Filter comprising rotatable, disk-shaped filter elements

A device for the separation of substances from a liquid comprising:

• a device configured for separating a liquid into a first filtered liquid, a second liquid having a density, and a third liquid having a density which is greater than the density than the second liquid;
• the device comprising:
• a housing having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of generally disc shaped filtering elements disposed within the housing so as to be rotatable within the housing, the filtering elements having outer surfaces and inner spaces and being configured for allowing filtered liquid to pass through the outer surfaces and into the inner spaces;
• a hollow shaft disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing and having the plurality of filtering elements attached thereto, the hollow shaft having an inner space disposed in communication with the inner spaces of the filtering elements such that the first filtered liquid passes from the inner spaces of the filtering elements to the inner space of the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft being rotatable within the housing in conjunction with the filtering elements;
• wherein the filtering elements have at least one throughflow opening proximate to the hollow shaft configured for allowing substances with a density lower than that of the third liquid to flow past the filtering elements;
• and
• wherein the hollow shaft defines an outlet for the first filtered liquid, and wherein the housing comprises an inlet for the liquid which is to be separated disposed on the first end of the housing, a first discharge outlet for discharging the second fluid disposed on the second end of the housing, and a second discharge outlet for discharging the third fluid disposed on the second end of the housing;
• and
• wherein the first discharge outlet is disposed adjacent the hollow shaft and the second discharge outlet is disposed adjacent the outside diameter of the housing.

A process for the separation of substances from a liquid, by means of a device with several rotatable filtering elements arranged around a rotational axis and in stacked formation, said filtering elements allowing the filtered liquid to pass through, the process comprising introducing liquid into the device through a fluid inlet disposed on a first end of the device, collecting between the filtering elements in the area of the rotational axis lower density substances which do not pass through the filtering elements and which exhibit a density lower than that of the fluid, allowing said lower density substances to pass by the filtering elements via at least one throughflow opening provided in the filtering elements, discharging said lower density substances through a first discharge outlet disposed on a second end of the device opposite the first end of the device, said first discharge outlet being disposed adjacent the rotational axis of the filtering elements, collecting a higher density substance proximate the outer diameter of the filtering elements, discharging said higher density substance through a second discharge outlet disposed on the second end of the device, said second discharge outlet being disposed adjacent the outer diameter of the filtering elements, and collecting the filtered liquid which passes through the filtering elements and discharging said filtered liquid through a third discharge outlet.