Vacuum filtration system for a dry bulk trailer and method of using the same

A filtration system for a dry bulk trailer, the dry bulk trailer having at least a tank for storing dry bulk granular material and a fill pipe for loading the material into the tank, the dry bulk trailer adapted and configured to load and unload material by pneumatic conveyance, the filtration system comprising:

• a canister having a dusty air inlet and a clean air outlet, the canister adapted and configured to receive a filter media being positioned within the canister and separating the dusty air inlet and the clean air outlet such that the filter media blocks at least some material received through the dusty air inlet from passing through the filter media while allowing air to exit through the clean air outlet;
• a dusty air line in fluid communication with the dusty air inlet of the canister, the dusty air line adapted and configured to be couplable to a tank of a dry bulk trailer such that the dusty air line is in fluid communication with the tank such that during pneumatic loading of the tank the dusty air line provides air from the tank to the canister for filtration, the air being used to pneumatically convey material into the tank;
• and
• a clean air line in fluid communication with the clean air outlet of the canister, the clean air line adapted and configured to output air that has been cleaned by the filter media, and wherein the clean air line is adapted and configured to be coupled to a vacuum source,
• wherein the filtration system is adapted and configured to operate in a loading mode wherein material can be conveyed into a coupled tank using pneumatic conveyance and wherein material is drawn into the tank as a result of the vacuum created in the tank by the vacuum source and air is drawn through the dusty air line, into the canister, pass the filter media, and exits through the clean air line, and wherein the filtration system is adapted and configured to operate in a cleaning mode wherein the airflow is reversed relative to the loading mode and air flows through the clean air line, into the canister, across the filter media to dislodge at least some material deposited on the side of the filter media facing the dusty air line, exits the canister, and is returned to the tank including material dislodged from the filter media, the reversal of the airflow being effectuated by a residual vacuum in the tank as a result of operation in the loading mode.

A filtration system for a dry bulk trailer, the dry bulk trailer having at least a tank for storing dry bulk granular material and a fill pipe for loading the material into the tank, the dry bulk trailer adapted and configured to load and unload material by pneumatic conveyance, the filtration system comprising:

• a canister having a dusty air inlet and a clean air outlet, the canister adapted and configured to receive a filter media being positioned within the canister and separating the dusty air inlet and the clean air outlet such that the filter media blocks at least some material received through the dusty air inlet from passing through the filter media while allowing air to exit through the clean air outlet;
• a dusty air line in fluid communication with the dusty air inlet of the canister, the dusty air line adapted and configured to be couplable to a tank of a dry bulk trailer such that the dusty air line is in fluid communication with the tank such that during pneumatic loading of the tank air the dusty air line provides air from the tank to the canister for filtration, the air being used to pneumatically convey material into the tank;
• a clean air line in fluid communication with the clean air outlet of the canister, the clean air line adapted and configured to output air that has been cleaned by the filter media, and wherein the clean air line is adapted and configured to be coupled to a vacuum source;
• a plurality of control valves including a vacuum dump valve in fluid communication with the clean air line and in fluid communication with atmosphere, a vacuum shut off valve in fluid communication with the clean air line and positioned between the vacuum dump valve and the canister, and an atmospheric inlet valve in fluid communication with the clean air line and in fluid communication with atmosphere, the atmospheric inlet valve being positioned between the vacuum shut off valve and the canister, wherein the vacuum shut off valve is adapted and configured to selectively isolate the vacuum source from canister such that the vacuum source no longer builds vacuum in the tank, wherein the vacuum dump valve is adapted and configured to selectively provide for fluid communication between the vacuum source and the atmosphere through the clean air line, wherein the atmospheric inlet valve is adapted and configured to selectively provide for fluid communication between the clean air line and atmosphere for a source of air;
• a dusty air pressure sensor in fluid communication with the dusty air inlet;
• a clean air pressure sensor in fluid communication with the clean air line;
• and
• a controls system adapted and configured to control one or more of the plurality of control valves based on one or more signals from one or more of the dusty air pressure sensor or the clean air pressure sensor,
• wherein the filtration system is adapted and configured to operate in a loading mode wherein material can be conveyed into a coupled tank using pneumatic conveyance and wherein material is drawn into the tank as a result of the vacuum created in the tank by the vacuum source and air is drawn through the dusty air line, into the canister, pass the filter media, and exits through the clean air line, and wherein the filtration system is adapted and configured to operate in a cleaning mode wherein the airflow is reversed relative to the loading mode and air flows through the clean air line, into the canister, across the filter media to dislodge at least some material deposited on the side of the filter media facing the dusty air line, exits the canister, and is returned to the tank including material dislodged from the filter media, the reversal of the airflow being effectuated by a residual vacuum in the tank as a result of operation in the loading mode, wherein the control system is adapted and configured to determine a differential pressure across the filter media by taking the difference of the pressure determined by the dusty air pressure sensor and the pressure determined by the clean air pressure sensor, wherein the control system is adapted and configured to control one or more of the plurality of control valves to cause the filtration system to operate in the cleaning mode when the differential pressure determined by the control system exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A filtration system for a dry bulk tank, the filtration system comprising:

• a canister, the canister having an interior volume;
• a filter media in the interior volume of the canister, the filter media dividing the interior volume of the canister into a dusty air side and a clean air side of the interior volume of the canister on opposite sides of the filter media;
• a dusty air line operatively communicating the dusty air side of the interior volume of the canister with the dry bulk tank;
• and
• a fitting operatively communicating with the clean air side of the interior volume of the canister, the fitting it being operable to selectively communicate a vacuum pressure to the clean air side of the interior volume of the canister and communicate a positive pressure to the clean air side of the interior volume of the canister.