Method of removing clogging material from a clogged granular filter medium

摘要

A method of cleaning and removing clogging material from a clogged granular filter medium of a granular filter device is disclosed. A collector is positioned proximate the clogged filter medium for collecting the clogged filter medium together with a portion of the water contained within a tank housing the clogged granular filter medium. An input of a first pump is connected in fluid tight communication with the collector. A conduit is connected in fluid tight communication with an output port of the first pump. The conduit is connected to a reservoir. The clogged granular filter medium and the portion of water is pumped by the first pump from the tank of the granular filter device such that a slurry of clogged granular filter medium flows from the granular filter device through the collector, first pump and conduit towards the reservoir such that during the transit through the collector, first pump and conduit the clogged granular filter medium is agitated causing an intergranular frictional action among the clogged granular filter medium thereby loosening the clogging material from the granular filter medium to form a suspension of loosened clogging material and entrained granular filter medium. The granular filter medium is separated from the suspension of loosened clogging material by conveying granular filter medium angularly relative to the reservoir thereby permitting the suspension of loosened clogging material and granular filter medium to be conveyed away from the first opening of the separator towards a second opening of the separator, so that the suspension of loosened clogging material drains back towards the first opening thereby separating the granular filter medium from the suspension of loosened clogging material to form a cleaned granular filter medium. The cleaned granular filter medium is collected from the second opening of the separator and transported back to the granular filter device.