Method of filtering water or wastewater
A filter for removing at least some impurities (e.g. foreign matter of any nature including a solid, a liquid or a gas) from water or wastewater. A vibrator operably associated with at least a portion of the filter for imparting a vibrational force to enhance any one or more of numerous aspects of the filtration process including: (i) installation of the filter and/or various components thereof; (ii) servicing of the filter and/or components thereof; and, (iii) operation of the filter during a filtration cycle and a cleaning cycle.
1. A method of filtering water or wastewater, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a filter, the filter including a filter bed in which at least some impurities from influent are removed and a conduit for directing a fluid through at least a portion of the filter bed;
(b) providing at least one vibrator;
(c) operably associating the at least one vibrator with at least a portion of the filter bed;
(d) providing a component at least a portion of which is to be partially inserted in the filter bed;
(d) transmitting a vibrational force to at least a portion of the filter bed while directing fluid through at least a portion of the filter bed at subfluidization velocity; and,
(e) inserting at least a portion of the component into the filter bed during step (d).
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
(a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bed expands less than 19 percent.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
(a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bed expands less than 10 percent.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
(a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bed expands less than 5 percent.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 , further including:
(a) operating the vibrator to vibrate an air grid such that the frequency of the vibrator is approximately equal to a resonant frequency of the air grid; and,
(b) step (a) of this claim is performed while the air grid is being inserted in the filter bed having at least one layer of filter media.
6. A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
(a) during step (b) of claim 5 , the vibrator imparts a force of between approximately 400 lbs to 1,000 lbs.
7. A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
(a) said air grid includes a horizontally extending air header and a plurality of horizontally extending air laterals connected to the horizontally extending air header and step (e) of claim 1 is performed such that the horizontally extending air header and each of the plurality of horizontally extending air laterals are positioned below an upper portion of the filter bed.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , further including:
(a) operating the vibrator to vibrate said component such that the frequency of the vibrator is approximately equal to a resonant frequency of said component; and,
(b) step (a) of this claim is performed while said component is being inserted in the filter bed having at least one layer of filter media.
9. A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
(a) during step (a) of claim 8 , the vibrator imparts a force of between approximately 400 lbs to 1,000 lbs. on said component to allow said component to be submerged in the filter bed.
10. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
(a) said component is an air grid including a horizontally extending air header and a plurality of horizontally extending air laterals connected to the horizontally extending air header and step (e) of claim 1 is performed such that the horizontally extending air header and each of the plurality of horizontally extending air laterals are positioned below an upper portion of the filter bed.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 , further including the steps of:
(a) providing an underdrain beneath the filter bed for directing a fluid upwardly through said filter bed; and,
(b) during step (d) in claim 1 , directing a fluid from said underdrain upwardly at subfluidization velocity.