How a coalescing filter separator for natural gas works
How a coalescing filter separator for natural gas works: the two stages, coalescence, change-out by differential pressure, and replacement in installed units.
Industries
Pressure vessels, coalescers and filtration for Oil & Gas and power
Separation of liquids and solids in gas streams, liquid treatment, and filtration of process and cooling water: vessels, elements and housings made in Argentina.
What is filtered and why
In a natural gas or fuel gas stream, liquid aerosols—water, hydrocarbons, compressor oil—and fine solids damage burners, compressors, and instruments. A filter separator works in two stages: the first retains solids and pre-coalesces the droplets; the second, with a coalescer cartridge, merges them until they run down to the drain.
The AeroSep line covers both stages: the standard 4″ coalescer cartridge, replacements for filter separators that are already installed, and the first-stage element. For particle retention in gas and in liquids, there are pleated ProFlow cartridges, in polypropylene, and MicroFiber cartridges, in glass microfiber. For process and cooling water, SaniFlow HF housings hold high-flow cartridges.
We also build the vessels: carbon steel filter housings and coalescer vessels for gas, housings to retain solids and separate water from hydrocarbons, and basket strainers, sized to ASME VIII Division 1 in our metal fabrication plant.
Two separation stages
A first stage for solids and pre-coalescence; a final coalescing stage with a hydrophobic and oleophobic medium.
Replacement in existing equipment
Elements with equivalent dimensions and interface for installed filter separators, with no changes to the housing.
Vessels to ASME VIII
Carbon steel filter housings and coalescer vessels sized to ASME VIII Division 1, with design calculations and hydrostatic testing.
High-flow water
SaniFlow HF housings with a recommended 17 to 250 m³/h per housing, in AISI 304 or 316L.
Stage by stage
The process and the product for each stage
Gas: particles and coalescence
Filter housings to retain solids and coalescer vessels with one to three stages, including a baffle box and a demister, in carbon steel. For particle filtration, pleated ProFlow cartridges, in polypropylene, and MicroFiber cartridges, in glass microfiber, plus custom pleated elements.
First stage: solids and pre-coalescence
Pleated, double-layer glass microfiber element that retains solids (sand, rust, iron sulfide) and enlarges the droplets for the next stage.
Final stage: coalescence
Pleated Ø 4″ coalescer cartridge with a hydrophobic and oleophobic glass fiber medium, and replacements for installed equipment.
Liquids: solids and water in hydrocarbons
Filter housings for particles, housings to separate water from hydrocarbons, basket strainers from 12 to 900 µm for heavily loaded fluids, and SaniFlow HF stainless steel housings for High Flow cartridges. For particle filtration, pleated ProFlow cartridges, in polypropylene, and MicroFiber cartridges, in glass microfiber. For fuels, pleated elements in glass microfiber or metal mesh, and SaniFlow STE-G housings for filter bags.
Liquid filter housingCarbon steel pressure vessel 
Liquid-liquid separatorCarbon steel separator vessel 
SteelFlow CCACarbon steel basket strainer 
SaniFlow HFHigh Flow filter housing, 304 or 316L 
ProFlow PlusPleated polypropylene cartridge 
MicroFiber PlusGlass microfiber cartridge 
Fuel filterPleated element for liquid fuels 
SaniFlow STE-G304 filter bag housing Process water, cooling water, and reverse osmosis pretreatment
High-flow housings for High Flow cartridges, polypropylene prefilters, and washable stainless steel mesh for raw water.
Frequently asked questions
Oil & Gas and power: common questions
What is the difference between a coalescing filter and a particulate filter?
A particulate filter retains solids. A coalescing filter merges fine liquid droplets into large drops that run down to the drain. In a two-stage filter separator, the AeroSep First Stage handles the first stage (solids and pre-coalescence) and the AeroSep Coalescer or AeroSep Retrofit Coalescer the second.
Which cartridges do you use to retain particles in gas and in liquids?
Pleated ProFlow cartridges, in polypropylene, and MicroFiber cartridges, in glass microfiber. The ProFlow Plus ranges from 0.2 to 40 µm, with absolute retention from 0.5 to 20 µm, and its catalog lists gases, chemicals, and solvents among its applications. The MicroFiber Plus ranges from 0.45 to 40 µm, with graded-density glass microfiber. Both are manufactured in 10, 20, 30, and 40″ lengths.
Do you have replacements for filter separators that are already installed?
Yes. The AeroSep Retrofit Coalescer replaces LG series elements, and the AeroSep First Stage replaces JFS first-stage elements, with the same dimensions and interface. If your unit uses a different element, send us its part number or dimensions and we will evaluate it.
Do you make housings for high-flow process water?
Yes. The SaniFlow HF holds 20, 40, and 60″ High Flow cartridges, in AISI 304 or 316L, for 10 bar at 80 °C, with 3″ to 10″ SORF ANSI #150 flanges.
Do you build the vessels as well as the elements?
Yes. In our metal fabrication plant we design and build carbon steel filter housings and coalescer vessels for gas, housings for solids and for liquid separation, and basket strainers, sized to ASME VIII Division 1. They ship with design calculations, material and welder certificates, and hydrostatic testing.
Technical blog
Articles for Oil & Gas and power
Talk to engineering
Shall we design the filtration train for your plant?
Tell us the fluid, the flow rate and the operating conditions. We reply with the model, the ordering code and the technical documentation.