Filter with closely-spaced vertical plates

A filter for use with a drain, the filter comprising:

• a tank;
• at least two external manifolds;
• and
• multiple vertical plates suspended vertically inside the tank that each includes a tube connected to one of the at least two external manifolds outside the tank and configured to discharge a filtrate, wherein two adjacent vertical plates of the multiple vertical plates are connected to different manifolds of the at least two manifolds so that plates of the multiple vertical plates connected to the same one of the at least two external manifolds form an independent group of non-adjacent plates that can be discharged simultaneously such that a cake being formed faces a cake being discharged, the independent group of non-adjacent plates configured to discharge by blowing contraflow alternatively in each of the at least two external manifolds, each of the multiple vertical plates also including at least one filter element, each of the at least one filter element including:
• at least two drains;
• and
• a cloth defining compartments configured such that one of the at least two drains is insertable in each one of the compartments, wherein
• the compartments are further configured to inflate during discharge, and
• the cloth is configured to press onto one of the at least two drains of each one of the at least two compartments during a filtration phase.