Liquid separator for a steam-water mixture

Claim 1

A liquid separator comprising a one-piece tubular separation vessel having a vertically disposed central axis, said vessel having a first cylindrical tube portion at an upper end to receive a steam-water mixture, a second cylindrical tube portion defining a peripherally enclosed separation zone for the separation of water and steam below said first tube portion of substantially the same wall thickness as said first tube portion and of larger diameter than said first tube portion, and a third cylindrical tube portion below said second tube portion for the collection of separated water, said third tube portion being of the same wall thickness as said second tube portion; a plurality of input spigots connected transversely of said central axis to and tangentially of said first tube portion for supplying a steam-water mixture into said vessel; a plurality of output spigots connected transversely of said central axis to and tangentially of said first tube portion above said input spigots for discharging steam from said vessel; a tube connected between said input spigots and said output spigots and disposed coaxially of said first tube portion and projecting into said second tube portion to form a closed flow path from said input spigots through said tube to said output spigots, said tube being of smaller diameter than said first tube portion and having an enlarged upper end; a means for imparting a swirl to the water-steam mixture flowing between said tube and said second tube portion; and a bell-shaped member for maintaining a constant flow crosssection between the wall of said vessel and said tube in a transition region between said first tube portion and said second tube portion, said bell-shaped member being secured to said coaxial tube with the bottom edge of said member situated above the bottom end of said tube.