FLUID FILTER SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD
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.