquid droplets, the desired separation efficiency, and the relative load of liquid against vapor can influence the specific parameters of the dehumidifier design. In one embodiment, a vapor-liquid mixture passes through a flow manipulator at the inlet, and is deflected by the integral grids 108 and 110 as it passes through the channels or fluid passages formed by the sheets and grids formed. The fluid passages are inclined, so that in this way they force the fluid to change direction several times. These changes in direction, and the rapid changes in direction of the vapor-liquid mixture in the bags formed by the grids 108 and 110 tend to cause the liquid to separate from the vapor. The liquid tends to be trapped and run through the bags formed by the 108 and 110, to exit the dehumidifier 100 through a flow manipulator located at the bottom of the outer frame. Steam continues through the fluid passages and the bags, to exit the dehumidifier 100 through the flow handler close to the steam outlet 112. It is noted that the present invention does not require that the vapor and liquid outlets be defined by separate sides of the dehumidifier, nor that the exit is limited to one side. For example, one side may have an upper portion that defines the steam outlet, and a portion lower that defines the liquid outlet. In other embodiments, a first portion of the separated liquid leaves the dehumidifier from a lower portion of one side, and a second portion of the separated liquid exits the bottom of the dehumidifier. The present invention covers practically infinite variations in the grids, as in their number, position, orientation, size and shape. The grids 110 and 108 may be oriented toward the leading edge 116 or the trailing edge 118 of the sheets. That is, various bends in the grids can direct specific portions of the grid toward the steam inlet or outlet. The exact design of the grids will be influenced by the balance between the allowable pressure drop, the separation efficiency and other parameters of the desired specific vapor-liquid separation. As shown in Figure 5A, the flat sheet 104a includes a second grid 110 proximate the trailing edge 118, and the grids 108 are formed to have a portion substantially parallel to the flat sheets 104a, 104b. In another variation shown in Figure 5B, the grid 108a can be defined by the remaining portion of the diagonal corrugated wall, after removing a portion of the wall to allow the passage of the fluid. That is, it is not required to flex the corrugated wall. Another grid 108b is formed by flexing the remaining portion of the diagonal wall, to changing the angle with which it joins the peak 114. Similarly, as shown by the grid 110b, the flat sheet grids require no other bending than is necessary to deflect them from the plane of the flat sheets. The grids 108c and 110c may have multiple flexures, including portions perpendicular to the side walls. A grid 108d, or a portion thereof, may be directed towards the trailing edge 118. It is not necessary to remove a portion of the corrugated or flat sheets to form the grids. It is sufficient to cut or perforate the sheet, and to bend or otherwise form the grid, as by molding. In another embodiment, a portion of the flat sheet is removed in the formation of a grid 110, as previously described for a corrugated sheet grid 108. In some embodiments of the present invention, there will be a design for all of the grids 108, and a different design for all of the grids 110, and all of the fluid flow channels will have the same resulting fluid flow path. However, none of these is required in the present invention. For example, the fluid flow paths may be different in some or all of the fluid flow channels, especially the external or terminal fluid flow channels. Different corrugated sheets can be used, as per their height, which is the distance between the flat plates or the number of corrugations in the fluid flow channel, in some or all of the flow channels of fluid of a dehumidifier. The grids can vary within any flow channel or between a flow channel and another, such as their number, location, size, orientation and geometry. In some embodiments, the corrugated sheets or flat sheets are essentially parallel, so that the width of the fluid flow channel is essentially constant. In other embodiments, the sheets are asymmetrical, so that the fluid flow channel is conical. The fluid flow channel may be conical in the direction of the steam inlet or outlet, or towards the liquid outlet or the opposite side. For example, the height of a corrugated sheet can be conical in the desired direction. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses a multitude of variations in the gratings and flow channels, where the superimposed sheets form self-supporting fluid flow channels. In a second embodiment shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the dehumidifier 200 includes a plurality of corrugated sheets 202 and a single flat sheet 204 placed between each pair of corrugated sheets 202. The dehumidifier 200 is similar to the dehumidifier 100 described in FIG. first mode; the corrugated sheets 202 have integrally formed grids and form self-supported fluid channels between the steam inlet and the outlet 212. Also similarly to the first embodiment, the Dehumidifier 200 requires that a vapor-liquid mixture passing through it change direction several times, causing the liquid to separate from the vapor. However, the flat sheets 204 do not include screens, thereby forming a dehumidifier that has a simpler separation structure. Figure 6B illustrates the layers for two fluid channels and flow manipulators at the steam inlet and outlet. Figure 6A illustrates three fluid channels, with various grid designs. Channel I contains diagonal gratings 208, similar to grids 108 in the first embodiment, which also function to reduce the pressure drop across the fluid channel. Channel II illustrates a variation, where the louvers 208a are rounded or curved to reduce the pressure drop across the fluid channel. The louvers 208b in Channel III have a flexure and a flat portion that is parallel to the flat sheets 204. Another embodiment, which has a flat sheet 204 unique between each pair of corrugated sheets 202, is illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B. In this embodiment, which includes rectangular corrugated sheets 202 having integral grids 208, the flat sheets 204 also have integral grids 210. As illustrated with the grids 210, the present invention encompasses different single-blade grids or blade located in the different grids. flow channels of dehumidifier 200. As illustrated with flat upper sheet 204 without grids, the present invention does not require that all flow channels or sheets be identical. A dehumidifier 300, which is shown in Figure 8A in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, includes a plurality of corrugated sheets 302 and a flat sheet 304 placed between each pair of corrugated sheets 302. Corrugated sheets 302 do not include screens integral or fluid passages and, therefore, essentially have no perforations. The flat sheets 304, best shown in Figure 8B, include integral grids 310 inclined in alternating directions to follow the inclination of the adjacent corrugations, whereby pockets are formed between the louvers 310 and the walls of the corrugated sheets 302. The spaces left by the grids 310 provide passageways for the fluid stream to pass from the leading edges 316 to the trailing edges 318 near the vapor outlet 312, while the sinusoidal shape of the corrugated sheets 302 and the pouches formed by the grids 310 cause the current to change direction several times as it passes through the dehumidifier 300, causing the liquid to be extracted from the vapor. Similar to the first and second embodiments, the stack of corrugated sheets 302 and overlapping flat sheets 304 is self-supporting, and an outer frame is sufficient to hold the sheets one with other. As in the other embodiments, the sheets may be placed in the outer frame, or the outer frame may be formed around the overlapping sheets. No spacers, welding or fasteners are required to maintain the separation of the stacked sheets, or to form the screens 310. It should be particularly noted that many other variations of the present invention can be imagined. For example, the fluid flow channels may be formed so as to prevent the transfer of fluid between the channels within the dehumidifier. In other embodiments, the sheets may contain perforations to allow fluid to pass between the fluid flow channels. 0 the flat sheets 104a and 104b of the first embodiment may be aligned such that the formation of grids 110 in fluid flow channels overlap to allow fluid flow between the fluid channels. In another embodiment, in which the flow of fluid between adjacent channels and the louvers 110 is not desired to overlap to form an opening between adjacent flow channels, a simple remedy is to place a flat plate without bores between adjacent flat plates 104a and 104b . It should also be noted that the manufacturing materials of the dehumidifier can include metal of standard thickness, with a caliber of between 7 and 30. The thickness The metal used in a specific application will depend on several factors, including the strength of the metal and its composition. The manufacturing materials can vary widely, such as semi-hard steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, alloys, composite materials, polymeric materials including reinforced plastic, etc. The device can be manufactured from a single material such as non-standard gauge metal or, alternatively, from a combination of materials. The thickness of the materials can vary within a dehumidifier. For example, the sheets may have a thickness, and the frame may have a different thickness. The leaves can also vary in thickness. The materials are chosen to be compatible with the vapor and liquid compositions, other materials used in the specific application, and the operating conditions.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A vapor-liquid separating device, comprising: a) a plurality of corrugated sheets; b) a plurality of essentially planar sheets; and c) an outer frame that holds the corrugated sheets and flat sheets with each other; where at least one of the flat or corrugated sheets, or at least one of the flat and corrugated sheets comprises integral grids, and where the sheets are superimposed to define at least one tortuous channel of fluid flow through the device. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the corrugated sheets comprises at least one integral grid, and at least one of the substantially flat sheets is positioned between each pair of corrugated sheets. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the substantially planar sheets comprises at least one integral grid, and at least one of the corrugated sheets is positioned between each pair of the essentially planar sheets. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the corrugated sheets, flat sheets and integral grids define self-supporting fluid flow channels. 5. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, which further comprises an inlet, a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet, where the fluid flow channel provides fluid communication between the inlet and the outlets. The device of claim 5, further comprising a flow handler adjacent to at least one of the inlet, the vapor outlet and the liquid outlet. The device of claim 5, further comprising an essentially unperforated plate, which extends over an upper portion of the steam outlet. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the corrugated sheets are oriented essentially parallel to each other. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein both the corrugated and flat sheets comprise integral grids, and the grids of the corrugated sheets are directed in a first direction, and the grids of the flat sheets are directed in a second direction. direction that is opposite to the first address. A method for producing a blade-type moisture eliminator, comprising the steps of: a) forming a plurality of corrugated sheets and a plurality of essentially flat sheets, where the flat sheets and corrugated have an anterior edge and a trailing edge; b) forming integral grids on at least one of the corrugated sheets or flat sheets, or on at least one of the sheets, both corrugated and flat; c) superimposing the corrugated sheets and flat sheets so that the arrangement of integral sheets and grids define at least one tortuous fluid flow channel, from an entrance near the leading edge of the sheets to a vapor outlet close to the trailing edge of the sheet. leaves; and d) securing the corrugated sheets and planar sheets superimposed on a frame together.