How do steam separators separate the steam and water mixture?

Steam separators are devices designed to efficiently separate steam from water in a steam and water mixture. The most effective method employed by steam separators is centrifugal action.

In this process, the steam and water mixture is introduced into the separator at high velocity. The design of the separator causes the mixture to spiral outward, leveraging centrifugal force. As the steam, being lighter than water, is pushed outward, the heavier water is forced to the bottom of the separator due to gravity. This difference in density allows the water to settle at the bottom while the steam rises, resulting in a more effective separation of the two phases.

While gravity action does assist in the separation process post-centrifugal action, it is the centrifugal action itself that primarily drives the separation in a steam separator. Other methods like filtration and condensation do not effectively address the separation of steam from water in this context, making centrifugal action the most appropriate choice.