Abstract: A filter has a vertically disposed housing, a support plate and vertical filter elements fixed at their upper ends to the support plate and supported thereby in the housing. A water outlet tube passes through the center of the support plate and exits at the base of the filter. The water outlet pipe is connected to the support plate in leak-tight manner and the portion of the filter located above the support plate is removable.

Abstract: A single enclosed chamber includes a lower destabilizing area, a central filtering and coalescence area containing coalescence material, and an upper flotation and separation area. Emulsion is introduced into the lower destabilizing area and is destabilized therein. The emulsion is then passed upwardly into the central filtering and coalescence area. The dispersed phase of the emulsion is attracted to the coalescence material in the form of droplets, and as the emulsion continues to pass upwardly therethrough the droplets grow in size. During passage of the emulsion through the filtering and coalescence material, matter in suspension is filtered from the emulsion. Within the flotation and separation area is located a separation device including a lower convergent portion and an upper divergent portion.