Patent ID: 7361282

Claim:
A method of separating buoyant components from a mixture of engine exhaust gases and liquid, the method comprising: flowing a first mixture of engine exhaust gases and liquid to a receiving chamber; directing more buoyant components of the first mixture along a slanted upper surface of the receiving chamber and toward a lift conduit; flowing exhaust gases of the first mixture through the lift conduit of the receiving chamber and toward a gas containing portion of a separator chamber, thereby propelling buoyant liquid and solid components of the first mixture through the lift conduit; flowing the buoyant liquid and solid components of the first mixture out of the lift conduit and downward, toward a free liquid surface of a second mixture that resides in a first part of the separator chamber; separating less buoyant components of the second mixture from more buoyant components of the second mixture; and moving the less buoyant components of the second mixture from the first part of the separator chamber to a second part of the separator chamber.