Mist Eliminators

Knitwire Trading (PTY) Ltd manufactures and supplies a range of mist elimination solutions designed to remove entrained liquid droplets from vapour and gas flows. Mist eliminators are critical in process applications where high-quality gas streams and protection of downstream equipment are required, such as in chemical processing, oil and gas, refining, and environmental control systems.

We offer both knitted wire mesh mist eliminators and vane demisters, providing flexibility in performance, pressure drop, and droplet size capture depending on application needs.

Wire mesh mist eliminators consist of layers of crimped knitted wire mesh, formed into pads or mattress structures. As vapour flows through the mesh, entrained droplets impact the wire filaments, coalesce into larger droplets, and then drain under gravity. The high surface area of knitted mesh makes it very effective at capturing fine mist droplets down to approximately 2–5 microns in size.

Typical features and benefits:

• Excellent removal efficiency for fine mist droplets
• High free volume allowing gas to pass with minimal pressure drop
• Customisable in size, material, and density for specific process environments
• Suited to bespoke industrial applications where fine droplet separation is required

Materials: Stainless steel, exotic alloys, ETFE, PTFE, and other engineered filaments are available depending on operating conditions and chemical compatibility.

Vane demisters (also referred to as vane mist eliminators or chevron demisters) use a series of angled plates or vanes arranged in a zigzag pattern to change the direction of the vapour stream. As the gas changes direction, droplets with greater inertia cannot follow the flow and impact the vane surfaces, coalescing into larger droplets that drain away.

Typical features and benefits:

• Effective at removing larger droplets, typically greater than 8–10 microns
• Lower pressure drop due to open flow channels
• Less prone to fouling in high-flow, high-liquid-load environments
• Can be customised in vane spacing, blade type, and materials

Vane demisters are often chosen for high-capacity systems or applications where gas velocity and heavy liquid loads are prevalent, and where fine droplet removal is less critical than volume throughput.

Selecting the right mist eliminator depends on process conditions, droplet size distribution, and system design constraints:

• Choose knitted wire mesh mist eliminators when separation of fine droplets and high removal efficiency are required.
• Choose vane demisters for larger droplets, higher gas flows, and systems where pressure drop and fouling resistance are priorities.

In some applications, both types may be used in combination — wire mesh to coalesce fine droplets upstream, and vane demisters to handle bulk liquid removal downstream.

Mist eliminators supplied by Knitwire Trading (PTY) Ltd are used in:

• Vapour-liquid separation in process columns
• Gas scrubbing and emissions control systems
• Refinery overhead systems
• Petrochemical and chemical processing plants
• Power generation and environmental systems

Both knitted mesh and vane demister solutions can be manufactured from a wide range of materials to suit temperature, corrosion, and chemical exposure requirements. Custom designs in size, shape, and material allow tailored performance for specific installations.

• Optimised for efficiency and minimal pressure drop
• Customisable for temperature, chemical, and process requirements
• Durable and long-lasting construction
• Expert design support from a team with over 40 years of experience