Demister with rinse-in-place filters and method

A demister for removing debris from debris-laden airflow that flows through the demister, the demister comprising:

• a body defining a flow path having a flow path inlet for the debris-laden airflow and an outlet;
• the body defining a first vertical flow path portion, a second horizontal flow path portion;
• and a third vertical flow path portion;
• the second horizontal flow path portion being located between the lowermost ends of the first and third vertical flow path portions;
• the first vertical flow path portion extending between the flow path inlet and an upstream end of the second horizontal flow path portion;
• the third vertical flow path portion extending between a downstream end of the second horizontal flow path portion and the outlet;
• the body defining a recirculation tank located below the first vertical flow path portion and upstream of the second horizontal flow path portion;
• a plurality of filters carried by the body in an operational position in a filter chamber that defines the second horizontal flow path portion;
• the plurality of filters being aligned in series across the second horizontal flow path portion such that the second horizontal flow path portion is required to pass through each of the plurality of filters sequentially;
• the filter chamber being defined by at least a front filter chamber wall a rear filter chamber wall, and a solid bottom filter chamber wall;
• the solid bottom filter chamber wall being sloped to direct liquid and debris removed from the filters into the recirculation tank while preventing debris-laden airflow from escaping the filter chamber through the solid bottom wall;
• each of the front and rear filter chamber walls defining a filter opening sized to allow each of the plurality of filters to move through the filter opening;
• a plurality of nozzles adapted to be connected to a liquid supply;
• the nozzles directed at the filters to periodically spray liquid against the filters;
• a front door and a rear door;
• each of the front and rear doors having open and closed conditions;
• the front door covering the filter opening defined by the front filter chamber wall when the front door is in the closed condition;
• the rear door covering the filter opening defined by the rear filter chamber wall when the rear door is in the closed condition;
• each of the front and rear doors engaging each of the filters when the doors are in the closed condition;
• when both the front and rear doors are in the open condition, each of the filters is movable from its operational position to an extended position at least partially outside the body through either of the filter openings;
• each filter being movable between its operational position and its extended position independent of the other filters;
• all of the filters being capable of being in their extended positions at the same time;
• and
• in the extended position, each filter being carried by the body while also projecting laterally from the body to allow the filter to be cleaned while being located substantially outside of the filter chamber.