Patent ID: 7311765

Claim:
A liquid separator configured to separate liquid from a fluid stream, in combination with an energy and mass exchanger, 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 chamber configured to receive the fluid stream; e) a separator mounting face proximate the inlet chamber, for mounting the separator to an energy and mass exchanger, wherein the inlet chamber is recessed from the mounting face; f) an inlet channel having a first inlet end and a second inlet end, and configured to communicate the fluid stream from the inlet chamber through the first and second ends thereof to the separation chamber; g) a swirler disposed within the inlet channel; h) 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 exchanger comprising: i) an exchanger inlet; j) an exchanger outlet; k) an end face proximate the exchanger outlet, wherein the end face is configured to mate with the separator mounting face, and wherein the exchange apparatus and the separator are substantially aligned about a central axis.