Method and apparatus for monitoring an underdrain of a filter system
AssigneeRG Delaware, Inc.
InventorR. Roberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring an underdrain in a filter system for filtering water or wastewater. At least one diagnostic condition relating to the performance of the underdrain is monitored to determine if the underdrain is operating in an acceptable manner.
Claims31
A method of monitoring an underdrain of a filter system for filtering a liquid, said filter system including a filter bed and an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed, said filter system further including a sensor for sensing at least one diagnostic condition relating to performance of said underdrain, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining at least one reading from said sensor relating to performance of said underdrain;
- and,
- (b) determining whether said underdrain is performing at a predetermined acceptable level based at least in part on said reading obtained from said sensor in step (a).
A method of monitoring an underdrain of a filter system for filtering a liquid, said filter system including a filter bed and an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed, said filter system further including a sensor for sensing at least one diagnostic condition relating to flow of fluid through said underdrain, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining at least one reading from said sensor relating to flow of fluid through said underdrain;
- and,
- (b) determining whether said underdrain is performing at a predetermined acceptable level based at least in part on said reading obtained from said sensor in step (a).
A filter system for filtering a liquid, comprising:
- (a) a filter bed having at least one layer of filter media for removing impurities from a liquid passing through said filter bed;
- (b) an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed during a washing cycle to remove impurities retained in said filter bed during a filtration cycle;
- (c) a first sensor for sensing at least one diagnostic condition relating to flow of the fluid through said underdrain;
- and,
- (d) a controller for evaluating the at least one reading of said first sensor to determine whether the flow of fluid through said underdrain is within a predetermined acceptable level.
A filter system as recited in 17, further including:
- (a) a controller for evaluating at least one reading of said first sensor and at least one reading of said second sensor to determine whether the flow of fluid through said underdrain is being obstructed.
A filter system for filtering a liquid, comprising:
- (a) a filter bed having at least one layer of filter media for removing impurities from a liquid passing through said filter bed;
- (b) an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a washing fluid through said filter bed during a washing cycle to remove impurities retained in said filter bed during a filtration cycle;
- and,
- (c) a monitoring means for monitoring said underdrain to determine whether said underdrain is performing at a predetermined acceptable level.
A filter system as recited in 20, wherein:
- (a) said monitoring means includes a pressure gauge for measuring pressure of a washing fluid, said pressure gauge being disposed upstream of a top surface of said underdrain relative to a direction of flow of the washing fluid.
A filter system for filtering a liquid, comprising:
- (a) a filter bed having at least one layer of filter media for removing impurities from a liquid passing through said filter bed;
- (b) an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed;
- and,
- (c) a pressure gauge for measuring pressure of the fluid, said pressure gauge being disposed upstream of a top surface of said underdrain relative to a direction of flow of a washing fluid.
A method of monitoring an underdrain of a filter system for filtering a liquid, said filter system including a filter bed and an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed, said filter system further including a sensing unit for sensing differential pressure across said underdrain, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) at any point in time after said filter system has been filtering a liquid, obtaining a differential pressure across said underdrain to determine whether said underdrain is performing at a predetermined acceptable level.
A filter system for filtering a liquid, comprising:
- (a) a filter bed having at least one layer of filter media for retaining impurities in a liquid to be filtered;
- (b) an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed;
- and,
- (c) a monitoring unit for monitoring differential pressure across two vertically spaced points of said underdrain to determine whether said underdrain is performing acceptably.
A method of monitoring an underdrain of a filter system for filtering a liquid, said filter system including a filter bed and an underdrain operably associated with said filter bed for directing a fluid through said filter bed, said filter system further including a sensor for sensing at least one diagnostic condition relating to flow of fluid through said underdrain, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a plurality of readings from said sensor relating to flow of fluid through said underdrain during operation of said filter system to determine when at least one of the flowing conditions occurs:
- (i) high pressure and (ii) high fluid flow;
- (b) logging said plurality of readings obtained from said sensor;
- and,
- (c) analyzing said logged plurality of readings to determine when at least one of high pressure and high fluid flow events occur during operation of said filter system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.