US Patent 7097758 Converting mist flow to annular flow in thermal cracking application

A process to increase the non-volatile removal efficiency in a flash drum in the steam cracking system. The gas flow from the convection section is converted from mist flow to annular flow before entering the flash drum to increase the removal efficiency. The conversion of gas flow from mist flow to annular flow is accomplished by subjecting the gas flow first to at least one expander and then to bends of various degrees and force the flow to change directions at least once. The change of gas flow from mist to annular helps coalesce fine liquid droplets and thus being removed from the vapor phase.