Liquid removal apparatus with moving transport deck for filter belt

A liquid removal apparatus adapted to at least partially separate liquid from an infeed composite slurry of liquid and solids, the apparatus including:

• a movable, permeable membrane, hereinafter termed a ‘filter belt’, having a first side and an opposing second side, at least a portion, hereinafter termed the ‘loaded belt portion’, of said second side configured to receive said slurry;
• a permeable membrane support system configured to provide movable support for said loaded belt portion, said support system including;
• at least one transport deck located adjacent or in contact with at least part of said first side of the filter belt below the loaded belt portion;
• a housing configured to allow a pressure differential to be applied between the first and second sides of the filter belt, such that said first side is at a low pressure with respect to the second side;
• said housing including:
• at least one low-pressure chamber with a first aperture in sealing contact with said first side of the movable filter belt below the loaded belt portion,
• a pressure conditioning system for applying said differential pressure via the housing to generate a lower pressure on said first side of the filter belt than the second side;
• wherein the at least one transport deck is entirely located within said low pressure chamber and includes:
• at least one continuous flexible drive member, and
• at least one deflector for shielding a lower portion of said flexible drive member from the slurry and/or separated liquid, said deflector being located underneath the filter belt.