Combined sonic agglomerator/cross flow filtration apparatus and process for solid particle and/or liquid droplet removal from gas streams

Apparatus for removing solid particles and/or liquid droplets from gas streams comprising in combination;

• at least one sonic agglomerator comprising a gas conduit and a sound source means generating a sonic field within said gas conduit for agglomerating liquid droplets into liquid agglomerates as said gas stream passes through said conduit, said gas conduit having heating means capable of maintaining the temperature of said solid particles above the solidifying temperature of the liquid droplets thereof;
• and
• a cross flow filter comprising a housing and a rigid porous filter element having an input side and an output side within said housing;
• said filter housing having an input port in communication with the exit of said sonic agglomerator gas conduit and said filter element output side, and an exit port in said filter housing in communication with said filter element input side, said filter element having pore diameters suitable to retain said liquid agglomerates adjacent said input side of said filter element, said filter element being at an angle to the horizontal whereby a portion of said gas stream passes through said clean gas port and a portion of said gas stream and said liquid agglomerates pass through said exit port of said filter housing.