Data Sheet FCPHASESENa

PhaseSep® Coalescer
Effectively Separates Liquid/Liquid
Dispersions
Introduction
The inability to efficiently separate liquid/liquid emulsions
can be a very costly problem in the oil, gas and chemicalindustries. Liquid contamination can cause final products
to be off-specification, rapid deactivation of downstream
catalysts, corrosion of downstream storage facilities, andincreased costs for wastewater treatment.
Separating liquid/liquid dispersions can be difficult
depending on the physical properties of the two liquid
phases. The specific gravity, viscosity and interfacial
tension (IFT) of the two liquid phases are importantparameters in determining how easy two liquids canbe separated. Conventional coalescers begin to lose
efficiency when the IFT gets below 20 dyne/cm. Inaddition, efficient separation is a function of the compatibility of the liquids with the coalescer medium. A goodcoalescing medium is not necessarily compatible withthe liquids and a compatible medium is not necessarily
a good coalescing medium.
Pall’s PhaseSep® coalescer is available in several typesof high efficiency coalescing medium which ensuresthat a Pall coalescer can be specified for virtually anyliquid/liquid separation application in the oil, gas andchemical industries.

Typical Applications for PhaseSep
Coalescers

PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Coalescer• Removal of carried-over caustic from refinery fuels
downstream of caustic treating processes

The Pall PhaseSep system is a multiple stage systemstarting with filtration to remove particulate matter 1,
followed by either a one-stage or two-stage coalescer
stack to separate the two liquid phases. PhaseSep
coalescers will remove a liquid contaminant to a level of
15 ppmv and below over a wide range of conditions
such as:• Separation of oil from water• Removal of water and caustic from online analyzer
sampling systems• Separation of water from hydrogen peroxide working
solutions• Separation of hydrogen peroxide working solutions fromhydrogen peroxide• Removal of carried-over amine from hydrocarbon
downstream of a liquid/liquid amine contactor• Removal of oil from ammonia• Separation of pyrolysis gas from quench water in
ethylene plants• Inlet liquid contaminant concentration as high as 10%• Interfacial tension greater than 0.5 dyne/cm

Description
A Pall PhaseSep system is available in two different
configurations. Both configurations begin with a filtration
stage to remove solid contaminants.
1

Pall recommends using Pall Ultipleat® High Flow filters with Ultipor® GF medium(β10 µm = 5000) or Pall filters with Epocel® medium (β10 µm = 5000) as aprefilter to extend the life of the PhaseSep coalescer. Consult a Pall distributor
to determine compatibility with a specific fluid.

Prefiltration
Due to the fine pore structure of the coalescer medium,
Pall recommends that a prefilter be installed upstream ofthe coalescer assembly. Removal of solids performs thefollowing important functions:
1) Extends the life of the coalescer significantly
2) Reduces particulate concentration meeting fluidspecifications3) Decreases stability of the liquid/liquid emulsion, thereby
making liquid/liquid separation easier
Two different housing configurations are available forPhaseSep coalescers. Table 1 provides guidelines forselection.

Table 1: Coalescer Selection Guide
Process Condition

Recommended Product

Dispersed phase fluid isaqueous IFT> 3 dyne/cm

PhaseSep coalescer/separator
stack in a vertical housing

Dispersed phase fluid isaqueous IFT< 3 dyne/cm

PhaseSep coalescer without
separator in a horizontal housing

Both fluids are nonaqueous

PhaseSep coalescer without
separator

Dispersed phase fluid isoil, continuous phasefluid is aqueous

PhaseSep coalescer in ahorizontal housing without
separator

PhaseSep Coalescer/Separator Stack—Vertical Housing Setup

PhaseSep Coalescer —Horizontal Housing Setup

Pall’s PhaseSep coalescer/separator stack should be used
when the contaminant is an aqueous liquid such as water,
caustic, or an amine solution and when the IFT is greaterthan 3.0 dyne/cm. (see Figure 1). Using Pall’s coalescer/
separator stack in Pall’s unique vertical housing design isthe most efficient technique for separating two liquids
meeting the above criteria. The liquid/liquid mixture enters
the coalescing element and flows inside to outside. This iswhere small liquid droplets suspended in the continuous
phase come together, or coalesce, as the mixture moves
through Pall’s proprietary coalescer medium.

In general, a PhaseSep coalescer without a separator isplaced in a horizontal housing (see Figure 2). Pall’s PhaseSep
coalescer should be used in applications to separate nonaqueous liquid contaminants such as removing oil fromwater or separating two non-aqueous liquids. In addition,
for liquids with ultra-low IFTs (less than 3.0 dyne/cm.), a
PhaseSep coalescer installed in a horizontal housing will
provide maximum liquid/liquid separation efficiency.

Contaminant-free liquid and large droplets of the dispersed
phase flow toward the separator located directly below thecoalescer stage. The flow is outside to inside. Theseparator medium is hydrophobic preventing the aqueous
phase from entering the separator. Only the non-aqueouscontinuous phase fluid flows through the separator. The
two liquids are removed by separate drain connections.
PhaseSep
coalescer
integratedstackIn a horizontal housing, the liquid/liquid mixture enters thecoalescing element and flows inside to outside. As is thecase with the coalescer/separator stack, small liquid
dispersed phase droplets suspended in the continuous
phase come together, or coalesce, as the mixture moves
through the PhaseSep coalescer. The large coalesced
droplets of the dispersed phase separate by gravity in thehorizontal housing and are removed. The size of the housing
is a function of the IFT, viscosity, and specific gravity of theliquids.
Pall prefilter

PhaseSep coalescer

Continuous phase
contaminant freeCoalescer

Pallprefilter

Fuel orchemicalwith waterand solids

Separator

Fuel orchemicaland water
without dirt

Aqueousphase out

Water free fuelor chemical out

Figure 1: PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Separation System with an Integrated
Coalescer/Separator Stack in a Vertical Housing with a Prefilter

Fuel or chemical with liquid
or solid contaminants

Fuel or chemical with liquidcontaminants without dirt

Liquid contaminant(dispersed phase) out

Figure 2: PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Separation System with Coalescer in a
Horizontal Housing with a Prefilter

Benefits

Features• Improved Fluid Quality and Value: The superiorliquid and particulate removal efficiency reduces
incidents of off-spec product thereby saving
reprocessing, downgrade and transportation costs. In
addition, carried over liquid contaminants can cause
costly corrosion problems in downstream equipment
and can rapidly deactivate expensive catalysts indownstream processes.

• Unique Stack Design: Pall’s coalescer element is
stacked on top of a separator element. This uniqueconfiguration optimizes the flow distribution from thecoalescer to the separator, ensuring that eachseparator has an equal flow. In conventional two-stage
systems, the separators are located at different
distances from the coalescer, causing an unequal
distribution of flow to the separator. These conventional
two stage systems require several coalescer elements
for each separator. Pall’s stack design results in overall
smaller assembly size and a longer
coalescer/separator life.

• Low-Cost Liquid and Solids Removal: Due to thePhaseSep coalescer’s long life and superior liquid
removal efficiency, the overall cost of contaminantremoval is low even when compared to other lessefficient methods like salt driers, electrostatic
separators and sand filters. Used in conjunction
with these other removal techniques, the PhaseSep
system will significantly reduce operating costs.
• High-Performance Stack Design Results inSmaller Assembly Size: The high performance
PhaseSep system stack design promotes even flowdistribution permitting a high rate of flow. As a result,fewer separator cartridges are required and this results
in a small economic assembly size.
• Lower Disposal and Maintenance Costs: The long
useful life of the PhaseSep cartridges obtained fromPall’s specially formulated medium and prefilter resultsin fewer cartridge changeouts, reducing maintenanceand changeout costs and cartridge disposal costs.
• Quick Recovery from Process Upsets: Pall’s
vertical vessel/stack design is much more forgiving
when it comes to changes in process conditions. The
PhaseSep coalescer system stack recovers quickly
from slug conditions where there is an increase inliquid contaminant concentration.
• Separation of Ultra-Low IFT Emulsions: PhaseSepcoalescers have excellent coalescing properties, which
can separate liquids that have ultra-low IFTs that are
unable to be separated by conventional coalescers.
With the combination of the PhaseSep coalescer andPall’s specially designed horizontal housing, thePhaseSep system has separated liquid/liquid
emulsions with an IFT greater than 0.5 dyne/cm.
Conventional coalescers begin to rapidly loseseparation efficiency when the IFT gets below 20dyne/cm.

• Fluid Compatibility: The PhaseSep coalescer withfluoropolymer medium is compatible with virtually any
type of liquid/liquid mixture including many corrosive
chemicals encountered in the chemical andpetrochemical industries. The medium provides
superior compatibility with caustic / hydrocarbon andPygas / quench water separations and any mixture
involving strong mineral and oxidizing acids, alkalies,
metal etchants, liquid oxygen, or organic solvents.
Flouropolymer end caps can be used instead ofstainless steel for even more chemical resistance inharsh applications.
For compatibility information with a specific chemical,
please contact your Pall distributor or applications
engineer.
• Non-Disarming Medium: Pall’s non-disarming
medium ensures the longest possible service life. Pall’s
specially formulated medium contains no glass fiberand does not disarm in the presence of surfactants.
Disarming occurs when surfactants (either natural oradditives) “coat” the surface of the medium thereby
reducing the coalescing properties of the medium andthe separation efficiency.

Performance Claims and SpecificationsMaximum operating temperature:

149°C/ 300°F

Initial pressure drop:

0.138 bard /2 psid

Recommended changeout:

1.033 bard/15 psid

Ordering Information
The ‘original’ PhaseSep® Coalescer — often used for caustic/hydrocarbon and Pygas/quench water separations2Part Number

Description

Length (cm/in)

O-RingLCS2H1AH
Variants:
LCS2H1AH1

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

Fluoropolymer

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

Fluoropolymer Encapsulated Teflon3

LCS2H1AH11

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

Teflon4

LCS4H1AH
Variants:
LCS4H1AH1

PhaseSep Coalescer101.6/40

Fluoropolymer

PhaseSep Coalescer

101.6/40

Fluoropolymer Encapsulated Teflon

LCS4H1AH11

PhaseSep Coalescer

101.6/40

TeflonSeparator

50.8/20

Fluoropolymer

LSS2F1H

Polycapped PhaseSep® Coalescer — more chemically resistant than the ‘original’ PhaseSep because of fluoropolymer
endcaps and no epoxy 5
Part Number

Description

Length (cm/in)

O-RingLCS2H2HH
Variants:
LCS2H2HH1

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

Fluoropolymer

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

Fluoropolymer Encapsulated Teflon

LCS2H2HH11

PhaseSep Coalescer

50.8/ 20

TeflonLCS4H2HHVariants:
LCS4H2HH1

PhaseSep Coalescer

101.6/40

Fluoropolymer

PhaseSep Coalescer

101.6/40

Fluoropolymer Encapsulated Teflon

LCS4H2HH11

PhaseSep Coalescer

101.6/40

TeflonSeparator

50.8/20

Fluoropolymer

LSS2F1H

2 NOTE: The following specifications apply to all ‘original’ PhaseSep Coalescer configurations: Outer diameter = 9.53 cm /3.75 in; Media = pleated fluoropolymer;

End cap = stainless steel
3 Also referred to as FEP encapsulated fluoropolymer
4 Teflon is a registered trademark of The Chemours Company.
5 NOTE: The following specifications apply to all ‘Polycapped’ PhaseSep Coalescer configurations: Outer diameter = 9.53 cm /3.75 in; Media = pleated fluoropolymer;

End cap = polycapped fluoropolymer

Pall Part Number = LC 1

2 H 3

4

Table 1

5
Table 3

CodeHardware

CodeInternal Use onlyS

304 stainless steel

1 or 2////////////////////////////////////////////X

Hastelloy(for special compatibility issues)

Table 4

Table 2

Code

Cartridge length (cm / in)06

15.24 / 6250.8 / 20

4101.6 / 40

CodeEnd cap materialA304 stainless steel

H

Polycapped fluoropolymer

Table 5

CodeO-rings

HFluoropolymer

H1Teflon encapsulated fluoropolymer

H11Teflon (FEP)

Fuels and Chemicals
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telephone+1 888 873 7255
toll free US
Portsmouth - UK
+44 (0)23 9233 8000 telephone+44 (0)23 9233 8811 fax
industrialeu@pall.com

Visit us on the Web at www.pall.com
Pall Corporation has offices and plants throughout the world. For Pall representatives
in your area, please go to www.pall.com/contact
Because of technological developments related to the products, systems, and/orservices described herein, the data and procedures are subject to change without
notice. Please consult your Pall representative or visit www.pall.com to verify that
this information remains valid. Products in this document may be covered by one
or more patent numbers. For a complete list of Pall’s patents, please visit
www.pall.com/main/about-pall/patents.page 000© Copyright 2002, 2017, Pall Corporation. Pall,, Epocel, PhaseSep, Ultipleat, and Ultipor are
trademarks of Pall Corporation. ® indicates a trademark registered in the USA. Filtration. Separation.
Solution.SM and BETTER LIVES. BETTER PLANET. are service marks of Pall Corporation.

FCPHASESENa

Produced in the USA

March 2017