Pipe liquid/gas separator having vane sets

A liquid/gas separator suitable for use with a supply pipe containing a liquid/gas mixture, said separator comprising:

• a pipe section (1) having an inlet portion that is connectable, in use, to an upstream part (2) of the supply pipe to receive the liquid/gas mixture, said pipe section having an outlet portion spaced from said inlet portion along an axis of said pipe section, said outlet portion being connectable, in use, to a downstream part (3) of the supply pipe to discharge gas that is substantially free of liquid;
• a first drain (8) coupled to said pipe section proximate to said inlet portion for draining liquid, from said pipe section, that has undergone preliminary separation from the gas;
• a plurality of fixed vanes (15,16) arranged in a pair of vane sets positioned in said pipe section downstream of said first drain, said vane sets being mounted in said pipe section with respect to said axis of said pipe section to form a radially inner vane set that intercepts a central portion of the liquid/gas mixture in said pipe section and an adjacent radially outer vane set that intercepts a peripheral portion of the liquid/gas mixture in said pipe section, the vanes of each of said vane sets being oriented with respect to said axis to impart a swirl to the liquid/gas mixture around said axis causing further separation of the liquid from the gas;
• and
• a second drain (9) downstream of said vanes for draining, from said pipe section, liquid that is separated from the gas by said vanes.