ångseparators

Ångseparatorer, or steam separators, are devices used in steam systems to remove entrained liquid water and impurities from saturated or superheated steam after generation and before use in turbines, heaters, or process equipment. By removing carryover, they improve steam quality, protect equipment from erosion and corrosion, and enhance heat transfer and process control. They are particularly important in high-velocity or high-pressure systems where droplets are more likely to entrain with the steam.

How they work and common types: Separation relies on inertial forces, impingement, and demisting elements. Mechanical or inertial separators use baffles, vanes, or centrifugal action to fling droplets outward where they can drain away. Demister sections use mesh pads, vane packs, or coalescing media to capture fine droplets and coalesce them into larger drops that drain. Some systems combine cyclone separators with demisting media to achieve higher dryness in a single unit. Materials are chosen to resist corrosion and erosion by any condensate or impurities carried with the steam.

Placement and operation: Steam separators are typically installed in the steam line after the boiler or in the high-velocity sections leading to turbines and process equipment. They are designed to meet a target dryness fraction and droplet size distribution, and their performance depends on flow rate, pressure, temperature, and droplet characteristics. Drainage of the collected condensate is routed to the condensate return system or boiler feedwater as appropriate. Regular inspection and cleaning of demisting media and drains are required to maintain efficiency.

Applications and considerations: Common in power plants, chemical processing, marine boilers, and other facilities with significant steam loads. They are selected based on steam quality requirements, system pressure, and compatibility with process fluids.