1.

A filter assembly, comprising: a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet and an outlet; a filter element having a hollow interior positioned within the housing chamber so that the hollow interior is in fluid communication with the inlet; and a spray device having a spray outlet positioned to spray the hollow interior of the filter element.

2.	The assembly of claim 1 wherein the filter element is made of metal.

3.	The assembly of claim 2 wherein the filter element is a sintered metal filter.

4.	The assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly further includes a gas receiving section positioned at one end of the assembly opposite an end having the spray device, and wherein the gas receiving section includes a cyclonic separator.

5.	The assembly of claim 4 wherein the gas receiving section includes a waste outlet, wherein the cyclonic separator includes a vortex finder, wherein a liquid flow path is defined from the spray outlet through the interior of the filter element, through the vortex finder and through the waste outlet.

6.	The assembly of claim 1 including a blowback port.

7.

A filter assembly, comprising: a housing defining a chamber and having an outlet; a filter element positioned within the housing chamber; a spray device positioned to spray the filter element; and a gas receiving section positioned at one end of the assembly and including a cyclonic separator, wherein the cyclonic separator is positioned so that cleaned gas flows toward the filter element.

8.	The assembly of claim 7 wherein the filter element is a sintered metal filter.

9.	The assembly of claim 7 wherein the gas receiving section includes a waste outlet, wherein the cyclonic separator includes a vortex finder in alignment with the waste outlet, wherein a liquid flow path is defined from the spray outlet, through the vortex finder and through the waste outlet.

10.

A filter system, comprising: a cleaning solution system including at least one solution supply; and a filter assembly having a housing defining a chamber and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein a positive pressure differential is creatable between the inlet and outlet to cause gas to flow into the filter assembly; a filter element having a hollow interior, the element positioned within the housing chamber so that the hollow interior is in fluid communication with the inlet and a spray device having a spray outlet positioned to spray the hollow interior of the filter element, the spray device being in fluid communication with the cleaning solution system.

11.	The system of claim 10 wherein the filter element is a sintered metal filter.

12.	The system of claim 10 wherein the gas receiving section includes a cyclonic separator.

13.

The system of claim 12 wherein the gas receiving section includes a waste outlet, wherein the cyclonic separator includes a vortex finder, and wherein a liquid flow path is defined from the spray outlet through the interior of the filter element, through the vortex finder and through the waste outlet.

14.	The system of claim 10 wherein the filter assembly includes a blowback port, and wherein the system includes a blowback gas suppy in fluid communication with the blowback port.

15.

A filter system, comprising: a cleaning solution system including at least one solution supply; and a filter assembly having a housing defining a chamber and having an outlet; a filter element positioned within the housing chamber; a spray device positioned to spray the filter element; a gas receiving section positioned at one end of the assembly and including an inlet and a cyclonic separator in fluid communication therewith, wherein the cyclonic separator is positioned so that cleaned gas flows toward the filter element; and wherein a positive pressure differential is creatable between the inlet and outlet to cause gas to flow into the filter assembly.

16.	The system of claim 15 wherein the filter element is a sintered metal filter.

17.	The system of claim 15 wherein the gas receiving section includes a waste outlet, wherein the cyclonic separator includes a vortex finder in alignment with the waste outlet, wherein a liquid flow path is defined from the spray outlet, through the vortex finder and through the waste outlet.

18.

A method of filtering gas, comprising the acts of: inducing a vacuum motive force into a filter assembly having a filter element to draw gas into the assembly; receiving the gas into a hollow interior of the filter element and drawing the gas from the interior to the exterior of the element; and cleaning the element in situ within the assembly.

19.	The method of claim 18 wherein the filter element is a thinwalled, sintered metal filter.

20.	The method of claim 18 wherein the act of cleaning includes spraying an interior surface of the filter element with a cleaning solvent.

21.	The method of claim 20 wherein the act of cleaning further includes rinsing the filter element after it has been sprayed with solvent.

22.	The method of claim 18 further including the act of introducing a blowback gas into the assembly during at least a portion of the time that the act of cleaning occurs.

23.	The method of claim 20 further comprising the act of inducing a vacuum on the exterior side of the filter element to create a vacuum differential to facilitate drying of the filter element.

24.

A method of filtering gas, comprising the acts of: inducing a vacuum motive force into a filter assembly to draw the gas into the assembly; cyclonically separating particles or droplets from the received gas; drawing the gas that has been cyclonically separated through a filter element in the filter assembly; cleaning the filter element in situ within the assembly.

25.	The method of claim 24 wherein the filter element is a thinwalled, sintered metal filter.

26.	The method of claim 24 wherein the act of cleaning includes spraying an interior surface of the filter element with a cleaning solvent.

27.	The method of claim 26 wherein the act of cleaning further includes rinsing the filter element after it has been sprayed with solvent.

28.	The method of claim 24 further including the act of introducing a blowback gas into the assembly during at least a portion of the time that the act of cleaning occurs.

29.	The method of claim 26 further comprising the act of inducing a vacuum on an exterior side of the filter element to create a vacuum differential to facilitate drying of the filter element.

30.	The system of claim 10 wherein the means for creating is a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the outlet.

31.	The system of claim 15 wherein the means for creating is a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the outlet.

32.

A filter assembly, comprising: a gas receiving section positioned at one end of the assembly and having a cyclonic separator; a housing defining a chamber and having an outlet and a blowback port; a thinwalled, cylindrical, metal filter element positioned within the housing chamber so that its hollow cylindrical interior is in fluid communication with the cyclonic separator; a spray device having a spray outlet positioned at an end of the assembly opposite from the gas receiving section and in alignment with the hollow cylindrical interior of the filter element, and wherein the gas receiving section includes a waste outlet, and wherein a liquid flow path is defined from the spray outlet through the cylindrical interior of the filter element, through the cyclonic separator and through the waste outlet.