Plate-fin coalescer for aircraft environmental control systems

An aircraft environmental control system comprising:

• a heat exchanger assembly configured to receive ram air along a first path of the heat exchanger assembly and compressed air along a second path of the heat exchanger assembly, wherein the first path comprises a compressed air inlet on a first heat exchanger, and the compressed air is directed into the compressed air inlet, the compressed air being directed from the first heat exchanger into a second heat exchanger;
• and
• an air cycle machine configured to receive the compressed air from an outlet of the second heat exchanger, wherein the air cycle machine comprises:
• a first stage turbine configured to receive and expand the compressed air received from the second heat exchanger;
• a second stage turbine configured to receive air from the first stage turbine;
• a duct arranged between the first stage turbine and the second stage turbine;
• and
• a plate-fin coalescer arranged within the duct, the plate-fin coalescer comprising:
• a housing;
• a first fin layer arranged within the housing;
• a second fin layer arranged within the housing;
• and
• a first parting sheet arranged between the first fin layer and the second fin layer,
• wherein each of the first fin layer and the second fin layer comprise a plurality of fin elements arranged in substantially parallel orientation relative an axis through the housing, and channels are defined between adjacent fin elements of the plurality of fin elements of each of the first fin layer and the second fin layer, and
• wherein the channels are tortuous channels such that moisture carried on a flow through the channels will impinge upon surfaces of the fin elements and coalesce into water droplets.