A fluid separator device allows for introducing air entrained in a liquid
flow to a centrifugal pump in a manner that will not allow the pump to
become gas bound. One example device designed according to this invention
includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet downstream of the inlet.
An air chamber is positioned on an opposite side of the inlet from the
outlet. An air flow passage allows air from the air chamber to be
introduced near a rotor assembly input of a centrifugal pump such that
relatively small air bubbles are introduced to the liquid flow through
the rotor assembly in a manner that prevents the air bubbles from
recollecting into a larger bubble that would otherwise interfere with the
centrifugal pump operation.