How does a steam separator remove moisture from steam?

A steam separator is designed to improve the quality of steam by effectively removing moisture from it. The correct answer highlights that changing the direction of flow is a crucial mechanism in this process. When steam flows through a separator, it typically encounters a change in direction, which forces the steam to turn or divert. This sudden alteration in flow direction causes the heavier moisture droplets, which have greater inertia than steam, to separate from the lighter vapor.

As the steam changes direction, the centrifugal force works on the moisture droplets, allowing them to coalesce and drop out of the steam stream. This results in drier steam exiting the separator, enhancing its quality for various applications, such as in turbines or heating systems.

Increasing pressure might have an effect on steam characteristics, but it does not directly contribute to moisture removal. Similarly, raising temperature will generally increase the capacity of steam to hold moisture but isn't the active mechanism for separation. Filtering impurities is a function that does not directly relate to moisture removal but rather addresses the presence of solid particles in the steam.