High volume air-water separator

A method for separating a composite fluid into a liquid component and a dry gas component, comprising the steps of:

• (a) flowing said composite fluid into an inlet;
• (b) allowing said liquid component to separate and to flow into a lower liquid chamber;
• (c) allowing a gas component to rise to flow into an elevated gas chamber, wherein said gas separation chamber comprises a condensate chamber receiving said gas component flow horizontally through a valve seat into said condensation chamber, to separate said gas component into said liquid component and said dry gas component;
• (d) operating a valve assembly comprising a pad and valve seat with a gas flow path into said condensate chamber thereby terminating the flow of said gas component into said condensate chamber when a level of said liquid component within said air separation chamber reaches a predetermined level;
• (e) operating said valve assembly, to open said gas flow path at said valve seat and into said condensate chamber thereby initiating the flow of said gas component through said valve seat and into said condensate chamber when said level of said liquid within said chamber recedes from said predetermined level;
• and wherein said gas is flowed through said condensate chamber in a serpentine path defined by material therein to condense liquid from said gas thereby yielding dry gas output from said condensate chamber.

An apparatus for separating a composite fluid into a liquid component and a gas component, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an inlet to receive a composite fluid;
• (b) a liquid chamber connected to said inlet to enable at least a portion of said liquid component of said composite fluid to separate by gravity and flow into said liquid chamber;
• and
• (c) a gas separation chamber connected to said inlet to enable a gas component of said composite fluid to flow into said gas separation chamber, wherein said gas separation chamber comprises
• (i) a condensate chamber receiving said gas component flow along a gas flow path, wherein said condensate chamber
• removes vapor from said gas component thereby separating said gas component into said liquid component and said gas component, and
• encloses a material surface to condense liquid from said gas component, and
• is configured so that said gas component flows in a serpentine path through said material thereby condensing liquid from said gas component thereby drying said gas component, and
• (ii) a valve assembly which terminates the flow of said gas into said condensate chamber, by closing said gas flow path, when the level of said liquid within said gas separation chamber reaches a predetermined level.

An apparatus for separating a composite fluid into a liquid component and a dry gas component, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an inlet to receive a composite fluid;
• (b) a liquid chamber connected to said inlet to enable at least a portion of said liquid component of said composite fluid to separate by gravity and flow into said liquid chamber;
• and
• (c) a gas separation chamber connected to said inlet to enable a gas component of said composite fluid to flow into said gas separation chamber, wherein said separation chamber comprises
• (i) a condensate chamber receiving said gas component flows along a gas flow path, and which removes vaporized liquid from said gas component thereby separating said liquid component from said gas component, and
• (ii) a valve assembly controlling the flow of said gas into said condensate chamber by closing said gas flow path when the level of said liquid within said gas separation chamber reaches a predetermined level, and wherein said valve assembly comprises
• a float supported on rising liquid in said chamber, wherein said float supports a movable pad sized to close a fluid flow opening, and wherein a spring urges said pad into contact with said opening to close said opening, and
• a float guide limiting movement thereof along a defined path, and
• a valve seal cooperative with said float to close said gas flow path dependent on liquid level.

A method for separating a composite fluid into separated liquid and a dry gas component, comprising the steps of:

• (a) flowing said composite fluid into an inlet;
• (b) separating said liquid component to a lower liquid chamber;
• (c) separating a gas component from the composite fluid by flowing into an elevated gas chamber, wherein said elevated gas chamber comprises a condensate chamber to separate said gas component into separated liquid removed from said gas component;
• (d) closing a gas flow path into said condensate chamber thereby terminating flow into said condensate chamber dependent on liquid component level within said elevated gas chamber and wherein
• (i) a valve element is conveyed by a float, and
• (ii) and said float is responsive to the level of liquid within said elevated gas chamber;
• and
• (e) opening said gas flow path into said condensate chamber thereby initiating the flow along said gas path into said condensate chamber responsive to the liquid level in said elevated chamber;
• (i) wherein said gas is flowed through said condensate chamber in a serpentine path, and
• (ii) wherein said condensate chamber contains material which condenses liquid from said gas enabling gas flow output from said condensate chamber.