Method and apparatus for separating liquid droplets from a gas stream

1. An apparatus for removing liquid droplets from a gas stream, the apparatus comprising at least one flowpath assembly, wherein each flowpath assembly is comprised of:

(a) a flowpath for the gas stream, the flowpath comprising a flowpath inlet;

(b) a collector surface, positioned adjacent to the flowpath so that the gas stream is in communication with the collector surface as the gas stream passes through the flowpath, for collecting the droplets as collected droplets;

(c) a flow conditioner in communication with the flowpath inlet, for conditioning the gas stream to provide substantially turbulent and generally axial flow of the gas stream through the flowpath; and

(d) a drainage mechanism associated with the collector surface, for draining the collected droplets from the collector surface as drained collected droplets.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flowpath is defined by the collector surface.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collector surface is comprised of a generally planar surface.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the collector surface is comprised of a plurality of generally planar surfaces.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the collector surface is comprised of a generally cylindrical surface.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the drainage mechanism is comprised of at least one aperture defined by the collector surface.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the drainage mechanism is comprised of a plurality of slits defined by the collector surface.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the flowpath is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein the slits are spaced axially along the collector surface between the flowpath inlet and the flowpath end.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flowpath is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein the flowpath is oriented so that the flowpath end is positioned below the flowpath inlet.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a collection vessel associated with the drainage mechanism, for receiving the drained collected droplets.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flowpath is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein the drainage mechanism further drains the gas stream from the flowpath as a drained gas stream, further comprising a collection vessel associated with the drainage mechanism, for receiving the drained collected droplets and the drained gas stream.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the collection vessel is adapted for gravitationally separating the drained collected droplets and the drained gas stream into a plurality of products.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the collector surface is comprised of a material wettable by the droplets.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the collector surface is a textured surface.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the flowpath has a diameter of between about 15 millimeters and about 50 millimeters.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a cooler for cooling the gas stream before the gas stream enters the flowpath.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:

(a) a plurality of parallel flowpath assemblies; and

(b) a distributor associated with each of the flowpath inlets, for distributing the gas stream to each of the flowpaths.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of the flowpaths is defined by the collector surfaces.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the collector surfaces is comprised of generally planar surfaces.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the collector surfaces is comprised of generally cylindrical surfaces.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the drainage mechanisms is comprised of a plurality of apertures defined by the collector surface.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the drainage mechanisms is comprised of a plurality of slits defined by the collector surface.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of the flowpaths is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein the slits are spaced axially along the collector surface between the flowpath inlet and the flowpath end.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the flowpaths is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein each of the flowpaths is oriented so that the flowpath end is positioned below the flowpath inlet.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a collection vessel associated with the drainage mechanisms, for receiving the drained collected droplets.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the flowpaths is further comprised of a flowpath end and wherein the drainage mechanisms further drain the gas stream from the flowpath as a drained gas stream, further comprising a collection vessel associated with the drainage mechanisms, for receiving the drained collected droplets and the drained gas stream.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the collection vessel is adapted for gravitationally separating the drained collected droplets and the drained gas stream into a plurality of products.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the collector surfaces is comprised of a material wettable by the droplets.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of the collector surfaces is a textured surface.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein each of the flowpaths has a diameter of between about 15 millimeters and about 50 millimeters.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a cooler associated with each of the flowpath inlets, for cooling the gas stream before the gas stream enters the flowpaths.