Filtration system with axial flow cartridge

• US 5,296,137 A
• Filed: 03/12/1992
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
• Inventors: Gershon, Norman B., Truluck, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIFSNYDER, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US07/850,659
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 210/94, 210/95, 210/85, 210/252, 210/253, 210/282, 210/287, 210/420, 210/421, 210/435, 210/450, 210/488, 210/340, 210/489, 210/512.1
• US Class Current: 210/253
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/12 Devices for taking out of action one or more units of multi- unit filters, e.g. for regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/281 using inorganic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters

Abstract

An axial flow filtration cartridge, a system, a support assembly, an apparatus, as well as a process are provided for removing particulate matter as well as dissolved heavy metal ions and the like from an aqueous effluent stream. The invention is useful for removing contaminants from industrial waste streams. The cartridge contains features which make it relatively resistant to fouling by solid particles. Additionally, the cartridge has no central void volume. No separate housing for the cartridges is required. In a system embodiment the cartridge has a filtering chamber containing absorbent clay particles confined between porous liquid-permeable retainer means. An upstream cartridge cap and a downstream cartridge cap removably receive the ends of the filter cartridge in a liquid-tight seal. The flow of aqueous effluent to each of the cartridges is individually controlled. An apparatus embodiment combines a filtration assembly incorporating the filter cartridges with a support assembly which facilitates installation and replacement of the cartridges. When utilized in the apparatus embodiment, regeneration and recycling of the adsorbent clay is relatively easy.

Claims

1. A system suitable for treating an aqueous effluent in a confined flow environment, which system comprises:

an elongated, axial flow filter cartridge including a bed of particulate constituted by superdried clay particles and foraminous retainer means to retain the clay particles within the cartridge;

an upstream cartridge cap defining an effluent inlet port and a seat for one end of the filter cartridge;

an end piece located between the bed and said inlet port and spaced from said upstream cartridge cap, said end piece defining a plurality of apertures adapted to pass and distribute a flow of the aqueous effluent and also defining, together with the cap, a plenum chamber above said apertures;

a downstream cartridge cap defining a filtrate outlet port and a seat for the other end of the filter cartridge;

an effluent conduit in liquid flow communication with said inlet port;

a filtrate conduit in liquid flow communication with said outlet port;

a flow control valve in said effluent conduit; and

a back pressure regulating valve in said filtrate conduit;

said axial flow filter cartridge being removably received and retained in a liquid-tight relationship between said cartridge caps.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 which includes plural axial flow filter cartridges in parallel, each of the cartridges being removably received and retained by respective upstream and downstream cartridge caps, and wherein said cartridges are in flow communication with and adapted to receive the aqueous effluent from a common inlet manifold.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 which includes four of said cartridges in parallel.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2 which includes six of said cartridges in parallel.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cartridge is generally in the shape of a truncated cylinder and is self-supporting under operating pressure.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the cartridge has a length to diameter ratio in the range of about 1.5 to about 5.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein an internal guard filter suitable for removing a suspended solid from the aqueous effluent is provided upstream relative to the cartridge.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the internal guard filter is of a contrasting color vis-a-vis said suspended solid and the upstream cartridge cap includes a sight glass positioned for visual inspection of the guard filter.

9. The system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the internal guard filter is a filter paper disk.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cartridge is substantially symmetrical about a plane normal to the axis of the cartridge so that axial flow through the cartridge is reversible.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the seats receives a compressible gasket positioned between the cartridge and the seat.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a cartridge bypass conduit in flow communication with said effluent conduit and said filtrate conduit.

13. The system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a hydrocyclone suitable for removing a suspended solid from the aqueous effluent upstream of the cartridge.

14. The system in accordance with claim 1 which includes a cartridge bypass conduit and plural axial flow filter cartridges in parallel, each removably received and retained by the cartridge caps, and each containing a bed of particulate filter medium and provided with foraminous retainer means for retaining the medium in the cartridge.

15. A system suitable for treating an aqueous effluent in a confined flow environment, which system comprises:

a plurality of elongated axial flow filter cartridges;

a plurality of upstream cartridge caps, each of the upstream caps defining an effluent inlet port and a seat adapted to receive one end of one of the filter cartridges;

a plurality of downstream cartridge caps, each of the downstream caps defining a filtrate outlet port and a seat adapted to receive the other end of the one of the filter cartridges;

said pluralities of upstream and downstream cartridge caps together constituting a plurality of axially aligned cap pairs;

an effluent conduit in liquid flow communication with each of said inlet ports;

a filtrate conduit in liquid flow communication with each of said outlet ports;

a flow control valve in said effluent conduit; and

a back pressure regulating valve in said filtrate conduit;

each of said axial flow filter cartridges being removably received and retained in a liquid-tight relationship between the cartridge caps of one of the cap pairs;

one of the cap pairs removably receiving and retaining a hollow open-ended cylindrical segment in a liquid-tight relationship so as to define a cartridge bypass conduit in communication with said effluent conduit and said filtrate conduit.

16. A system suitable for treating an aqueous effluent in a confined flow environment, which system comprises:

two elongated, axial flow filter cartridges;

three upstream cartridge caps, each of the upstream caps defining an effluent inlet port and a seat adapted to receive one end of the filter cartridges;

three downstream cartridge caps, each of the downstream caps defining a filtrate outlet port and a seat adapted to receive the other end of the filter cartridges, and being paired with one of the upstream caps to form three axially aligned cap pairs;

an effluent conduit in liquid flow communication with each of said inlet ports;

a filtrate conduit in liquid flow communication with each of said outlet ports;

a flow control valve in said effluent conduit;

a back pressure regulating valve in said filtrate conduit; and

a common inlet manifold in flow communication with a three-way valve incorporating one inlet connection and three outlet connections, wherein two of the cap pairs receive and retain said cartridges and one of the cap pairs receives and retains a hollow open-ended cylindrical segment in a liquid-tight relationship, each cap pair having flow communication with one separate, dedicated outlet connection of the three-way valve.