Method of filtering using an expandable bed fiber and coalescer

A method for removing particulate contaminants from a liquid which method comprises passing a liquid feedstock containing solid and/or liquid particles through a filter coalescer cartridge after the cartridge has been subjected to a two step operation of (1) twisting and tensioning yarns of crimped fibers to a parallel relationship and (2) compressing the yarns to form crimped fibers in a randomly arranged network;

• said cartridge comprising
• (a) a first support at one end of the cartridge,
• (b) a second end support at the other end of the cartridge,
• (c) a filter coalescer element comprising a plurality of fibrous yarns, each yarn made up of a number of crimped fibers, each yarn being secured at one end to one end support and at the other end to the second end support, and a drive mechanism connected to one of the end supports for relatively rotating the end supports to twist and tension the yarns in parallel relationship to one another and for moving the end supports towards one another after tensioning the yarns to compress the yarns to form the crimped fibers into a randomly arranged network, and
• (d) for reversing the relative rotation of the supports and for moving the supports away from each other to extend the yarns and to straighten the fibers.