Fluid filter system and related method

Abstract

A system and related method for separating floating and nonfloating particulate and entrained, suspended, and/or dissolved contaminants from a fluid. The system includes a tank with a lower chamber spaced from an outlet or upper chamber by a confinement deck. The deck includes one or more sockets for receiving one or more filter units for fluid treatment. In addition, the lower chamber of the tank acts as a pretreatment sump to remove floating and nonfloating particulates, thereby reducing the load on the filter units. The filter units are configured for radial and/or upward flow of the fluid from the lower chamber. The filter units may include one or more filter media through which the fluid pass prior to exiting the tank. The filter units include a removable screening retainer for retaining the filter media and/or to screen relatively large contaminants. The filter unit may be removed for ease of tank maintenance and replacement of filter media. The system allows a method of contaminated fluid treatment under varying flow conditions by directing the fluid radially and/or upwardly through the retainer. Establishing both types of flow through the filter unit improves filtering and extends filter life without compromising desired flow through rates.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A separation system for removing suspended and/or dissolved contaminants from storm water, the system comprising:
 a tank having an inlet, an outlet, a deck, and a containment chamber below the deck and an outflow chamber above the deck; and   at least one filter unit removably retained to the deck, the filter unit extending below the deck and into the containment chamber, wherein each filter unit is configured to remove at least a portion of the suspended and/or dissolved contaminants in water passing through the filter unit;   wherein water enters the containment chamber through the inlet, moves upward through the filter unit for filtering and into the outflow chamber before passing to the outlet.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  where water entering the containment chamber swirls within the containment chamber before moving upward through the filter unit, the inlet is below the deck and the outlet is above the deck. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the inlet of the tank is arranged to impart a swirling motion to water entering the containment chamber. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a standpipe associated with an opening in the deck for permitting water to flow from the containment chamber into the outflow chamber without passing through the filter unit, the standpipe having an upper edge that is higher than the upper surface of the deck.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the standpipe is configured to build driving head on the filter unit. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58  wherein a lower end of the standpipe extends down into the containment chamber a sufficient distance to limit passage of floating contaminants directly from the containment chamber to the outflow chamber through the standpipe. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the inlet is located in a wall portion of the tank below the deck and the outlet is located in a wall portion of the tank above the deck such that water enters the tank below the deck and leaves the tank above the deck. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the filter unit includes at least one outlet port in its top surface for flowing filtered water into the outflow chamber. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the filter unit includes a top structure covering a filter socket in the deck, the top structure including at least one outlet port for flowing filtered water into the outflow chamber. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a standpipe associated with an opening in the deck for permitting water to flow from the containment chamber into the outflow chamber without passing through the filter unit, the standpipe having an upper edge that is raised above the upper surface of the deck;   wherein the inlet is located in a wall portion of the tank below the deck and the outlet is located in a wall portion of the tank above the deck such that water enters the tank below the deck and leaves the tank above the deck;   wherein each filter unit includes a top structure mounted over a respective filter socket in the deck, the top structure including an outlet port for flowing filtered water into the outflow chamber.   
     
     
         64 . A separation system for removing suspended and/or dissolved contaminants from storm water, the system comprising:
 a tank having an inlet, an outlet, a deck, and a containment chamber below the deck and an outflow chamber above the deck; and   at least one filter removably retained to an opening in the deck, the filter extending below the deck into the containment chamber, wherein the filter unit is configured to remove at least a portion of the suspended and/or dissolved contaminants in water passing from the containment chamber, through the filter unit and up into the outflow chamber;   wherein a surrounding wall extends from the deck downward into the containment chamber to block floating contaminants in the containment chamber from entering the filter.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64  wherein the inlet of the tank is arranged to impart a swirling motion to water entering the containment chamber. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64  wherein water travels radially through the filter and then upward into the outflow chamber. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 a standpipe associated with an opening in the deck for permitting water to flow from the containment chamber into the outflow chamber without passing through the filter, the standpipe having an upper edge that is higher than the upper surface of the deck to build driving head in the system.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 64  wherein the inlet is located in a wall portion of the tank below the deck and the outlet is located in a wall portion of the tank above the deck such that water enters the tank below the deck and leaves the tank above the deck. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 a standpipe associated with an opening in the deck for permitting water to flow from the containment chamber into the outflow chamber without passing through the filter, the standpipe having an upper edge that is higher than the upper surface of the deck to build driving head in the system as water in the containment chamber rises up into the standpipe;   wherein the inlet is located in a wall portion of the tank below the deck and the outlet is located in a wall portion of the tank above the deck such that water enters the tank below the deck and leaves the tank above the deck.   
     
     
         70 . A method of treating storm water, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tank having an inlet, an outlet, a deck, and a containment chamber below the deck and an outflow chamber above the deck, and multiple filter structures supported by the deck, each filter structure extending below the deck into the containment chamber, wherein each filter structure is configured to remove at least a portion of the suspended and/or dissolved contaminants in water passing through the filter structures;   flowing water into the containment chamber in a manner to impart a swirling motion of the water within the containment chamber;   flowing the water radially into and then upward through the filter structures to deliver filtered water to the outflow chamber; and   passing filtered water from the outflow chamber through the outlet of the tank.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , including:
 providing a standpipe in the deck, the standpipe having an upper edge higher than the deck, water in the containment chamber flows upward into the standpipe to build a driving head to move water through the filter structures.