Abstract: There is provided a fiber bed for removing liquid aerosols and soluble solids from a gas stream in a fiber bed mist eliminator. The fiber bed is in the form of a flexible mat having a void fraction of greater than about 0.89 and greater than about 700 net collection targets. The mat includes a layer of collecting fibers having an average fiber diameter between about 1 and about 5 .mu.m. The collecting fibers are stabilized by a plurality of stabilizing fibers which penetrate into and are disposed interstitially within the collecting fiber layer. The improved fiber bed of the present invention is field-replaceable and, by utilizing fibers having a small average diameter, the thickness of the fiber bed may be reduced.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical mist eliminator bed element for use in removal of liquid aerosols from a moving gas stream by flowing the gas stream through the element. The element comprises a first fiber bed for collection of aerosol particles, and a second fiber bed adjacent the first fiber bed for preventing reentrainment of liquid in the gas stream. The element is adapted to be oriented with respect to a substantially horizontal flow of aerosol containing gas so that adjacent surfaces of the fiber beds are substantially vertical, the first fiber bed being upstream of the second fiber bed with respect to the flow of gas. The first fiber bed comprises a bed of fibers having a mean diameter of at least about 10 microns packed to a substantially uniform bed voidage of 85% to 98%, the mean fiber diameter, bed voidage and distribution of fibers in the first bed being such as to provide for collection of the droplets of liquid aerosol from an aerosol containing gas.