Media Bed Filters for Filtering Fine Particles from a Raw Liquid Flow and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

The present document describes a media bed filter for filtering fine particles from a raw liquid flow, the media bed filter comprising: a tank having: a top portion; a bottom portion defining a bottom surface for receiving a media bed, the media bed having a supporting media to be disposed on the bottom surface and a filtering media for covering the supporting media, the top portion of the tank being above the filtering media of the media bed; a raw liquid inlet in fluid communication with a nozzle configuration located in the top portion of the tank for providing the raw liquid flow in the tank in the form of a plurality of jets at a directional velocity substantially equal or greater to a disengagement velocity of the filtering media.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A media bed filter for filtering particulates from a raw liquid flow, said media bed filter comprising:
 a tank having respective top and bottom portions;   a media bed disposed in the tank;   said top portion of said tank along with said media bed defining, in the top portion of the tank, a horizontally disposed cross-sectional area above the media bed;   a raw liquid inlet to the tank;   a plurality of nozzles for directing a flow of the raw liquid;   said raw liquid inlet being connected with the plurality of nozzles, and the raw liquid inlet and plurality of nozzles being disposed within the horizontally disposed cross-sectional area above the media bed;   said raw liquid inlet and plurality of nozzles being constructed and arranged to direct a flow of raw liquid horizontally over said horizontal cross-sectional area; and   a filtered liquid outlet arranged at the tank.   
     
     
         22 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said media bed has a top surface and said raw liquid inlet includes an elongated raw liquid inlet conduit that extends substantially in parallel with the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         23 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said raw liquid inlet includes an elongated raw liquid inlet conduit that extends substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         24 . The media bed filter of  claim 23  wherein each of the nozzles extends vertically relative to the elongated raw liquid inlet conduit. 
     
     
         25 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  including a baffle associated with each nozzle and constructed and arranged under an outlet of the nozzle. 
     
     
         26 . The media bed filter of  claim 25  wherein the baffle is arranged between the outlet of the nozzle and a top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         27 . The media bed filter of  claim 26  wherein the baffle is substantially planar. 
     
     
         28 . The media bed filter of  claim 27  wherein the substantially planar baffle extends in parallel with the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         29 . The media bed filter of  claim 26  wherein the baffle is in the form of a diverter for redirecting vertical flow through the nozzle to horizontal flow at the baffle and across the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         30 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said tank is cylindrical having a longitudinal center axis that extends horizontally. 
     
     
         31 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein respective nozzles are oriented in opposite direction. 
     
     
         32 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said nozzles are oriented angularly to a top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         33 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said raw liquid inlet includes an elongated raw liquid inlet conduit that extends substantially horizontally, wherein each of the nozzles extends vertically relative to the elongated raw liquid inlet conduit, and wherein an output end of each nozzle is directed horizontally so as to direct the flow of the raw liquid over a top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         34 . The media bed filter of  claim 33  wherein the output end of each nozzle is directed in opposite directions. 
     
     
         35 . The media bed filter of  claim 33  wherein the output end of each nozzle is directed in multiple radial directions. 
     
     
         36 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein said media bed has a top surface and said raw liquid inlet includes an elongated raw liquid inlet conduit that extends substantially in parallel with the top surface of the media bed, and wherein the elongated raw liquid inlet conduit extends over a major length of the tank. 
     
     
         37 . The media bed filter of  claim 36  wherein an output end of each nozzle is directed horizontally so as to direct the flow of the raw liquid over a top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         38 . The media bed filter of  claim 37  wherein the plurality of nozzles is arranged in opposed direction nozzle arrays. 
     
     
         39 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein the filtered liquid outlet is taken from the bottom portion of the tank. 
     
     
         40 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  further including a control unit for controlling the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         41 . The media bed filter of  claim 40  wherein the control unit controls one of an exit velocity of the plurality of nozzles and an orientation of the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         42 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of nozzles provide the liquid flow at a horizontal and parallel directional velocity that is substantially equal or greater to a disengagement velocity of the media bed. 
     
     
         43 . The media bed filter of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of nozzles provide a sweeping action at the surface of the media bed material by means of a plurality of equal flows from the nozzles. 
     
     
         44 . A filter tank for filtering particulates from a raw liquid flow, in the form of a media bed filter of the type that includes a supporting media and a filtering media that covers and is supported by the supporting media, said filter tank comprising:
 a top portion;   a bottom portion having a bottom surface for receiving the supporting and filtering media;   said top portion of said tank along with said media bed defining an area above a top surface of the media bed;   a raw liquid inlet to the tank;   a plurality of nozzles for directing a flow of the raw liquid;   said raw liquid inlet being connected with the plurality of nozzles so that the raw liquid flow is directed through the raw liquid inlet into the plurality of nozzles;   said raw liquid inlet and plurality of nozzles being disposed within the area above the top surface of the media bed;   said raw liquid inlet and plurality of nozzles being constructed and arranged to direct a flow of raw liquid in a parallel flow over the top surface of the media bed; and   a filtered liquid outlet arranged at the tank.   
     
     
         45 . The filter tank of  claim 44  wherein the plurality of nozzles extend orthogonal to the raw liquid inlet and in a direction toward the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         46 . The filter tank of  claim 44  including a baffle associated with each nozzle and constructed and arranged under an outlet of each nozzle. 
     
     
         47 . The filter tank of  claim 46  wherein the baffle is arranged between the outlet of the nozzle and the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         48 . The filter tank of  claim 47  wherein the baffle is substantially planar. 
     
     
         49 . The filter tank of  claim 48  wherein the substantially planar baffle extends in parallel with the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         50 . The filter tank of  claim 46  wherein the baffle is in the form of a diverter for redirecting vertical flow through the nozzle to horizontal flow at the baffle and across the top surface of the media bed. 
     
     
         51 . The filter tank of  claim 44  further including a control unit for controlling the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         52 . The filter tank of  claim 51  wherein the control unit controls one of an exit velocity of the plurality of nozzles and an orientation of the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         53 . The filter tank of  claim 44  wherein the plurality of nozzles provide the liquid flow at a horizontal and parallel directional velocity that is substantially equal or greater to a disengagement velocity of the media bed. 
     
     
         54 . The filter tank of  claim 44  wherein the plurality of nozzles provide a sweeping action at the surface of the media bed material by means of a plurality of equal flows from the nozzles.