Maintenance of hydrodynamic separators

A method comprising:

• generating fluid flow from an element inlet to an element outlet of a hydrodynamic separator element at a constant flow rate for a first period of time, the element outlet having a first element outlet and a second element outlet downstream of a second outlet flow path, wherein the separator element comprises:
• a plurality of curved microfluidic channels arranged to operate in parallel, wherein each microfluidic channel defines:
• a channel inlet downstream of the element inlet, and
• a channel outlet having a first channel outlet upstream of the first element outlet and a second channel outlet upstream of the second outlet flow path;
• an obstruction in selective obstructive communication with one or more of the microfluidic channels;
• a first outlet flow path upstream of the first element outlet, wherein each first channel outlet extends to the first outlet flow path, and the obstruction comprises a barrier that is a mechanical component slidably disposed in the first outlet flow path, wherein the barrier has a length greater than the distance between two consecutive channel outlets along the first outlet flow path, wherein the barrier is configured to selectively obstruct at least two first channel outlets along the first outlet flow path while leaving at least one first channel outlet unobstructed;
• a first flow generator in fluid communication with the plurality of microfluidic channels, wherein the first flow generator is configured to generate fluid flow at a first flow rate from the element inlet to the element outlet;
• a maintenance system in fluid communication with the hydrodynamic separator element;
• and
• a controller in operative communication with the maintenance system, wherein the controller is configured to selectively engage and disengage the maintenance system to modify the fluid flow;
• and
• performing a maintenance operation comprising modifying the fluid flow through the separator element by the controller for a second period of time, wherein the first period of time is longer than the second period of time, wherein modifying the fluid flow comprises (i) pulsing the fluid flow through the hydrodynamic separator element, (ii) reversing the fluid flow direction from the element outlet to the element inlet, or (iii) obstructing the fluid flow through at least a portion of a channel.

A system comprising:

• a hydrodynamic separator element defining:
• an element inlet and an element outlet having a first element outlet and a second element outlet;
• and
• a plurality of curved microfluidic channels arranged to operate in parallel, wherein each microfluidic channel defines:
• a channel inlet downstream of the element inlet, and
• a channel outlet having a first channel outlet upstream of the first element outlet and a second channel outlet upstream of the second element outlet;
• an obstruction in selective obstructive communication with one or more of the microfluidic channels;
• and
• a first outlet flow path upstream of the first element outlet, wherein each first channel outlet extends to the first outlet flow path, and the obstruction comprises a barrier that is a mechanical component slidably disposed in the first outlet flow path, wherein the barrier has a length greater than the distance between two consecutive channel outlets along the first outlet flow path, wherein the barrier is configured to selectively obstruct at least two consecutive first channel outlets along the first outlet flow path while leaving at least one first channel outlet unobstructed.