Patent ID: 7338545
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: B01D,B04C,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A liquid separator configured to separate liquid from a fluid stream, the separator comprising: a) a housing; b) a separation chamber disposed within the housing; c) a drain having a drain passageway for draining liquid from the separation chamber; d) an inlet channel configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first inlet end to a second inlet end thereof disposed within the housing and proximate the separation chamber; e) a swirler disposed within the inlet channel; and f) an outlet channel configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first outlet end positioned proximate the second inlet end, to a second outlet end remote from the separation chamber, wherein the drain passageway is sized such that the interaction between the surface tension of the liquid and the passageway causes some liquid to be retained in the drain passageway, the retained liquid forming a low pressure gas seal of the drain passageway and being retained substantially only by the surface tension.