Cross flow filter method

Claim 1

A filtration method for a liquid comprising the steps of: filtering a liquid through a filter assembly disposed in a filter retaining section of a tank, said filter assembly including a filter panel having a generally planar vertically disposed filter media surface with pores; applying vacuum pressure in communication with the filter panel to draw liquid filtrate through the pores of the filter media surface at a flow rate Q out ; drawing liquid from a liquid retaining section of the tank in fluid communication with the filter retaining section of the tank; cross flowing the liquid drawn from the liquid retaining section of the tank vertically downward across the filter media surface, such that the horizontal velocity V h of the liquid is less than the vertical velocity V v of the liquid, the liquid cross flowing at a flow rate of Q x while filtering, wherein Q x is greater than Q out ; recirculating liquid from below the filter assembly in the filter retaining section of the tank to the liquid retaining section of the tank; settling particles from the liquid in the liquid retaining section of the tank by gravitational forces; accumulating the settled particles in a solids collection section of the tank in fluid communication with the liquid retaining section of the tank; drawing filtrate from a first manifold inlet in fluid communication with a first filter panel under vacuum pressure from a suction inlet of a pump, while applying positive pressure through a pressurized inlet to a second separate and independent manifold inlet in fluid communication with a second filter panel for a period of time; closing the pressurized inlet while communicating the suction inlet of the pump simultaneously with both the first and second manifold inlets for a period of time; and applying positive pressure to the first manifold inlet while the suction inlet of the pump draws filtrate from the second manifold inlet for a period of time.

Claim 14

A method for cross flow filtration of fluid comprising the steps of: filtering fluid through a filter assembly including first and second filter panels having a generally planar vertically disposed filter media surface with pores; drawing filtrate through the pores of the filter media surface at a flow rate Q out by application of vacuum pressure in communication with the filter panel; circulating fluid at a flow rate Q x vertically downward across the filter media surface, such that the horizontal velocity V h of the fluid is less than the vertical velocity V v of the fluid, wherein Q x is greater than Q out ; and alternately switching the applied vacuum pressure between first and s econd separate and independent manifolds having first and second inlets in fluid communication with said first and second filter panels respectively at predetermined intervals.

Claim 15

A method for cross flow filtration of fluid comprising the steps of: filtering fluid through a filter assembly including first and second filter panels having a generally planar vertically disposed filter media surface with pores; drawing filtrate through the pores of the filter media surface at a flow rate Q out by application of vacuum pressure in communication with the filter panel; circulating fluid at a flow rate Q x vertically downward across the filter media surface, such that the horizontal velocity V h of the fluid is less than the vertical velocity V v of the fluid, wherein Q x is greater than Q out ; and alternately switching the applied vacuum pressure between first and s econd separate and independent manifolds having first and second inlets in fluid communication with said first and second filter panels respectively at predetermined intervals.