Fluid filter with thermal control and pressure bypass

A method for controlling the flow of fluid through a filter assembly, wherein the filter assembly comprises:

• a filter media for filtering a fluid;
• and
• a valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for controlling a flow of the fluid through the filter assembly, the valve comprising a thermally active element that changes shape between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to a temperature variation, and a pressure bypass;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• when the fluid is at a first temperature in which the thermally active element is in the first configuration, operating the valve in a cold mode in which the valve is open with the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;
• when the fluid temperature rises to a second temperature in which the thermally active element changes shape to the second configuration, operating the valve in a hot mode to close the valve to isolate the fluid inlet from the fluid outlet;
• and
• when the valve is operating in the hot mode and a pressure in the filter assembly increases above a threshold pressure, operating the valve in a pressure bypass mode to open the valve when the thermally active element is in the second configuration.