This partial calculator compares entered liquid and vapor densities and evaluates selected dynamic-pressure magnitudes, including a normal velocity component at an entered turn angle. It does not predict droplet capture, carryover, dryness, pressure loss or separator performance.
Steam Separator - Selected Density/Dynamic-Pressure Ledger
Explore entered density ratio and selected dynamic-pressure component arithmetic.
Equation Used
- Liquid density, vapor density, speed and turn angle are entered values.
- Dynamic-pressure values are ideal magnitudes based on the selected speed.
- Normal speed is the selected vector component v absolute sin(theta).
- No surface area or actual force is calculated.
- Droplet dynamics, flow field, capture, pressure loss and safety are excluded.
The secondary figure is an abstract component ledger, not a steam-separator design.
Selected density/dynamic-pressure ledger
Density ratio is entered liquid density divided by entered vapor density. Dynamic-pressure magnitude is one half density times selected speed squared. The selected normal-component vapor value uses normal speed v|sin(theta)|.
What the calculator determines
Use it to inspect density and velocity arithmetic only. It cannot rate or size a steam separator.
Selected relationships
R=rho_l/rho_v; q_l=rho_l v^2/2; q_v=rho_v v^2/2; q_v,n=rho_v(v sin(theta))^2/2.
Selected-input example
At entered densities 950 and 3.6 kg/m3, speed 20 m/s and turn angle 90 degrees, density ratio is about 263.889, liquid dynamic-pressure magnitude is 190 kPa, vapor magnitude is 0.720 kPa and selected normal-component vapor magnitude is 0.720 kPa.
Not a separation model
Droplet size distribution, drag, residence time, geometry, turbulence, coalescence, re-entrainment, drainage, pressure loss, thermodynamic state and safety are excluded.
Questions
Does density ratio predict capture?
No. It is only a ratio of entered densities.
Is normal dynamic pressure a baffle load?
No. It is a selected component magnitude without a defined surface area or flow field.
Why was carryover risk removed?
The source percentage was an arbitrary scoring rule, not a validated separator model.
Authoritative references
- NASA Glenn Dynamic Pressure — gives q=rho u squared over two.
- NIST Guide to the SI, Chapter 4 — provides SI derived-unit conventions used for pressure.
References & Further Reading
- Wikipedia contributors. Steam separator. Wikipedia
Building or designing a mechanism like this?
Explore the precision-engineered motion control hardware used by mechanical engineers, makers, and product designers.
