Deionizing fluid filter devices and methods of use

A filter device, comprising:

• a housing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, each in communication with a plurality of filter structures;
• a plurality of filter panels in stacked arrangement, each comprising:
• at least one charged layer adapted to receive a charge so that an electric potential is applied to a fluid in the filter device;
• a substrate having a front surface and a back surface;
• and
• the plurality of filter structures extending from the front surface of the substrate, the plurality of filter structures being spaced apart from one another to define a plurality of input boundaries on a top surface of the substrate and a plurality of output boundaries on a lower surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of filter structures comprising a pair of sidewalls spaced apart from one another, the pair of sidewalls comprising filter features that allow passage of fluid from the plurality of input boundaries into an outlet aperture formed by the spacing of the pair of sidewalls, and a filter port disposed within each outlet aperture, wherein the plurality of filter panels are stacked so that the plurality of filter structures of one filter panel abuts the back surface of an adjacent filter panel.

A method for filtering a fluid, the method comprising:

• introducing a fluid into a filter device, the filter device comprising:
• a plurality of filter panels in stacked arrangement, each comprising:
• a housing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, each in communication with a plurality of filter structures;
• a substrate having a front surface and a back surface;
• and
• a plurality of filter structures extending from the front surface of the substrate, the plurality of filter structures including at least one charged layer adapted to receive a charge so that an electric potential is applied to a fluid in the filter device, the plurality of filter structures being spaced apart from one another to define a plurality of input boundaries on a top surface of the substrate and a plurality of output boundaries on a lower surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of filter structures comprising a pair of sidewalls spaced apart from one another, the pair of sidewalls comprising filter features that allow passage of fluid from the plurality of input boundaries into an outlet aperture formed by the spacing of the pair of sidewalls, and a filter port disposed within each outlet aperture, wherein the plurality of filter panels are stacked so that the plurality of filter structures of one filter panel abuts the back surface of an adjacent filter panel;
• wherein the fluid passes through the plurality of input boundaries, at least a portion of the fluid is filtered across the filter features of the plurality of filter structures, further wherein filtered fluid passes out of the filter device from the outlet cavities and a concentrate created by filtering the fluid exits from the plurality of output boundaries.