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Quotes - Engineering - SalesSizing a Separator
A centrifugal separator works by velocity, so its rating is a flow at a pressure - and both matter.
IPAC separators are rated in SCFM at 100 PSIG. At higher pressure the same mass of air occupies less volume and moves more slowly through the vessel, so a separator passing its rated SCFM at 150 PSIG has less spin and slightly lower efficiency; at lower pressure the reverse is true. For most plant air systems between 90 and 125 PSIG the catalogue rating can be used directly. For high-pressure systems, ask - the S-H and S-V ranges are also built to 1,000 and 2,000 PSIG.
Quick Selection
From the aftercooler tables.
- To 675 SCFM: WS01, WS02, WS03
- 900-3,900 SCFM: S04 to S08, horizontal or vertical
- 5,800 SCFM: S09, horizontal or vertical
- 6,800-25,000 SCFM: S10H to S15H horizontal
Turndown
The second check is turndown. Because the impeller is fixed and the separation is centrifugal, efficiency falls off as flow drops; IPAC separators hold 99 percent removal down to 20 percent of rated flow, which covers a compressor cycling between load and unload and a plant running light. Do not oversize a separator by more than one size to gain margin, or the light-load efficiency will suffer.
Let the Aftercooler Decide
In practice the aftercooler decides the separator: every IPAC aftercooler part number names a recommended separator, matched on flow and connection size. Choose horizontal (WS or S-H) where the discharge continues in a straight run and vertical (S-V) where it turns up to a header, and confirm the drain trap - SAC120 through the S07, SAC100 from the S08 up.
| RANGE | TYPE | COVERS | RATING |
| Horizontal Separators | Centrifugal Moisture Separator | Sixteen current sizes from 127 to 25,000 SCFM, plus the three HiROSS-era cast units they replaced | 200 PSIG (230 PSIG WS01-WS03) |
| Vertical Separators | Centrifugal Moisture Separator | Seven sizes from 900 to 5,800 SCFM with a side inlet and top outlet | 200 PSIG |
| Automatic Drain Traps | Automatic Condensate Drain Trap | Float-operated condensate traps in 1/2 and 1 inch sizes | 230 PSIG aluminum; higher in steel and stainless |
Common FAQs
For most plant systems between 90 and 125 PSIG, yes. At 150 PSIG the air moves more slowly through the vessel and efficiency drops slightly; tell us the pressure and we confirm the size. High-pressure builds to 1,000 and 2,000 PSIG are available.
One size at most. Separation is centrifugal, so an oversized vessel spins the air too slowly at normal flow and efficiency falls. IPAC separators already hold 99 percent removal down to 20 percent of rated flow.
By the pipe. Horizontal (WS or S-H) where the aftercooler discharge continues in a straight run; vertical (S-V) where the line turns up to a header. Both are catalogued to match each aftercooler.
Related Pages
Horizontal Separators
Sixteen current sizes from 127 to 25,000 SCFM, plus the three HiROSS-era cast units they replaced.
READ
Moisture Separation
How a centrifugal separator removes the condensate an aftercooler produces, and how IPAC horizontal and vertical separators are matched to each aftercooler.
READ
