Backwash Or Blowback Patents (Class 210/333.01)
  • Patent number: 11097216
    Abstract: A liquid separator including a vessel with an inlet for a liquid/gas mixture, where this vessel defines a space which at the top is closed by a cover, where the liquid separator is provided with an outlet for treated gas, where in the space a shield is provided that extends around the outlet and which has a bottom wall with one or more inlet openings, where a chamber is defined by the shield, the bottom wall and the cover. In the formed chamber at least one filter element is provided that extends from the bottom wall around the inlet opening, such that between the shield and the filter element an outlet zone is defined which is in connection with the outlet, where in the cover a small removable cover is provided above each filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventors: Kristof Adrien L. Martens, Steven Maurits R. Laurent, Walter Josee L. Adriaenssens
  • Patent number: 11058978
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter arrangement which has a first fluid connector, a second fluid connector and a filter device which is arranged between the first and second fluid connectors and which has a surface to which contaminants can adhere. The method has the following steps: connecting the first fluid connector to a blowing chamber which has a gas connector, at least partially filling the blowing chamber with a liquid, and generating a cleaning pulse, in which gas is conducted under pressure via the gas connector into the blowing chamber for a first time duration, such that a gas-liquid mixture is forced via the first fluid connector through the filter device and out of the second fluid connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MACK GMBH
    Inventors: Marco Dietrich, Walter Dieter Mack
  • Patent number: 10981092
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device, in particular for filtering lubrication, consisting of at least one filter insert (19), in which a respective filter material (27) is received and which is provided with fluid passage points (70) that are delimited by wall parts (63) of the filter insert (19) and with a backflush device (37, 49) that has at least one flush nozzle (49), said flush nozzle being movable along the interior of the respective pairable filter insert (19) by means of a hollow drive shaft (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Lingen, Stefan Klein, Raphael Klein, Sebastian Hrin
  • Patent number: 10456717
    Abstract: A disc filter including a stack of apertured filter discs arranged about an axis, the stack having an outer surface and an inner surface and being mounted such that during backflush, individual discs are rotatable relative to adjacent discs about the axis and a disc cleaning assembly operative to rotate at least some of the discs about the axis relative to others of the discs, the disc cleaning assembly including at least one first fluid conduit for producing at least one outer liquid jet directed generally tangentially into engagement with the outer surface of the stack for rotationally driving the at least some of the discs about the axis relative to others of the discs and at least one second fluid conduit for producing at least one inner backflushing liquid jet directed into engagement with the inner surface of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Yitzhak Orlans
  • Patent number: 10252191
    Abstract: A method for air drying a filter cake contained in a filter chamber defined by a first filter plate, which comprises an air inlet for supplying drying air into the filter chamber to expel fluids from the filter cake, and a second filter plate, which comprises a fluid outlet for discharging fluids from the filter chamber. The method comprises throttling the air flow into the filter chamber by means of an orifice plate that acts as a flow resistance connected in series with the flow resistance of the filter chamber. Preferably the orifice of the orifice plate is so sized that, in case the flow resistance of the filter chamber falls below a normal level, choked flow is achieved in the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Teppo Suutari
  • Patent number: 9782704
    Abstract: A normal flow filtration system having a housing with one or more filters contained within a bowl and attached to the outlet of the system. Liquid enters the bowl, contacts the surfaces of the one or more filters. Impurities are trapped in the filter and the filtered liquid flows through to the outlet. Parameter(s) such as flow rate, transmembrane pressure drop and/or time are measured and when met, filtration ceases. A backflushing occurs through the filter(s) so as to remove the impurities from the filter. This backwashed material is directed to an outlet of the bowl that is connected to a drain. Additionally a port formed in the side of the housing adjacent an outer surface of the filter(s) can be used to provide a lateral washing of the filter(s). The system is then recirculated in a downstream manner to reestablish equilibrium and filtration is then restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Felipe Merino, Luis Penacho, Miquel Iribarren, Antonio Vicente, Angel Cabria, Juan Carlos Pineiro
  • Patent number: 9782703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for separating a heterogeneous mixture of matter into at least one retentate and one filtrate, comprising a housing (12) which is subdivided into a chamber for the heterogeneous mixture (20) of matter having at least one feed (14) and a filtrate chamber (21) having at least one outlet (16), a filter unit (22) which comprises at least one filter element (24), wherein the filter unit (22) is arranged in the chamber for the heterogeneous mixture (20) of matter, and a rinsing system (46, 47, 50, 50?) for cleaning the filter unit (22), wherein the rinsing system (46, 47, 50, 50?) has at least one rinsing port (46, 47) which is constructed so as to introduce a stream, oriented tangentially to the shell surface (54), of a first washing medium into the chamber for the heterogeneous mixture (20) of matter. The invention further relates to a method for cleaning a filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stefan Wittmer, Juergen Linder, Gerhard Welker, Marcus Wagner
  • Patent number: 9527039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter arrangement comprising a plurality of elongate hollow filtration elements, each containing a back-washing mechanism. The back-washing mechanisms comprise at least one debris receiving portion having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the hollow filtration element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: MOSS HYDRO AS
    Inventors: Jason Dale, Aage Bjorn Andersen
  • Publication number: 20150090655
    Abstract: A filtration assembly for a pressurized fluid system having a horizontally oriented tubular pressure vessel with a removable lid. A plurality of shroud tubes arranged in an inner array and a surrounding outer array receive contaminated fluid from the pressure vessel inlet through apertures in a vessel bulkhead to which the shroud tubes are attached. A plurality of tubular filter media elements with a closed end are received in each shroud tube and the opposite open end of each filter element is attached over an aperture in a cover plate sealed over the open end of the shroud tube. A tubular back wash arm has its opposite ends disposed for, upon rotation by a servo motor, being positioned progressively over selected apertures in the bulkhead for connecting the selected filter media elements to a drain for effecting backwashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Rau, Michael Roland Clements, Jason Robert Swinehart, Michael Edward Isch, David Lee Truman
  • Patent number: 8992775
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for removing diatomaceous earth and contaminants from a filter and for filtering liquid using diatomaceous earth. Embodiments of the method can include a washdown process, a backwash process, and a filtering process. Some embodiments of the apparatus can include one or more filter cartridges with cartridge tubes to increase flow during the backwash process. Some embodiments of the apparatus can include a backwash sprayer to disturb contaminants during the backwash process. Some embodiments of the apparatus can include a removable lid to access the filter cartridges during the washdown process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frank Swindell, Leonard Richiuso, Brian Everett Cox
  • Patent number: 8980086
    Abstract: A multi-stage method of reducing solids and contaminants from liquid waste and other suitable streams without the use of chemical flocculants or polymers is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Midwestern IP, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Vanier, Rick Simmons, Bryan Thibodeaux
  • Patent number: 8961782
    Abstract: Grey water is conveyed to a tank, passed through filters, and pumped to an irrigation system. A floating spray component is provided in the tank to automatically backwash the filters to prevent clogging, moving up and down as the level of water in the tank changes. The filters can be cylindrical and oriented vertically, and a removable, internal filter cartridge can mount the filters. The filters can be accessed through a top, above ground cap, and the carriage can be removed for access to other parts by removing a larger lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Filtrific Co., LLC
    Inventor: Edward B. Berkey
  • Patent number: 8945379
    Abstract: A pool pump strainer having a rotatable trim assembly within a flooded housing cavity. A suction inlet and filtered suction outlet pair and a backwash inlet and backwash outlet pair are formed in and pass through opposite regions of a housing with at least 30 degrees between each part of a pair. A strainer disposed inside a conduit fixed between a pair of shutter plates makes up the trim assembly which is rotated between strainer and backwater positions by a stem extending through the housing. In the strainer position, water is drawn through the strainer to catch debris and then passes to the pump's suction side. In the backwash position, water is drawn through the flooded housing cavity to the suction side of the pump by a shunt. Thereafter, water discharged from the pump flows under pressure across the strainer to dislodge debris to be deposited into a catch box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: James Gregory Brull
  • Publication number: 20150014238
    Abstract: A device for filtering a thermoplastic melt, comprising a housing having at least one fluid feed channel and at least one fluid discharge channel and having at least two bores. The bores are in fluid communication with the fluid feed channel and the fluid discharge channel, and each houses a displaceable bolt provided with a filter unit having an inflow side and an outflow side. Each displaceable bolt can be moved at least between a filtering position and a back-flushing position. In a filling position, in which fluid flows from the outflow side of the filter unit to a storage cavity formed in the bore by the movement of the displaceable bolt. When the displaceable bolt moves into the back-flushing position, the fluid then again flows through the filter unit to the at least one back-flushing channel and thus escapes from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Harald Pohl
  • Patent number: 8926843
    Abstract: A disc filter is provided having a controller for controlling effluent surges that are produced by the disc filter. The method entails sensing one or more process variables that are a function of the effluent, and based at least in part on the sensed process variables, the disc filter controls the flow of effluent in order to control or minimize effluent surges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Michael Baker, Matt Stalter, Luke Wood, Mark Stewart
  • Publication number: 20140305862
    Abstract: Provided is a filtration system including a filter housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. A plurality of filtration units are disposed within the filter housing. The system can further include at least one cleaning system configured for cleaning at least one filtration unit of the plurality of filtration units and at least one drive unit. The at least one drive unit can be configured for displacing one or both of said at least one filtration unit of the filtration units and the at least one cleaning system with respect to the other of said at least one filtration unit of the filtration units and said at least one cleaning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: AMIAD WATER SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Boaz Zur, Rudolph Kaner, Ruven Shtekelmacher, Avi Levi, Tzur Bobrov, Ud Mussel, Amir Ziv-Av, Dvir Brand
  • Publication number: 20140299553
    Abstract: A system for removing sediment from water is disclosed. The exemplary embodiments described herein disclose a system comprising a filter chamber, having a deck positioned inside to divide it into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The deck may have a plurality of holes to hold filtration elements and also may have a ridge or a skirt or both. The filtration elements may be filter cartridges with multiple elongated filter elements that extend down into the lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: IMBRIUM SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Roland Dubois, Gregory Williams, Perry Scott, Joel Garbon, Bob Gallucci
  • Patent number: 8852445
    Abstract: A backwash header for a cloth filter disk includes a body having a length a diameter, first and second ends, a longitudinal axis, and an exterior surface, the body defining at least one internal cavity. The body includes at least one suction slot configured to allow fluids and solids to enter the internal cavity from outside of the exterior surface. A structure is attached to a portion of the exterior surface of the body around and extending away from the suction slot to form a chamber defined by the structure and a portion of the exterior surface near the suction slot. The structure is configured to allow fluids and solids to enter the chamber and then the suction slot and cavity from a material being cleaned. Cloth disk filters and methods of treating water and wastewater using the backwash headers and cloth disk filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Ashbrook Simon-Hartley, Inc
    Inventors: Yongming Xia, Jeffrey S. Devine, Charles G. Dannemann
  • Patent number: 8852441
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for purifying liquids, in particular for purifying ballast water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Gea Westfalia Separator Group GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Mueller, Wilfried Riggers
  • Publication number: 20140263028
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filtering device (100) comprising: a filter support element (10) which is movably mounted in the housing (30), which has the shape of a cylindrical bolt, and which has multiple filter chambers (11.1, 11.2; 12.1, 12.2), a filtering element being arranged in each said filter chamber; and an inlet channel (31.1, 31.2 32.1, 32.2) and an outlet channel (41.1, 41.2; 42.1, 42.2) in the housing (30), wherein the inlet channel and the outlet channel are each to be connected to at least one filter chamber in a production position. The aim of the invention is to increase the effective filtering surface. This is achieved in that at least two pairs of filter chambers are provided on the filter support element. The filter chambers of each pair are arranged on the filter support element in a diametrically opposed manner, and there are no connections between the filter chambers within the filter support element. At least one respective intermediate channel (13.1, 13.2, 14.1, 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KREYENBORG VERWALTUNGEN UND BETEILIGUNGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Robert Middler, Stefan Wöstmann
  • Publication number: 20140238235
    Abstract: A membrane device and processes for fabrication and for using are disclosed. The membrane device may include a number of porous metal membranes that provide a high membrane surface area per unit volume. The membrane device provides various operation modes that enhance throughput and selectivity for mass exchange, mass transfer, separation, and/or filtration applications between feed flow streams and permeate flow streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Nathan L. Canfield
  • Publication number: 20140238911
    Abstract: A device for filtering for treating ballast water by way of a filtering method, and more particularly, to a compact and operability-enhancing multicage-type device for filtering ballast water, which distributes a lower portion of the device for filtering a discharge portion for discharging foreign substances after backwashing a filter and a backwash line, among features that are concentrated at an upper portion of the device for filtering, and communicates discharge tubes of each filtering unit in a single line, by considering the unique installation environment of the device for filtering that is coupled to a ship, thereby simplifying structure, reducing space required for installing the device for filtering in the upper portion of the device for filtering, allowing efficient maintenance by integrating foreign substance discharge and back pressure maintenance of each of the filtering units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Panasia Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Tae Lee, Tae-Sung Pyo, Su-Kyu Lee
  • Publication number: 20140231334
    Abstract: A filter system for a liquid medium is suggested, comprising at least one filter module (1, 100) with at least two vessel units, each of which has an outer side wall (4, 6), wherein one of the vessel units forms a closed filter housing (2, 102) and each other vessel unit forms a tank element. The filter systems is characterized in that one of the vessel units, as an inner vessel unit is enclosed along at least a larger part of the periphery of its side wall (4, 6), by the other vessel unit or, in the case of at lease three vessel units, by at least one of the other vessel units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Jaenen
  • Patent number: 8808537
    Abstract: A portable self-contained water treatment system. A raw water tank is provided which can be filled by a pump or by manually pouring dirty water into it. The raw water tank can also act as a chemical pre-treatment tank such that one or more pre-treatment chemicals can be added to the water contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Eddie Carl Livingston
  • Patent number: 8795528
    Abstract: A strainer system comprises a strainer housing having an inlet for raw fluid and an outlet for strained fluid; a generally cylindrical strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being moveable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen. A method of straining a fluid, in particular a liquid, is also provided. Finally, a valve assembly for use in the selective opening and closing of a plurality of backwash conduits is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Knox-Holmes, Ian Durdin, Andrew David Jackman
  • Patent number: 8795527
    Abstract: A filtration system includes a vessel for housing at least two filtration elements. One or more of the filtration elements is a reverse osmosis membrane or a nanofiltration membrane and one of the other filtration elements is a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane. The vessel has an inlet port for providing a liquid feed to the filtration elements, an outlet port for directing a permeate produced by the elements from the vessel and an outlet port for directing a concentrate produced by the elements from the vessel. A number of vessels can be provided in a parallel arrangement and/or a series arrangement and the vessels can be arranged so as to allow regeneration of the microfiltration or ultrationfiltration membranes from another vessel in the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: H2Oil & Gas Ltd
    Inventors: Douglas Arnoldus Theron, Anthony John McMonagle, Mark Albert McNulty, Scott Alexander Barrie
  • Publication number: 20140202938
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus with a plurality of filtering elements (9) which can be accommodated in a filter housing (1) having a filter inlet (45) for fluid to be filtered and a filter outlet (43) for the filtered fluid, wherein during the filtration operation, at least one of the filtering elements (9) can be back-flushed by means of a back-flushing device (13, 21) in order to dedust the effective filtering surface of said filtering element, the back-flushing device comprising a pressure control device (13) for assisting the back-flushing operation, is characterized in that the pressure control device comprises a hydraulic accumulator (13), the one fluid chamber (67) of which can be filled during the filtration operation with a quantity of dedusted fluid and can be connected for a back-flushing operation via a back-flushing guide (21) to the clean side (59) of the filtering element (9) to be dedusted, and in that, for a back-flushing operation, a further fluid chamber (79) of the hydraulic accumulator (13) can be
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Jörg Hermann Gerstner, Thomas Böttcher, Thomas Morawietz
  • Patent number: 8778174
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating water and wastewater include the step of flowing a suspended solids stream generally upward through a sludge blanket region of a cloth disk filter vessel, thus forming a partially treated effluent composition and a solids-enriched sludge blanket. The partially treated effluent composition is allowed to flow generally upward to a cloth filter zone in the vessel after contacting the sludge blanket. The methods include flowing the suspended solids stream through one or more distribution headers positioned in the sludge blanket. An option is to provide a sludge concentration zone in the sludge blanket region, allowing sludge to flow into the sludge concentration zone to form concentrated sludge. Other methods and apparatus include backwash assemblies that backwash substantially the entire filter cassette surfaces, with or without use of a sludge blanket zone. Either the backwash assemblies or filter cassettes move in the latter methods and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Ashbrook Simon-Hartley Inc.
    Inventors: Yongming Xia, Jeffrey S. Devine, Charles G. Dannemann
  • Patent number: 8771514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter pack formed by stacking rings, being used as a final element in multistage or single-stage filters. The filtration process is performed by consecutively separating the particles in suspension according to the thickness thereof in different areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
    Inventor: Alfonso Cobos De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 8771509
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a purifying device for sludge under water and a method for operating the same. The device includes a main fixing frame having an accommodating portion assess to the outside, a hollow liquid container in the accommodating portion, wherein the liquid container is provided with a liquid-flow hole and at least a backwash hole, multiple filters on the liquid container, and a pump connected to the liquid-flow hole at the liquid container through a liquid pipeline. The method includes steps: moving the liquid container having the filters to an area having a liquid to be filtered; leading the liquid to flow into the liquid container through the filters filtering out solid particles contained in the liquid; and leading a fluid to flow into the liquid container such that the filters can be backwashed accompanying with an external cleaning device if the filters are clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Chun-Ping Huang, Jamie Liao
  • Patent number: 8758623
    Abstract: A rapid one-pass liquid filtration system efficiently concentrates biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. Additional concentration stages may be added in “cascade” fashion, in order to concentrate particles below the size cut of each preceding stage remaining in the separated fluid in a concentrated sample suspension. This process can also be used to create a “band-pass” concentration for concentration of a particular target size particle within a narrow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: InnovaPrep LLC
    Inventors: David S. Alburty, Andrew E. Page, Zachary A. Packingham, Daniel B. Marske
  • Patent number: 8734641
    Abstract: A wastewater tertiary media filtration system capable of enhancing filtration performance while including backwashing capabilities that eliminate turbidity spikes by using compressed fluid injected to the interior of submerged includes a filter tank having an inlet and an outlet with a plurality of pile cloth media filter disks disposed in generally parallel relation between the inlet and outlet. Each filter disk preferably includes opposing filter panels disposed in generally parallel spaced relation and supported by a frame. The filter disks may be angularly disposed at approximately 55-degrees relative to horizontal so as to maximize settlement velocity in accordance with the advantages of inclined plate technology. Backwashing is primarily accomplished by injecting compressed fluid (such as air) to the interior of each filter disk assembly whereby accumulated solids are blown off of the cloth filter media by reverse flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Anthony Collins
  • Publication number: 20140102992
    Abstract: A filtration barrier includes a filter mesh that has a plurality of groups of flexible filter elements, with each group having at least a first and second flexible filter elements disposed in spaced relation. The first flexible filter element is more flexible than the second. Each flexible filter element is secured to the first and second anchoring members of the mesh and free therebetween. During forward fluid flow, the first and second flexible filter elements are supported against downstream deflection and lie in a common plane. For reverse fluid flow, the first flexible element of a group displaces farther from the common plane than the second flexible filter element of that group, such that a first backwash opening associated with the first flexible element is larger than a second backwash opening associated with the second flexible element. Each group may have more elements, and associated methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Ian D. Doig
  • Patent number: 8685245
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating suspended matter from liquid includes a concentrator filter that draws the liquid out of the suspension while the filter kept unblocked by a sparging filter that allows scrubbing of the concentrator filter by gas bubbles. This invention can be used to replace cross-flow filtration and centrifugation in the bioprocess industry and to reduce the volume of suspensions to concentrate the yield of the end product in the chemical industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Therapeutic Proteins International, LLC
    Inventor: Sarfaraz Niazi
  • Patent number: 8641892
    Abstract: Debris adhering to the outer surface of a barrel-type fish screen is cleared by air bursts from a series of perforated air pipes positioned inside the outer foraminous shell of the screen, the perforations being holes with axes at an acute angle to the screen radius for efficient use of the air. Separately, the conical water collection manifold mounted inside the shell is open at its narrow end, with a valve mounted to that open end to control the opening. The opening prevents reduced water inflow at that end of the manifold, and the valve adjusts the access of the surrounding water to the opening, thereby allowing the manifold to be tuned to more closely approach a uniform distribution of axial water flow along the length of the collection manifold for different ambient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventors: John L. Winther, Blake Andrew Toland
  • Publication number: 20140021126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible backwashing self-cleaning filter, including a filter mechanism, a backwashing drive mechanism driving a sewage suction assembly, and a high-pressure washing apparatus. The high-pressure washing apparatus includes a high-pressure washing pump and at least one high-pressure branch pipe arranged along the outer wall of the fine strainer and operating synchronously with the sewage suction assembly, where a plurality of spray nozzles are spacedly arranged where the high-pressure branch pipe is opposite to the outer wall of the fine strainer. With collaboration of translation and rotation of the sewage suction assembly, the inner and outer walls of the entire fine strainer are thoroughly cleaned, suitable for real-time purification of a low-pressure water circulating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Deng Hong Luo, Wen Bin Liu, Yong Huang, Qing Huang
  • Patent number: 8628738
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing alumina trihydrate by alkaline attack of bauxite, following the general steps of the Bayer process, and during which, after settling and before decomposition, the aluminate liquor undergoes a filtration, known as security filtration, so that at the end of the filtration it contains less than 10 mg/l of insoluble particles, characterized in that, during said security filtration, a filtration device is used that comprises a zone in which the liquor is subjected, after passing through said filtration media, to a pressure greater than 2 bar, preferably greater than 3 bar. Preferably, this device also comprises a zone in which the liquor is subjected, before passing through the filtration media, to a pressure greater than 5 bar, preferably greater than 6, typically in the vicinity of 7 bar. In this way, the aluminate liquor can be kept at a high temperature during the security filtration, typically greater than 130° C., preferably greater than 140° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Luc Fortin, Guy Forte, Henri Thomas, El Kadi Bassam
  • Publication number: 20130255202
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid filtration assembly including a housing configured with one or more filter units extending in fluid flow between a raw fluid inlet port and a filtered fluid outlet port, a filter rinsing assembly being in fluid communication with a rinsing fluid inlet port, and propulsion fluid inlet port being in flow communication with a propulsion mechanism for propelling one or both of the filter rinsing assembly and the filter unit with respect to one another. Further provided is a thread tensioning mechanism for controlling tension of coiled threads of a thread-type filtering cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: AMIAD WATER SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Yuval Shamir, Marina Olenberg, Ra'anan Ben-Horin, Tzur Alon, Shahar Nuriel, Ud Mussel
  • Publication number: 20130220913
    Abstract: A fluid filter, with a media body that comprises granular filter media and is capable of transitioning from a compacted state to an expanded state, may allow for multiple filtration cycles with regeneration of the granular filter media via backwashing cycles. Two or more of such filters may also be used in filtration apparatuses that is configured for continuous filtration including during backwashing of one of the filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Ticona LLC
    Inventor: Ticona LLC
  • Patent number: 8512568
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module (6), the module (6) including at least one membrane (8) located in a feed-containing vessel (7), the membrane (8) having a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. The method comprising the steps of: suspending the filtration operation; performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane (8); performing a high velocity sweep of the feed-containing vessel (7) to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter; and recommencing the filtration operation. An improved gas scouring method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Anthony James Stubbs
  • Publication number: 20130206674
    Abstract: There is disclosed a fluid filter device. The fluid filter device comprises: a primary filter section having a first porous section; and a secondary filter section having second porous section; wherein: (i) the primary filter section and the secondary filter section are in fluid communication with one another, and (ii) the first porous section has a greater porosity than the second porous section. There is also disclosed a fluid isolation device for isolation an exterior fluid from a surface of an enclosure containing interior fluid. The device comprises a sleeve element movable between: (i) a retracted portion in which exterior fluid contacts the surface of the enclosure, and (ii) an extended position in which exterior fluid is isolated from contacting the surface of the enclosure. A distal portion of the sleeve element is configured to actuate a backwash element configured to backwash the interior fluid from the enclosure when the sleeve element is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: TROJAN TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jim Fraser, Ronald P. Cook, Glen E. Latimer, JR.
  • Patent number: 8506762
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David F. Bednarek, Jason A. Demers, Timothy P. Duggan, James L. Jackson, Scott A. Leonard, David W. McGill, Kingston Owens
  • Publication number: 20130193089
    Abstract: A filtration system for clarifying a cloudy beverage from at least one tank in which dregs have formed, the clarifying occurring through a cross-flow filtration. The filtration system includes: a first filtration module having a first filtration element, the first filtration element including a first channel having a first diameter; and, a second filtration circuit located in parallel to the first filtration circuit, the second filtration circuit including a second filtration module having a second filtration element, the second filtration element including a second channel having a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter. A method for filtering a cloudy beverage from at least one tank in which dregs have formed, the method using the just-described filtration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Herberg, Reimar Gutte
  • Publication number: 20130192286
    Abstract: Disclosed are self-cleaning waste water nitration devices suitable for generating thermal water for use in heat pump systems. Also disclosed are methods for continuously generating filtered thermal water from waste water. Further disclosures pertain to systems for automatically generating heating capacity or cooling capacity from a waste water source. Methods for producing and transporting filtered thermal water from a waste water source to a heat pump are also disclosed in which the filtered thermal water can be used for heating, cooling, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: NOVATHERMAL ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Anmin Wang, Wei Wang, Andy Fei
  • Publication number: 20130146548
    Abstract: A static screen has a plurality of screening bodies and a plurality of aeration devices downstream of the screening bodies. Each aeration device is associated with a set of one or more of the screening bodies. Each aeration device may be a pulsing aerator. The pulsing aerators do not all release air at the same time. Each screening body works through periods of dead end filtration separated by backwashing events. The backwashing events comprise introducing a slug or pulse of air into the bottom of the screening body. Flow through the static screen continues at all times because the screening bodies are not all backwashed at the same time. The static screen may be used to remove trash from water flowing to an immersed membrane unit. Alternatively, the static screen may be used to provide primary wastewater treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien COTE, Jeffrey Ronald CUMIN
  • Patent number: 8444862
    Abstract: A rotary disc filter device comprises a rotary drum and a plurality of disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member has a filtering material disposed on the outside thereof. A guide bar extends longitudinally across the disc-shaped filter members and has a movable carriage mounted thereon. One or more nozzles are operatively connected to the carriage for delivering cleaning fluid onto the filtering materials. The guide bar is rotates between a cleaning position and an adjustment position. When the guide bar is in the cleaning position, the nozzle is disposed adjacent to one of the disc-shaped filter members such that the nozzle is positioned to deliver cleaning fluid onto the filtering material. When the guide bar is in the adjustment position, the carriage is movable along the guide bar without interference from the disc-shaped filter members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventor: Ake Ralvert
  • Patent number: 8398854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter system (1) for removing impurities from a fluid, having a filter housing (2) enclosing a housing interior (3), and having at least one cylindrical filter body (9) provided in the filter housing (2), said filter body separating an uncleaned space (10) from a clean space (11) in the housing interior (3). In order to be able to more simply adapt the filter system (1) to different filtration levels, each filter body (9) has at least two cylindrical filter elements (12) that are designed as identical components and that are axially attached to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Kübler, Dietrich Stötzer
  • Patent number: 8318021
    Abstract: A water or liquid substance filtration device is disclosed which removes microorganisms and organic contamination and sterilizes the containers and water lines after the unit. The unit is portable, or can be mounted stationary. The unit has a five-stage filtration and sterilization system controlled by an independent onboard computer system that can link to a central computer system to keep track of all independent units. The unit will physically filter out of the water contaminants that can be reused, destroyed, or flushed down a safe drain. It can also be modified to filter for a certain size of particulate, making recovery of certain substances possible. The unit has a self-diagnostic system that can determine if the unit is operating properly and can shut down a part thereof if one of the capillary units fails. The system is hydrophilic, can run at low pressures and can be designed from low to extremely high volumes. The unit uses ozone to disinfect containers and water lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: John A. Armour
  • Patent number: 8309711
    Abstract: The method of forming a filter cake from a slurry comprising the steps of feeding the slurry into a filter housing, wherein the filter housing includes a plurality of vertical filter elements; pressing the slurry into the filter housing against the filter elements resulting in i) a filtrate passing through the filter elements and exiting out an exhaust port of the filter housing; ii) forming a solid cake on the filter elements; feeding a wash liquid into the filter housing while draining out the slurry by opening the slurry drain valve; closing the slurry drain valve and then continually feeding wash liquid through the cake and into the filter tube of the filter housing; stopping the feed of wash liquid; introducing a gas into the filter housing and draining out the wash liquid by opening a bottom drain valve; stopping the gas flow and opening a drain to exit most of the gas and remaining wash liquid; opening the bottom cake discharge valve; and back pulsing by a gas to break and to release the filter cake fr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Corn Products Development Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Wiley
  • Patent number: 8298421
    Abstract: A filter device for the insertion of filter elements (28) to be positioned in a filter housing (10) having a filter inlet (20) and a filter outlet (22) for the fluid to be filtered. The filter elements (28) are traversed in both directions for filtration or backwashing. Certain filter elements (28) perform the filtration in a filtration position and at least one additional filter element (28) can be backwashed in a backwashing position to clean its active filtration surface. As the individual filter elements (28) are brought into the backwashing position and are then returned to their filtration position in succession by a pivoting device (30), the filter elements are individually displaced into the backwashing position in a temporal sequence, in contrast to prior art, where an arm-type backwashing device is pivoted towards the individual filter elements to carry out the backwashing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hydac Process Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Markus Maretyak