Patent ID: 7875103

Claim:
A system for particle collection and hydraulic removal comprising: a separator vessel with a gas stream inlet, a gas stream outlet, and a waste liquid sump; a liquid injector between the gas stream inlet and gas stream outlet for injecting liquid into the gas stream and encapsulating particulate within the gas stream; a liquid separator between the liquid injector and the gas stream outlet for removing waste liquid and particulate encapsulated with the waste liquid; a waste liquid recovery tank hydraulically connected to the liquid sump for receiving waste liquid; a side stream filter circuit with an inlet and outlet hydraulically connected to the waste liquid recovery tank, the side stream filter circuit including at least two filters; and a valve for selectively engaging one of the filters and isolating the other of the filters from the side stream filter circuit; wherein the liquid separator includes a helical impingement separator comprising: a generally cylindrical separator body forming an outer circumference; a plurality of adjacent fins extending from the outer circumference and forming a plurality of primary helical channels; a rounded radius formed in the separator body between adjacent fins; an outer tube surrounding the separator body and adjacent to the distal ends of the fins, such that the separator body, fins, and an interior surface of the outer tube form a helical gas flow path; and a chamfer formed on the distal end of the fins, such that the chamfers and interior surface of the outer tube form a plurality of secondary helical channels.