Method and apparatus for a self-cleaning filter

US7833320B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• COMMUNITY POWER CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• James P. Diebold · Lakewood, US
• Arthur W. Lilley · South Park Township, US
• Kingsbury Browne, III · Golden, US
• Robb Ray Walt · Aurora, US
• Dustin Duncan · Littleton, US
• Michael Walker · Broomfield, US
• John Steele · Aurora, US
• Michael Fields · Longridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 28, 2006
• Grant date: Nov 16, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 3, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10J2300/0956
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid stream without interrupting the overall process or flow. The flowing fluid inflates and expands the flexible filter, and particulate is deposited on the filter media while clean fluid is permitted to pass through the filter. This filter is cleaned when the fluid flow is stopped, the filter collapses, and a force is applied to distort the flexible filter media to dislodge the built-up filter cake. The dislodged filter cake falls to a location that allows undisrupted flow of the fluid after flow is restored. The shed particulate is removed to a bin for periodic collection. A plurality of filter cells can operate independently or in concert, in parallel, or in series to permit cleaning the filters without shutting off the overall fluid flow. The self-cleaning filter is low cost, has low power consumption, and exhibits low differential pressures.