CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEMS HAVING A SWIRL BREAKER TO REDUCE PRESSURE DROP IN TANGENTIALLY EXITING FLUIDS

A crankcase ventilation system comprises a housing defining an internal volume structured to receive a. rotating air/oil separator element. The housing has a housing inlet structured to receive a fluid and a housing outlet defined tangentially in a sidewall of the housing which is structured to allow the fluid to exit the housing. An outlet conduit is fluidly coupled to housing outlet. The outlet conduit comprises an outlet conduit first portion axially aligned with the housing outlet, and an outlet conduit second portion positioned downstream of the outlet, conduit first, portion. A swirl breaking structure is positioned in at least one of an outlet conduit inlet and the outlet conduit second portion. The swirl breaking structure is configured to disrupt swirling flow of the fluid into the outlet conduit so as to reduce a pressure drop experienced by the fluid as the fluid flows from the housing into the outlet conduit.