Energy and/or mass exchange apparatus having an integrated fluid separator

1. 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.

2. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separation chamber is substantially cylindrical.

3. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drain is positioned proximate a lowest point of the separation chamber.

4. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel is of circular cross-section and flares radially outwardly proximate the second inlet end such that the diameter of the inlet channel at the second inlet end is larger than the diameter of the inlet channel proximate the swirler.

5. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a base and a cap which is removably mountable to the base.

6. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the outlet channel passes through the cap.

7. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel is substantially aligned about a central axis.

8. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel, the outlet channel and the separation chamber are substantially coaxial.

9. The liquid separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the exchanger apparatus is a humidifier.

10. A humidifier integrated with a liquid separator, wherein the separator comprises:

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 mounting face proximate and around the inlet chamber;

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 inlet ends thereof, to the separation chamber;

g) a swirler disposed within the inlet channel; and

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; and wherein the humidifier comprises:

i) a humidifier inlet;

j) a humidifier cartridge with one end thereof connected to the humidifier inlet and providing humidification of gas flow therethrough;

k) a humidifier outlet formed by another end of the humidification cartridge;

l) an end face proximate and around the humidifier outlet, wherein the end face is configured to mate with the separator mounting face, wherein the end face is mounted to the separator mounting face, whereby gas flow out of the humidification cartridge flows through the humidifier outlet directly into the inlet chamber.

11. The humidifier integrated with a liquid separator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the humidifier and the separator are substantially aligned about a central axis.

12. The humidifier integrated with a liquid separator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the separator housing is substantially cylindrical and comprises a separator outer diameter, and wherein the humidifier outlet is substantially cylindrical and comprises an outlet outer diameter.

13. The humidifier integrated with a liquid separator as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the separator outer diameter and the outlet outer diameter are substantially the same.

14. The humidifier integrated with a liquid separator as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the humidifier inlet is substantially cylindrical and comprises an inlet outer diameter and wherein the inlet outer diameter is substantially the same as the outlet outer diameter.

15. The humidifier integrated with a liquid separator as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the humidifier comprises a substantially cylindrical desiccant cartridge having a desiccant outer diameter and wherein the inlet chamber is substantially cylindrical and comprises a chamber outer diameter and wherein the chamber outer diameter is at least as large as the desiccant outer diameter.