Champion CFL Series Inline Moisture Separator – Grade A Mechanical Water Separator (20–780 SCFM)

The Champion CFL Series Grade A is a mechanical (centrifugal) moisture separator available in ten flow rates from 20 to 780 SCFM. It uses a high-velocity swirl chamber rather than a filter media to fling bulk liquid water, condensate slugs, and coarse pipe scale out of the air stream, then drains them away automatically. Rated to 300 PSIG, the Grade A is the very first stage of a properly designed compressed-air treatment train and the cheapest insurance you can buy for the dryer and filters behind it.

Select your flow rate and connection size from the dropdown above.

Why a Mechanical Separator Comes First

A compressor aftercooler knocks the air temperature down fast, and most of the water vapor the compressor swallowed condenses right there into liquid. That liquid arrives downstream as slugs and mist. Sending it straight into a coalescing filter floods the element, collapses filter life to a matter of weeks, and drives pressure drop through the roof. A mechanical separator strips that bulk liquid out with almost no pressure loss and no consumable media, so the coalescing filters behind it only have to deal with aerosols and the refrigerated dryer only has to deal with vapor.

Separation Performance

• Bulk Liquid Removal — Up to 99% of free liquid water and oil carried in the air stream.
• Mechanism — Centrifugal swirl separation, no filter media to load up or replace on a schedule.
• Pressure Drop — Very low and, unlike a media filter, essentially constant over the life of the unit.

Model Selection Chart

Models 20 through 170 ship with an internal automatic float drain. Models 250 through 780 ship with a manual drain as standard; an internal automatic drain or an electronic demand drain can be substituted at order entry. Connection sizes other than those listed, including BSP threads, are available on the same housings. Call us and we will configure the part number for you.

Key Features at a Glance

• Centrifugal Separation — Removes up to 99% of bulk liquid with no media to blind off.
• 20 to 780 SCFM Rated Flow — Ten sizes covering a 5 HP shop compressor through large plant air headers.
• 300 PSIG Maximum Working Pressure — 250 PSIG when supplied with the internal automatic drain or liquid level indicator.
• 150°F Maximum Inlet Temperature — Handles hot discharge air directly off the aftercooler.
• Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Housing — Corrosion resistant, factory pressure tested.
• Automatic Float Drain — Standard on models 20 through 170, optional on the larger sizes.
• Modular Body — Bolts directly to other CFL housings with a connector kit, so a separator plus filter stack takes almost no extra pipe length.
• Champion Pneumatic Quality — Backed by over a century of compressed-air engineering.

Shared Technical Specifications

Ideal Applications

Install a Grade A immediately downstream of the aftercooler or wet receiver on any system that makes visible water: reciprocating compressors in humid climates, rotary screw packages without an integral separator, outdoor or unheated compressor rooms, plants with long uninsulated header runs, and any system where the coalescing filters are loading up far faster than they should. It is also the standard pre-treatment ahead of a desiccant dryer, where liquid water carryover will destroy a desiccant bed outright.

Build Your Filtration Train

For a complete compressed-air treatment system, install in this order: (1) CFL Grade A mechanical separator to knock out bulk liquid; (2) CFL Grade C particulate filter to remove solids; (3) refrigerated or desiccant dryer to remove water vapor; (4) CFL Grade E coalescing filter for instrument-quality air.

Element Replacement and Service

The Grade A separator element is a stainless steel swirl element rather than a consumable media cartridge, so it does not need an annual change the way a coalescing element does. Inspect it at each scheduled shutdown, clean it if it has collected scale, and replace it if it is damaged or corroded. The part you need is the CF-series element matching your housing size, listed in the chart above. What does need attention is the drain: verify it is discharging and not stuck open, because a stuck drain either floods the housing or bleeds compressed air continuously.

Why Buy from Air Compressor Store

Air Compressor Store is an authorized Champion Pneumatic distributor. Every CFL Series separator ships with the full factory warranty, lifetime application support, and access to our compressed-air engineers for sizing and system design. Need a configuration that is not in the dropdown, such as BSP threads, an electronic demand drain, or a liquid level indicator? Call us and we will build the part number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Grade A separator and a Grade C filter?

A Grade A uses centrifugal force to throw bulk liquid out of the air stream. A Grade C uses a media element to trap solid particles down to 1 micron. They do different jobs and in a well-designed system you use both, with the separator first.

Do I still need a dryer if I install a separator?

Yes. A separator removes liquid water that has already condensed. It cannot remove water vapor, which will condense later as the air cools in the piping. A separator protects the dryer; it does not replace it.

How do I size one?

Size to the actual SCFM flowing through that point in the system, not to compressor horsepower. Undersizing a separator hurts twice, because separation efficiency falls off at high velocity and pressure drop climbs. When in doubt, size up.

Can I mount this to other CFL filters?

Yes. Housings 20 through 170 join with modular connector kit C23428001 or C23428002, and housings 250 through 780 join with manifold kit C23436001 or C23436002, so a separator and filter share one compact assembly.