A method of filtering a mixture of liquid and fibrous solid contaminants

Abstract

Abstract This invention presents a filter and a method of filtration which is specifically adapted for the filtration of solid fibrous contaminants from a liquid, the contaminants having a low breadth-to-length ratio. The filtration of such fibers has long posed a problem due to the tendency of such fibers to surface load existing filter media. One aspect of the invention resides in the utilization of a relatively large granular media, i.e., an organic polymeric granular media in which the granules are essentially spherical and of an average size ranging from about 0.050 inch to 0.375 inch. It has been found that the interstices of such relatively large media granules will effectively remove fibrous materials while, at the same time, the granules are so large as to resist appreciable surface loading. Another aspect of the invention resides in the ''''backwash'''' procedures for removing accreted fiber contaminants from the granular filter bed. This procedure involves forming the organic polymeric granules into a slurry in the liquid being filtered, while violently agitating the slurry to wash entwined and matted fibers contaminants from the individual granules and separating the fibrous contaminants from the slurry together with a portion of the liquid being filtered.

Inventors

• 👤 Gene Hirs
• 👤 Richard H Wykoff

Bibliographic Details