Cleaning mechanism and underdrain for media vessel and method of cleaning

Abstract

An underdrain system for a media pressure vessel has a set of removable pipe sections located between an external header and the bottom of a vessel. Septa extend upwards from the removable pipe sections into the vessel. The header is attached to the bottoms of the removable pipe sections. To clean the vessel, the pipe sections are removed. While a pipe section is removed, its associated septum is removed so that solids can be removed from the annulus between the septum and the vessel. In this way, media can be cleaned from the annuli without moving the external header or entering the vessel. A cleaning mechanism includes an elongated member with a spray nozzle that may be moved within the vessel. The cleaning mechanism may be used to removed media adhered to the walls of the vessel, for example while the septa are removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.