This disclosure relates generally to phase separation, and more particularly, to a apparatus and a method for phase separation. In one example, the apparatus includes a spiral shaped body, split outlets and an adjustable splitter. The spiral shaped body includes an inlet portion to receive a mixture of phases associated with distinct effective masses, an outlet portion, and multiple helical turns stacked between the inlet and outlet portion. A portion of helical turns are twisted to form a twisted portion having opposite walls of a preceding helical turn turned relative to one another in opposite directions. The split outlets are configured at walls of the preceding helical turn to withdraw the phases based on an effective mass of said phases. The adjustable splitter is movably configured at least a portion of a cross section of the spiral shaped body to facilitate separate withdrawal of the one or more phases of the mixture.

A hand vacuum cleaner has a first air treatment stage comprising a first stage air treatment chamber and a first stage longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the first air treatment stage and a second air treatment stage downstream from the first stage air treatment chamber, the second air treatment stage a second stage air treatment chamber and a second stage dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the second stage air treatment chamber. The second stage dirt collection chamber extends forward of the second stage air treatment chamber. A plane that is transverse to the first stage longitudinal axis extends through the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber, and the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber are concurrently openable.

An air treatment apparatus has a momentum separator positioned in an air flow path. The momentum separator has an upper wall, a lower wall, a sidewall extending between the upper and lower walls and a momentum separator air inlet. The upper wall comprises an upper screen and an upper end wall is spaced from and faces the upper screen wherein an upper air flow chamber is positioned between the upper end wall and the upper screen.

An apparatus and related methods to separate liquid from a liquid/gas mixture, particularly in a low gravity environment. The apparatus includes a chamber having a capillary channel around a perimeter of the chamber, a liquid/gas inlet to the chamber, a liquid outlet from the chamber, the liquid outlet being positioned at the perimeter of the chamber to remove liquid from the capillary channel, and a gas outlet from the chamber. The gas outlet is positioned in the chamber, away from the capillary channel, to remove gas from the chamber. The chamber is structured to be readily fabricated using traditional machining techniques or additive manufacturing techniques. The chamber may be fabricated from various materials, including, for example, polymers, metals, composites, and ceramics. The chamber may function as a heat exchanger so that the apparatus can remove condensable vapors from the gas in the mixture in addition to what is already liquid.

An apparatus and related methods to separate liquid from a liquid/gas mixture, particularly in a low gravity environment. The apparatus includes a chamber having a capillary channel around a perimeter of the chamber, a liquid/gas inlet to the chamber, a liquid outlet from the chamber, the liquid outlet being positioned at the perimeter of the chamber to remove liquid from the capillary channel, and a gas outlet from the chamber. The gas outlet is positioned in the chamber, away from the capillary channel, to remove gas from the chamber. The chamber is structured to be readily fabricated using traditional machining techniques or additive manufacturing techniques. The chamber may be fabricated from various materials, including, for example, polymers, metals, composites, and ceramics. The chamber may function as a heat exchanger so that the apparatus can remove condensable vapors from the gas in the mixture in addition to what is already liquid.

A vacuum cleaner has two cyclonic cleaning stages. The air outlet of the first cyclonic cleaning stage is located at the air inlet end of the second cyclonic cleaning stage. The axially opposed end of the second cyclonic cleaning stage is openable.

The combination of a gas-pressure-driven pump jet nozzle or alternatively Coanda effect nozzle with an impactor nozzle(s) in an air-oil separator for separating oil from blow-by gasses from a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, or for separating liquid aerosol from gas, in general. Such combination enhances impaction efficiency and enables operation at higher pressure differentials (or pressure drop) (“dP”) without causing excessive backpressure in the air-oil separator.

The combination of a gas-pressure-driven pump jet nozzle or alternatively Coanda effect nozzle with an impactor nozzle(s) in an air-oil separator for separating oil from blow-by gasses from a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, or for separating liquid aerosol from gas, in general. Such combination enhances impaction efficiency and enables operation at higher pressure differentials (or pressure drop) (“dP”) without causing excessive backpressure in the air-oil separator.

The flow path switching type collecting apparatus of by-products for a semiconductor manufacturing process of the present disclosure includes: a cylindrical housing that has a top plate having a gas inlet and a bottom plate having a gas outlet and fastening portions extending and protruding inside the housing, and receives and then discharges an exhaust gas flowing inside; and a flow path switching type disc collection tower that is installed vertically in the housing and includes an open edge-mesh center type collection disc, a mesh edge-open center type collection disc, a solid edge-open center type collection disc, and an open edge-solid center type collection disc that have different external shape to collect by-products of an exhaust gas flowing insides.

An apparatus and related methods to separate liquid from a liquid/gas mixture, particularly in a low gravity environment. The apparatus includes a chamber having a capillary channel around a perimeter of the chamber, a liquid/gas inlet to the chamber, a liquid outlet from the chamber, the liquid outlet being positioned at the perimeter of the chamber to remove liquid from the capillary channel, and a gas outlet from the chamber. The gas outlet is positioned in the chamber, away from the capillary channel, to remove gas from the chamber. The chamber is structured to be readily fabricated using traditional machining techniques or additive manufacturing techniques. The chamber may be fabricated from various materials, including, for example, polymers, metals, composites, and ceramics. The chamber may function as a heat exchanger so that the apparatus can remove condensable vapors from the gas in the mixture in addition to what is already liquid.