Inlet particle separator systems and methods

A method for separating particles in an inertial inlet particle separator system that comprises a separator assembly and a collector assembly, the separator assembly defining a fluid inlet for receiving inlet air, the separator assembly further including a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path, the collector assembly coupled to the scavenge flow path and including a collector inlet, a collector body, and a collector outlet, wherein the collector inlet is coupled to the scavenge flow path and has a throat extending from a first throat end to a second throat end to define a throat length, wherein the throat further defines a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end, wherein the collector assembly further includes a first partition, a second partition, a third partition, and a fourth partition that collectively divide the throat into a first throat portion extending between the first and second partitions, a second throat portion extending between the second and third partitions, a third throat portion extending between the third and fourth partitions, and a fourth throat portion extending between the fourth and first partitions;

• wherein the collector body is coupled to the collector inlet along the throat length and defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end, wherein the collector body includes a first body portion along the first throat portion, a second body portion along the second throat portion, a third body portion along the third throat portion, and a fourth body portion along the fourth throat portion, wherein the collector assembly is a circumferential collector assembly with a circumference, and wherein each of the first and second throat portions extends approximately 90° of the circumference;
• wherein the collector outlet is coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet, and wherein the collector outlet includes a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and wherein the first and second body portions direct air into the first outlet portion and the third and fourth body portions direct air into the second outlet portions, and wherein, at a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area, the method comprising the steps of:
• inducing an inlet fluid into the fluid inlet of the separator assembly;
• separating the fluid in the separator assembly into scavenge air a that enters the scavenge flow path and engine air that enters the engine flow path;
• directing the scavenge air into the collector assembly and bifurcating the scavenge air into a first portion of the scavenge air and a second portion of the scavenge air, the first portion of the scavenge air directed into a first collector assembly portion and the second portion of the scavenge air directed into a second fluid collector assembly portion, wherein the first collector assembly portion includes the first throat portion that directs the first portion of the scavenge air into the first collector body portion, the first throat portion and the first collector body portion configured such that each cross-sectional area of the first collector body portion is greater than or equal to a corresponding cumulative first throat portion area;
• and
• exhausting the first and second portions of the scavenge air through the collector outlet.