Patent ID: 7032410

Claim:
A liquid/gas separator for use with a compressor, the liquid/gas separator comprising: a substantially cylindrically shaped vessel having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, a cylindrical shell extending between the end portions, an inlet port, the inlet port opening into the vessel at a first location and a discharge port at a second location; a conduit for receiving the discharge flow of fluid from the compressor, the fluid comprising a mixture of an entrained lubricant and a compressed gas and directing the fluid to the inlet port of the vessel; a first structure having a surface within the vessel proximate to the inlet port to change a direction of the flow of fluid as it exits the inlet port, the first structure agglomerating droplets of lubricant on its surface, the agglomerated drops accumulating by gravity at a bottom of the vessel, the bottom of the vessel acting as a sump; at least one coalescing structure positioned within a fluid path of the fluid before the fluid reaches an outlet port, the at least one coalescing structure comprising a material inert to the compressed gas and the lubricant, the fluid passing over the surface of the coalescing structure to coalesce remaining droplets of lubricant of a size of about 5 microns and larger, the remaining fluid being compressed gas substantially free of lubricant droplets, the compressed gas passing to the discharge port of the vessel, the vessel further characterized by the absence of fiber coalescing filters between the at least one coalescing structure and the discharge port and whereby the compressed gas includes less than about 700 ppm entrained lubricant; and a centrifugal separator between the first structure and the at least one coalescing structure, so that a stream of the fluid is directed into the centrilfugal separator after having undergone a change in direction of flow.