What action do steam separators use to separate the steam and water mixture?

Steam separators utilize centrifugal action to effectively separate the steam and water mixture. When the mixture enters the separator, it is subjected to a rotating flow which creates a centrifugal force. This force causes the heavier water droplets to move outward, away from the steam, which is lighter and tends to remain towards the center. As a result, the water is driven to the edges of the separator, allowing the purified steam to exit from the center.

Centrifugal action is specifically designed for this purpose and is highly efficient in managing the properties of steam and water. Other methods, such as filtration, would not be effective in a high-temperature, high-pressure environment typically found in steam systems. Similarly, thermal expansion does not serve as a means to separate the two phases effectively, and mechanical agitation, while capable of promoting mixing, lacks the efficiency needed for separation. Thus, the use of centrifugal action is the most viable solution for accomplishing this task in steam systems.