Vane Separators

Designed for

Anderson Vane Separators are designed for applications where liquid carryover can damage downstream equipment, reduce process efficiency, or create safety and maintenance issues. They help protect compressors, turbines, contactors, pipelines, steam drums, process vessels, and other critical equipment from erosion, corrosion, water hammer, contamination, and premature failure.

Product configurations

• AVS. Installs directly in the line to remove entrained liquids from gas or vapor streams with low pressure drop and no filters or moving parts.

• AVGS. A vertical-flow separator for higher liquid loads or slugging conditions, combining bulk knockout, disengagement, and Pocket-Type vane separation.

Key points of differentiation

• Pocket-Type vane technology. Shielded pockets collect and drain liquid while helping prevent re-entrainment into the gas stream.

• High-efficiency mechanical separation. Removes entrained liquids without disposable filters, cartridges, or moving parts.

• Low pressure drop. Designed to protect process efficiency while removing damaging liquid carryover.

• Handles demanding service. AVGS configurations are suited for higher liquid loads and slugging conditions where inline separators may not be enough.

• Steam and gas flexibility. Applicable across gas pipelines, process vapor streams, steam systems.

• Low-maintenance design. Mechanical separation and gravity drainage support reliable operation with minimal routine maintenance when properly installed.

Applications

Anderson Vane Separators support a broad range of gas, vapor, air, and steam applications where entrained liquids must be removed to protect downstream equipment, improve process reliability, and recover valuable product. Typical uses include compressor and steam systems, natural gas processing, dehydration and absorption processes, and services with heavy incoming liquid loads.

• Removal of condensed water and lube oil in air compressor lines

• Removal of condensate and lube oil in steam lines and exhaust systems

• Removal of compressor lube oil and moisture after gas compressor and compressor aftercooler

• Removal and recovery of glycol downstream of glycol contactors

• Removal of liquids ahead of desiccant beds to improve desiccant life

• Removal of amines and absorption oil from natural gas

• Product recovery

• AVGS. Any application with an expected heavy incoming liquid load where the liquid to gas weight ratio is in excess of 5% by rate.

Principle of operation

The separation process occurs in a series of stages that progressively remove entrained liquid from the gas, vapor, or steam stream:

1. Inlet Disengagement & Bulk Liquid Removal. The incoming stream slows or changes direction, allowing free liquid and large droplets to separate by gravity. Vertical AVGS units also provide bulk knockout of heavy liquid loads and slugs.

2. Directional Separation. The stream passes through Pocket-Type vanes, where repeated flow-direction changes keep gas on the vane path while liquid droplets separate due to inertia.

3. Droplet Impingement & Coalescence. Separated droplets impact vane surfaces and merge into larger droplets, improving capture efficiency.

4. Liquid Capture & Drainage. Coalesced liquid is collected in shielded pockets to prevent re-entrainment, then drains by gravity to the collection area.

5. Clean Gas Discharge. Cleaned gas, vapor, or steam exits the separator with minimal pressure drop and flows to downstream equipment.