JONELL SYSTEMS

GAS FILTER
SEPARATORS
Filtration & Separation Solutions™

JONELL SYSTEMS
  Jonell Systems Gas Filter Separator | 1
 UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF GAS FILTER SEPARATORS

A workhorse of the gas industry, the Gas Filter Separator is one of the most widely used
filtration devices on the market. Introduced more than 70 years ago, it has become the
equipment of choice to purify natural gas and protect your capital investment.

The function of a Gas Filter Separator is to remove Major Applications of Gas Filter
fine-to-medium sized solid contaminants and Separators
entrained liquid from a natural gas stream. Typical
contaminant include:
• High and medium surface tension liquids such • Gas storage facilities
as water and hydrocarbons. • Glycol dehydrators
• Non shear sensitive solids such as sand, • Metering stations
corrosion compounds and abrasives. • Natural gas compressors
• Pipeline and plant chemicals.

The versatility of the gas filter separator is

characterized through its high dirt holding capacity
and excellent liquid handling capability.

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HOW IT WORKS

Often confused with a Reverse Flow Coalescer or a Separator, its design consists of three stages of filtration
and separation: the knockout stage, the element stage and the separator stage. The element and separation
stages are housed in separate compartments.
INLET

KNOCKOUT
STAGE

OUTLET

SEPARATOR
STAGE

ELEMENT
STAGE

Knockout Stage

As natural gas enters the Filter Separator, it impinges on element support posts, also known as risers. Correct
length of the risers is important to prevent direct gas impingement on the elements. Gas impingement on
the risers is used to disengage any contaminant from the gas stream via impaction, deflection and gravity. In
order to maximize deflection and make the most of gravity separation, Jonell Systems Filter Separators utilize
a special optimized riser layout.

Element Stage

In the standard offering the element stage of the Filter Separator is fitted with Jonell Systems patent
pending TRI-SHiELD depth cartridges for maximum dirt loading. The direction of flow is outside-to-inside for
maximum solids removal. The cartridges also serve the function of coalescing liquid droplets. At this stage
the precoalesced droplets are ready to be removed from the gas stream in the final separator stage. Typically
cartridge change-out is performed based on a pre-determined interval or differential pressure.

Separation Stage

Depending on the nature of contaminant, the separation stage can be equipped with one of three available
separation devices:

• A wire mesh mist eliminator

• A vane pack or mesh-vane assembly
• A centrifugal device

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 Wire Mesh Mist Eliminator

For maximum performance, two Jonell

Systems knitted mesh pads with varying
density and thickness are fitted into the
second compartment. Typical materials include
various grades of stainless steel. Nonstandard
materials are also available for special
applications. Two benefits of using wire mesh
is the low pressure drop and improved cost-
effectiveness. Wire mesh is not recommended
for sticky fouling contaminant or for highly
corrosive service.

Vane Mist Eliminator

Jonell Systems vane packs are custom

engineered to meet process requirements. A
multitude of specially shaped plates creates
a tortuous path for the gas to pass through.
Typical materials include various grades of
stainless steel encased in a carbon steel
enclosure. Some of the benefits of using a vane
pack in the final stage of a Filter Separator are
a lower pressure drop, compact design and
increased longevity.

Centrifugal Mist Eliminator

A Jonell Systems cyclonic device called the JHAC cyclonic mist eliminator is recommended for
severe, fouling service with high liquid loads. This type of device induces a spinning motion on
the entering gas resulting in the ejection of contaminant via centrifugal force. Our design ensures
a continuous recirculation of gas, which prevents plugging and promotes self-cleaning. These
cyclonic tubes are typically used in multiples determined by operating conditions. Carbon steel is
the standard material with other materials also available. It is the most versatile separation device
on the market and can be fitted into a Filter Separator for almost any application.

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 HORIZONTAL FILTER SEPARATOR
A Horizontal Filter Separator is fitted with two separate liquid collection chambers separated with a baffle
plate. Each liquid chamber is sized proportionally to the upper barrel as well as expected liquid loading. Two
stages of controls (manual or automated) are required for liquid monitoring and drainage.

INLET
SEPARATOR SECTION
KNOCKOUT SECTION

ELEMENT SECTION

OUTLET

2-STAGE SUMP LIQUID

COLLECTION & DRAINAGE

A correctly designed Filter Separator should achieve a maximum turn down of 10:1 and maintain a minimum
efficiency of 99.98% of 1 micron and larger and up to 0.3 micron on solids throughout the entire range of
operating conditions. Drainage and control of liquids is essential to achieving this efficiency.

  Jonell Systems Gas Filter Separator | 5

 Vertical Filter Separator
A Vertical Filter Separator is designed with a top-
to-bottom flow configuration and is most commonly
designed with a vane pack or mesh-vane separator
stage. This design also necessitates two liquid
collection chambers. Any liquid drained from the first
stage, or upper chamber, is collected and drained
off to a common drain header. The second stage,
or lower chamber, retains liquids that have been
removed from the gas stream by the vane pack and ELEMENT SECTION
is drained to a common header.

Common Attributes
A number of additional essential design aspects
include element flow capacity, nozzle velocities,
bulk and annular velocities, element spacing,
nozzle positioning, gas contact area in the
separator stage, pressure drop and flux rates.
In every Jonell Systems Vertical Filter Separator,
all requirements of process design have been
considered to ensure optimal performance.
INLET

KNOCKOUT SECTION

UPPER & LOWER SEPARATOR SECTION

COMPARTMENT
LIQUID COLLECTION
& DRAINAGE
OUTLET

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Element Selection

Jonell Systems Standard Element Construction: Jonell Systems filter separator elements are
available in various standard and custom sizes to
Jonell Systems patent pending TRI-SHiELD™ JFS fit virtually every application. They are engineered
Series media cartridges with blend of Tri-Lobal and and manufactured in standard fiberglass, micro-
cylindrical fibers in combination with the engineered glass and polymeric media to ensure compatibility
gradient depth all in the same media matrix with process.
provides pre-coalescing and 20% higher dirt loading
compared to conventional depth cartridges.

JFS SERIES
Also available in pleated and depth glass where
application specifics would be better solved with this Depth Style Polyester
Material of Construction
solution. Depth Style Polypropylene
240°F (Polyester)
Maximum Temperature
180°F (Polypropylene)
Minimum Temperature -60°F

Change Out Differential 12- 15 PSID

Collapse Pressure >75 PSID

Available Micron Rating 0.3, 0.5, 1, 5, 10

312, 324, 336, 348, 372
Standard Sizes
512, 524, 536, 548, 572

JFG SERIES
Material of Construction Fiberglass

Maximum Temperature 275°F

Minimum Temperature -60°F

Change Out Differential 12-15 PSID

Collapse Pressure >75 PSID

Available Micron Rating 1, 5,10

Standard Sizes 312, 324, 336, 372, 536, 572

JMG SERIES
Material of Construction Micro-Glass

Maximum Temperature 275°F

Minimum Temperature -60°F

Change Out Differential 12-15 PSID

Collapse Pressure >75 PSID

Available Micron Rating 0.3, 0.5, 1, 5, 10

Standard Sizes 312, 324, 336, 372, 536, 572

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 ABOUT US

Jonell Systems, a Filtration Group brand, partners with oil, gas, refining, chemical and power companies worldwide to address
end to end filtration challenges to improve process safety, reliability, productivity and ultimately business profitability. We
manufacture complete systems, vessels and a wide range of cartridges to optimize your filtration processes. This coupled with
our technical expertise, allows us to solve even the most challenging filtration applications.

As a part of Filtration Group, the world’s fastest growing filtration company, it is our mission to make the world safer, healthier
and more productive.

Scan QR Code to find our locations

+ 1 844 GOFILTR
[email protected]
www.jonellsystems.com
12MAY2020

© 2020 Filtration Group

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