SELF-CLEANING ACOUSTIC/SCREEN FILTER SYSTEM FOR SOLID/LIQUID SEPARATION

摘要

A system which separates and filters fine, particulate, suspended solids from liquid. The system consists of a vessel (1) of appropriate design for solids/liquid mixture processing, with an inlet (2a) for mixture feed and outlets (3, 4) for processed/filtered liquid and solids concentrate; a means of inducing positive head pressure (10, 11) on the mixture feed; an acoustic energy source (8a) operating in an infrasonic or low frequency sonic range, and a fine mesh screen (7a) mounted so as to be hydraulically coupled with the acoustic energy. Acoustic energy transmitted via pressure wave promotes separation of the solids/liquid mixture fractions and induces an oscillatory field of flux acting on and through the screen (7a), the resultant effect of which serves to promote continuous separation, liquid filtration and self-cleaning of the screen. A beneficial side effect of the low frequency acoustic energy is the stressing and killing of bacteria contained in the liquid being processed.