Fluid filter system and related method

Abstract

A 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. The lower chamber of the tank acts as a pretreatment sump to remove floating and nonfloating particulates, 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 be removed for ease of tank maintenance and replacement of filters.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A method of removing suspended and/or dissolved contaminants from storm water runoff, the method comprising:
 utilizing a tank having an internal deck that establishes a containment chamber below the deck and an outflow chamber above the deck, the tank including multiple filter units, each filter unit removably retained in a respective filter socket in the deck, each filter unit extending below the deck into the containment chamber;   directing storm water into the containment chamber;   head pressure causing the storm water to move through the filter units for filtering and upward out of the filter units into the outflow chamber;   flowing the storm water from the outflow chamber to an outlet of the tank.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  including the step of building up head pressure by providing a head building space above the deck and collecting some storm water in the head building space. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 supporting each filter unit in its respective socket via a top portion of the filter unit and utilizing a gasket for sealing the top portion in the filter socket.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54  including the step of imparting a swirling motion to water in the containment chamber. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54  wherein water travels radially into the filter units and then upward into the outflow chamber. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54  including providing a flow path for permitting water to flow through the tank without passing through the filter units under higher flow conditions. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising the step of performing a maintenance operation on the tank that involves removing at least some of the filter units from their respective filter sockets. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising the steps of:
 keeping each filter unit in a secured state in its respective filter socket during storm water flow;   performing a maintenance operation that includes the steps of:
 releasing at least some of the filter units from their respective filter sockets; 
 moving the released filter units upward out of their respective filter sockets; 
 accessing the containment chamber through at least one of the filter sockets to remove contaminants from the containment chamber; 
 placing replacement filter units into the filter sockets; and 
 securing the replacement filter units in place in the filter sockets. 
   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein contaminants are removed from the containment chamber via a vacuum. 
     
     
         63 . A method of removing suspended and/or dissolved contaminants from storm water runoff, the method comprising:
 utilizing a tank having an internal deck that establishes a containment chamber below the deck and an outflow chamber above the deck, the tank including multiple filter units, each filter unit removably retained in a respective filter socket in the deck, each filter unit extending below, the deck into the containment chamber, each filter unit including a top portion supporting the filter unit in its respective socket;   directing storm water into the containment chamber;   building a head pressure to cause the storm water to enter and move upward through the filter units for filtering and then out of the filter units into the outflow chamber;   flowing the storm water from the outflow chamber to an outlet of the tank; and   causing at least some contaminants captured by the filter units to drop back into the containment chamber.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the step of building head pressure involves collecting some storm water in a head building space above the internal deck. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 utilizing a gasket in connection with each filter unit for sealing the top portion in its respective filter socket.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63  including the step of imparting a swirling motion to water in the containment chamber. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63  wherein water travels radially into the filter units and then upward into the outflow chamber. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63  including flowing some storm water through the tank without passing through the filter units under higher flow conditions. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising the steps of:
 keeping each filter unit in a secured state in its respective filter socket during storm water flow;   performing a maintenance operation that includes the steps of:
 releasing at least some of the filter units from their respective filter sockets; 
 moving the released filter units upward out of their respective filter sockets; 
 accessing the containment chamber through at least one of the filter sockets to remove contaminants in the containment chamber; 
 placing replacement filter units into the filter sockets; and 
 securing the replacement filter units in place in the filter sockets. 
   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein contaminants are removed from the containment chamber via a vacuum.