Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for the continuous treatment of the flow of a mixture containing liquids and solids. A pump provides the mixture to tube that includes a woven material. The liquid is filtered from the mixture, leaving a solids-enriched mixture in the tube. The tube may be flexed during the process, freeing solids trapped in the tube to flow through the center of the tube. A valve may be provided to the tube to generate a back-pressure in the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/226,592, filed Jul. 17, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a system and method for treating a mixture of solids and water, and particularly to a method and system for separating or concentrating liquid and solids from slurry. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     Water with suspended solids may result from agricultural, manufacturing, or natural sources. In some circumstance, it is desired to produce water with fewer solids, and in some circumstances it is desired produce concentrated solids. Equipment has been developed that utilize filters for performing the separation. Such systems typically require intermittent shutting down of the equipment to clean out the filters. 
     Thus there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that permits the continuous or pulsatile separation of solids from water at high flow rates. Such a method and apparatus should be operable with a range of solid concentrations and should operate to continuously clean any filters. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior art using devices and/or methods that permit the continuous treatment of slurries. 
     In certain embodiments, an apparatus is provided to treat a slurry and form a solids-enriched portion and a solids-depleted portion. The apparatus includes a frame, a positive displacement pump, and a passageway. The pump is attached to the frame and has an input to accept a continuous slurry flow and an output to provide the flow at an elevated pressure. The passageway has a first end connected to the pump output, a portion attached to the frame, and a second end. The passageway has a length of an open weave material. While operating the positive displacement pump to provide the continuous slurry, a solids-depleted portion is provided through the open weave material and a solids-enriched portion is provided through the second end. 
     In certain other embodiments, an apparatus is provided to treat a slurry to form a solids-enriched portion and a solids-depleted portion. The apparatus includes a positive displacement pump and a passageway. The pump has an input to accept a continuous slurry flow and an output to provide the flow at an elevated pressure. The passageway has a first end connected to the pump output, a wall having a wall portion including a porous material, and a second end. While operating the positive displacement pump to provide the continuous slurry, a solids-depleted portion is provided through the wall portion, and a solids-enriched portion is provided through the second end. 
     In certain embodiments, a method is provided of treating a slurry to form a solids-enriched portion and a solids-depleted portion. The method includes continuously pumping the slurry into one end of a passageway, which has a porous wall portion, and, while continuously pumping, collecting the solids-depleted portion from the porous wall, and collecting the solids-enriched portion from a second end of the passageway. 
     In certain embodiments, mechanism and methods for manipulating the passageway are provided. 
     These features together with the various ancillary provisions and features, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, are attained by the slurry treatment apparatus and method of the present invention, preferred embodiments thereof being shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of a first embodiment of the system; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the system; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a trough; 
         FIG. 2D  is a sectional view  2 D- 2 D of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the use of a valve, where  FIG. 3A  shows the valve in a closed or partially closed configuration, and  FIG. 3A  shows the valve in an open configuration; 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D illustrate sequential times in the operation of a first manipulation mechanism; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate sequential times in one embodiment of the operation of a second manipulation mechanism. 
       Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments are described herein that provide apparatus and methods for filtering slurries—that is, a mixture or suspension of solids in a liquid. In general, embodiments of the inventive system accept slurry into a passageway and provide two outputs: a filtered stream that passes through the walls of the passageway, and a concentrated stream that passes through the interior of the passageway. Certain other embodiments accept a continuous slurry stream and provide continuous output stream. Examples of slurries that may be filtered and/or separated include, but are not limited to, the effluent from municipal waste, dairy waste, and food processing. The slurries may further include polymers and/or coagulants that are provided to facilitate treatment. 
     The embodiments described herein are illustrative, and the system may be scaled to accommodate various flow rates and slurry compositions according to the pump size, filtering passageway length, diameter, and pore size, the number of passageways, and the pressure. 
     A first embodiment of a system  100  is shown in the schematic of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , where  FIG. 1A  is a top view of the system and  FIG. 1B  is a side view  1 B- 1 B of the system. System  100  may be supported on the ground G by a frame  105  on which is mounted a mixture intake portion  110 , a passageway support  140 , a first receptacle  107 , and a second receptacle  109 . An enclosed tubular passageway  10  has an input end that is attached to mixture intake portion  110  and an output end at receptacle  109 , and is further supported by passageway support  140 . 
     Mixture intake portion  110  includes a hopper  111  to accept material, such as a slurry, and a pump  113  powered by a motor  115  with an output  117  to provide pressurized material to passageway  10 . A coupling  104  may also be provided to couple output  117  to passageway  101 . A pressure transducer (not shown) may also be included within or near pump  113  to provide a measure of the pressure at output  117 . 
     In certain embodiments, pump  113  may be, for example and without limitation, a positive-displacement pump. The use of a positive-displacement pump permits the build up of pressure and continuous flow of slurry through system  100 . Pump  113  may thus be, for example and without limitation, a gear pump, a progressing cavity pump (also know as “progressive cavity pump”), a roots-type pump, a peristaltic pump, or a reciprocating-type pump. 
     In one embodiment, pump  113  is a model A1E progressing cavity pump manufactured by Monyo Inc (Springfield, Ohio 45506), and motor 115 V is a 3 HP motor, and mixture intake portion  110  is capable of pumping 10 gal/min at a pressure 15 psi to 350 psi, and passageway  10  has a diameter D 1  of 2.0 inches. In generally the size of the pump and passageway may be larger or smaller, or system  100  may have parallel pumps and/or passageways. 
     Passageway support  140  includes a frame  142  attached to coupling  106 . Frame  142  also includes wheels  143  to permit movement of the passageway support along frame  105 . 
     Passageway  10  is further shown as comprising two portions: a first passageway  101  and a second passageway  108 . Passageway  101  extends from a first coupling  104  at mixture intake portion  110  to a second coupling  106  at passageway support  140 . Passageway  101  includes a porous material, and thus the walls of the passageway can act as a filter. Passageway  101  is also referred to herein as the filter, the filter hose, or filter tube. Passageway  108  is a low pressure conduit, such as flexible PVC conduit. 
     In one embodiment, material  101  is an expandable material, and which is both porous and flexible. Thus, for example, the material may be formed from an open weave, preferably of a sturdy synthetic material, such as a polyamide monofilament. One such material is ALTA-FLEXT™ TUFF Heavy Duty Expandable Nylon Monofilament Sleeving (Alta Technologies, Inc., Pennington, N.J. 08534). While such material is generally used as an exterior covering (or sleeving) over hoses harnesses, or cable assemblies, and is referred to as “sleeving,” the inventor has found that it exhibits properties making is useful for slurry filtering. When the length of an expanded braided tube is changed under tension, the braiding opens or closes, changing the size of the pores of the material. The openings (pores) that may vary from 10&#39;s of microns to fractions of an inch, depending on weave and any tension placed on the sleeving. 
     The length L 1  of material  101  is selected to produce concentrated slurry, and may vary, for a material having a diameter D 1  of 1.5 inches, from a L 1  of a few inches to several feet. 
     System  100  may alternative include a vibrating plate  20  that is affixed to frame  105 . When alternative vibrating plate  20  is present and/or is actuated, system  100  provides a vibratory motion to passageway  101 . 
     As described subsequently, system  100  may be operated to continuously accept material, such as a slurry A, in mixture intake portion  110 , and provide the material at high pressure into passageway  10 . A portion of the walls of passageway  101  is porous, and thus may filter a slurry contained under pressure therein. Specifically, the material of passageway  101  is selected to be porous to none, or an acceptable size range, of the solids within slurry A, and also capable of being formed into a passageway capable of withstanding the pressures and abrasive quality of the slurry. As described subsequently material  101  may be, but is not limited to, a braided monofilament. 
     First receptacle  107  may accumulate the portion of slurry A that passes through and is filtered by the wall of passageway  101  as a solids-depleted portion, or a “slurry filtrate” B, and second receptacle  109  may accumulate the portion of the slurry that continues through passageways  101  and  108  as a solids-enriched portion, or an unfiltered slurry C, referred to herein as a “concentrated slurry.” The concentrated slurry may be fluid or may be essentially solids. 
     In certain embodiments, some solids may permeate passageway  101 , and thus the quality and amount of the filtrate B may vary along the length of passageway  101 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates several receptacles, specifically receptacles  107   a ,  107   b , and  107   c , which may accumulate filtrate having decreasing amounts of solid materials that pass through the walls of passageway  101 . 
     In alternative embodiments, one or more or receptacles  107  and  109  may include conduits to provide flows to other equipment, or for discharge to the environment. 
     The operation of system  100  depends on many parameters including, but not limited to: the pressure and flow rate provided by pump  113 ; the response of material  101  to being pressurized and possible resulting change in pore size of an open weave material, the diameter and length of material  101 ; the ability of a concentrated slurry to flow through passageway  10 ; and/or the degree to which the pores in material the material become clogged. 
     In certain embodiments, system  100  provides a steady-state flow of filtrate and concentrated slurry. Thus, for example, system  100  may operate as follows. A steady stream of slurry A is provided into hopper  111  and motor  115  is operated to pressurize the slurry in pump  113 . Slurry A then flows through passageway  10 . Since material  101  is porous, the liquid portion of the slurry and possibly smaller solids, permeate the material and leave the passageway as flow B into receptacle  107 . Since less liquid remains in the passageway, the amount of liquid permeating material  101  may decrease with distance, as illustrated by the length of the various arrows B. The unfiltered material continues to flow along passageway  10 , becoming more concentrated as flow B continues to leave the passageway. After some time, a steady-state operating condition is reached where the slurry continues to concentrate and then flows through passageway  10 . A concentrated slurry C, which may contain small amounts of liquid, flows into the passageway comprising a non-porous material  108  and is accumulated in receptacle  109 . 
     In certain embodiments, pump  113  may first be operated at a high flow rate and/or pressure to establish a steady flow of filtrate B and concentrated slurry C, and then be reduced to a lower flow rate and/or pressure. 
     Further, if material  101  is an open weave material, then the diameter, length, and size of the openings (pores) may change depending on the pressure within passageway  10 . Thus, for example, as the pressure in passageway  10  increases, the pore size and diameter D 1  may become smaller and the length L 1  may increase. Passageway support  140  may move to accommodate changes in length L 1  as a result of changes in flow or pressure within passageway  10 . 
     In certain other embodiments, the concentrated slurry does not easily flow through passageway  10 , and a pulsatile operating condition may be reached. Thus, for example, system  100  may operates as follows. With pump  113  providing a steady stream of slurry A, the slurry in passageway  10  becomes more concentrated with distance along the passageway. At some position along the passageway the concentration of solids increases to a point at which the concentrated slurry may no longer flow. Thus, for example, the slurry is so liquid depleted and viscous, and/or solidified, that the flow of concentrated slurry stops. At this point, passageway  10  is essentially plugged and the flow C decreases to zero. Since pump  113  continues to provide slurry A into passageway  10 , and since the liquid can emerge from passageway  10  as flow B, solids continue to accumulate and the plugged concentrated slurry backs up towards pump  113 , and the pressure in the concentrated slurry increases. At some point the pressure in the concentrated slurry is sufficient to move the slurry: the plug is then ejected as flow C. The flow A proceeds into the passageway and the processes repeats. 
     During pulsatile operation, the pressure within passageway  101  will also be pulsatile. The increase and decrease in pressure within an open weave material may change the size of the openings, allowing lodged solids to either pass through the walls of the passageway or to flow along the passageway, essentially cleaning the filter provided by the walls of passageway  101 , and allowing further operation of system  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, alternative vibrating plate  20  is provided and/or is actuated to vibrate passageway  101 . Vibration of passageway  101  may act to loosen accumulated solids within passageway pores and/or facilitate the flow of solids-enriched material through passageway  101  as flow C. 
     ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to provide additional manipulation of the flow within passageway  101 . Thus, for example, a higher pressure in passageway  101  may be necessary to filter the slurry, and thus a valve or some mechanism for restricting the flow may be useful. In addition, for example, the interior and/or pores of passageway  101  may become clogged with material, and thus mechanisms that manipulate a portion of passageway  10  or the flow therein may act to dislodge solids and permit flow of concentrated slurry C and to continuously clean the pores of the passageway. The alternative embodiments provide means for manipulating passageway  10  to restrict the flow along or through the passageway. The means for manipulating include, but are not limited to, pushing, flexing, shaking, or vibrating passageway  10 , including but not limited to some or all of passageway  101 , and/or deforming or changing the walls of passageway  10 , including but not limited to some or all of passageway  101 , to modify or change the size or shape of the cross-section of the passageway. 
     An alternative embodiment of system  100  is shown as system  200  in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C, and  2 D, where  FIG. 2A  is a top view of the system,  FIG. 2B  is a side view  2 B- 2 B of the system, 
       FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a trough  200 , and  FIG. 2D  is a sectional view  2 D- 2 D. System  200  may be generally similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A and 1B , except as further detailed below. Where possible, similar elements are identified with identical reference numerals in the depiction of the systems  100  and  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  frame  105  includes one or more mechanisms to press, pinch, expand, and/or contract the passageway, including but not limited to, a first manipulation mechanism  120 , a valve  130 , and a second manipulation mechanism  240 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows trough  102 , which supports passageway  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Trough  102  includes sides  102   a  and  102   b  and a bottom  103 , and has a width W, a height H, and a length L 2 . In certain embodiments, it is preferred that width W be large enough to contain a passageway of nominal diameter D 1  when flattened, and thus may be greater than approximately (t/2) D 1 , and that the height H be approximately equal to the diameter D 1 . Holes  109  allow liquid to flow through trough  102  may be provided along bottom  103 . 
     In the view of  FIG. 2B , side  102   a  of trough  102  has been cut-away to more easily see the structure of system  200 . 
     Various portions of passageway  10  may perform different functions and may be formed from one or more materials. At least a portion of passageway  10  is porous or has openings permeable to the slurry liquid while trapping a substantial amount or all of the suspended solids, thus permitting concentrated slurry or a solid material to flow through the center of passageway  10 , and a filtered flow through the porous material. In certain embodiments, some portions of passageway  10  are sturdy and flexible to permit manipulation or pinching or restriction in a valve; and other portions provide a low pressure conduit. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A , passageway  10  includes: a first portion  10   a  that extends from mixture intake portion  110  to first manipulation mechanism  120 ; a second portion  10   b  that extends through the first manipulation mechanism; a third portion  10   c  that extends from the first manipulation mechanism to valve  130 ; a fourth portion  10   d  that extends through the valve; a fifth portion  10   e  that extends from the valve to second manipulation mechanism  240 ; and a sixth portion  10   f  that extends downstream from the second manipulation mechanism. The number, order, and spacing of portions  10   a - 10   f  are for illustrative purposes, as they may aid in an understanding or description of various embodiments of the invention, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Passageway  10  may be formed from one or more materials, which may or may not correspond to the various portions  10   a - 10   f . In system  100 , a material  101  is described as being porous and flexible, and comprising portions  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d , and  10   e , and a material  108  is described as being a conduit and comprising portion  10   f  though various other materials or combination of materials may be used for the different portions. 
     Portion  10   a , which extends from output  117  is formed or includes a material  101  that is preferably porous, to permit only the liquid in a slurry to flow through the material, and is strong, to withstand the pressure at output  117 . 
     Part of portion  10   a , portions  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d , and part of portion  10   e  are supported by trough  102 , as shown in detail in  FIGS. 2A-2C . Trough  102  is supported by stand  105 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , and presents bottom  103  as a surface against which portions  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d  may be manipulated. Holes  109  provide a route for liquid that is forced from the passageway to flow into receptacle  107 . 
     First manipulation mechanism  120  is shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 D. Depending on various adjustments, mechanism  120  includes an element, such as a wheel  121 , that pushes on passageway  10   b  to progressively manipulate (either flex or flatten) a length of the passageway. Specifically, mechanism  120  includes a motor  129 , a flywheel  127 , a tensioning support  125 , an adjustable length wheel extension  123 , and an axle  122  supported by wheel extension and about which wheel  121  may rotate. Motor  129  is further attached to a vertical support  128 , which is affixed to stand  105  by support  134 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . Portion  10   b , as shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2D , is positioned between trough  102  and wheel  121 : when motor  134  is activated, flywheel  127  rotates, and wheel  121  is periodically forced against portion  10   b , as discussed subsequently. 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the spacing from the center of flywheel  127  to bottom  103  is x, the distance from the center of the flywheel to tensioning support  125  is y, the distance from the tensioning support to axle  122  is an adjustable length z, and the diameter of wheel  121  is d. In certain embodiments, z is adjusted so that the distance from the center of flywheel  127  to outer of wheel  122  (y+z+d/2) can flatten passageway  10   b  (that is, z&lt;x−y−d/2), allowing wheel to compress portion  10   b  as the flywheel rotates. As discussed subsequently, tensioning support  125  includes a torsion spring to permit the wheel  121  to rotate in an opposite direction while permitting flywheel  127  to continue to rotate. 
     In certain other embodiments, the distance from the center of flywheel  127  to outer of wheel  122  is adjusted to not completely flatten passageway  10   b  (that is, (x−y−d/2−D 1 )&lt;z&lt;(x−y−d/2)), allowing wheel to flex portion  10   b  as the flywheel rotates. 
     In one embodiment, which is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, motor  134  is a 240 V motor rated at 3 HP, and which rotates at 1750 revolutions per minute; flywheel  127  has a diameter of 14 inches and a mass of 15 lbs; x is 15 inches, y is 7 inches; and z is 6 inches. Tensioning support  125  includes a torsion spring having a force constant of 60 lbs. Wheel  121  has diameter d of 5 inches, and a width slightly less than the width W, and has a rubber outer surface. 
     In one embodiment, the length z is adjustable from a length of 4 inches to a length of 8 inches. In another embodiment, the length y is adjustable by having mounting holes in flywheel  127  at several different distances from the flywheel center, with a distance y of 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 inches. 
     Valve  120  is shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Depending on various adjustments, valve  120  includes an element, such as a wheel  131 , that pushes on passageway  10   d  to partially or completely restrict the flow through the passageway. Valve  130  includes a piston  133  and a linkage  135  that are both attached to stand  105  by support  134  and wheel  131 . Portion  10   d  is positioned between trough  102  and wheel  131 . The actuation of piston  133  can either flex passageway  10   d , increasing the resistance to flow and thus provide a higher mean pressure in portions  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c , or can completely flatten the passageway, acting as a “pinch valve.” 
     In one embodiment, which is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, wheel  131  has diameter d of 4 inches, and a width slightly less than the width W, and has a rubber outer surface. Piston  133  has an extendible from length L 3 , and linkage  135  has a length L 4 . As one example, L 3  may be varied from 11.5 to 15.5 inches, and L 4  is 6 ½ inches. Extending L 3  to the maximum. In one embodiment, which is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, wheel  131  has diameter d of 4 inches and a width slightly less than the width W, and has a rubber outer surface. Piston  133  has an extendible from length L 3 , and linkage  135  has a length L 4 . 
     Extending L 3  to the maximum length thus forces wheel  131  against passageway  10  with a force F 1 . Depending of the magnitude of force F 1 , valve  130  may either restrict the flow entirely, or open slightly to maintain a certain pressure within passageway  10 . 
     Second manipulation mechanism  240  includes a piston  144  that is attached to stand  105  by a support  142 . Piston  144  is further coupled to coupling  106 , which may be coupled to portions  10   e  and  10   f . As discussed subsequently, when piston  144  is extended and contracted, coupling  106  moves to extend or contract one or more portions  10   a - 10   e . The effect on open weave material  101  is to open and close the weave of the material. 
     While system  100  and  200  are shown as including mechanisms  20 ,  120  and  240  and valve  130 , it is understood that alternative embodiments may include none, or only some, of these mechanisms, or may include additional valves or mechanisms. 
     MODES OF OPERATION 
     In certain embodiments, the extension of piston  133  may be adjusted so that valve  130  partially restricts the flow through passageway  10  and thus maintains a higher pressure within portions  10   a - 10   c . The adjustment may, for example, be provided by a control circuit that operates off a pressure measurement in passageway  10 . Valve  130  may thus be activated initially, upon startup of system  100  to achieve a high pressure in passageway  10 , or during operation, to maintain a high pressure in the passageway. 
     In certain other embodiments, mechanism  130  is used to urge the flow of concentrated slurry through passageway  10 . In certain other embodiments, support  140  is a manipulation mechanism that may be used to adjust the length, and thus porosity of an open weave material  101 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the use of valve  130 , where  FIG. 3A  shows the valve in a closed or partially closed configuration, and  FIG. 3A  shows the valve in an open configuration. As shown in  FIG. 3A , a slurry A is provided to hopper  111  and motor  115  is started to provide a flow of slurry into passageway  10 , and piston  113  is extended to provide a force Fl on portion  10   d . For a sufficient large force Fl, wheel  131  pinches off portion  10   d , and no flow occurs through that portion. 
     With portion  10   d  pinched off, the pressure increases in portions  10   a - 10   c  increases, and a flow B of filtered liquid passes through material  101  and holes  109 , or otherwise out of trough  102 , and into receptacle  107 . When a sufficiently high pressure is achieved in passageway  10 , piston  113  is released, as shown in  FIG. 3B , and a concentrated slurry C flows into receptacle  109 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, force F 1  partially restricts the flow through passageway  10  when the sufficiently high pressure is reached within passageway  10 . For this embodiment, wheel  131  retracts to permit passageway  10  to partially open certain pressure is reacted within the passageway, and a flow C occurs, as indicated by the dashed arrow C in  FIG. 3A . 
     Concentrated slurry C continues towards receptacle  109 , with a large enough pressure drop to maintain the sufficiently pressure in passageway  10 . 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D illustrate sequential times in the operation of manipulation mechanism  120 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D , with motor  129  is operating, flywheel  127  rotates and wheel  121  periodically contacts portion  10   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , wheel  121  contacts portion  10   b , and counter-rotates and presses on the material with a force F 2  generally along the flow direction of the slurry. The contact of wheel  121  on portion  10   b  flexes the portion and changes the cross-sectional area of the portion. 
     As flywheel  127  continues to rotate, portion  10   b  progressively moves. As noted above, the distance from the center of flywheel  127  to bottom  103  is adjustable. In one embodiment, the distance from flywheel  127  to bottom  103  is less than the distance from the center of the flywheel to the outer of wheel  121 , and wheel  121  flattens portion  10   b  as it progresses. As shown in  FIG. 4B , as flywheel  127  rotates, tensioning support  125  counter-rotates to accommodate the spacing and provide additional force F 2  on portion  10   b . With wheel  121  thus contacting passageway  10 , the material in the portion  10   b  is squeezed along passageway  10  as flow C. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the distance from flywheel  127  to bottom  103  is greater than the distance from the center of the flywheel to the outer of wheel  121 , and wheel  121  progressively deforms, but does not flatten, portion  10   b  as it progresses. 
     At a slightly later time, wheel  121  no longer contacts portion  10   b , and wheel continues around, as shown at sequential times in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , until the wheel again contacts passageway  10 , as in  FIG. 4A . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate sequential times in one embodiment of the operation of manipulation mechanism  240 . As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , piston  144  oscillates to move coupling  106  back and forth by a distance AL with wheels  143  locked in place. This increasing the length of material  101  may decrease the diameter of passageway  101  to a slightly smaller value of D 2 . In addition, for an open weave material  101 , the changing length changes the size of the braid openings. The oscillation of the length, along with the pressure provided by pump  113 , urges flow C through passageway  10 . 
     In certain embodiments, the flexing of the tube by mechanism  240  may dislodge solids that may collect within the pores, and permits the solid flow through passageway  10 . In this way mechanism  140  may keep material  101  relatively clear of solids and prevents it from clogging up. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Systems  100  and  200  have been tested on the effluent from several sources including; municipal bio-waste dairy waste-water, a chicken processing plant, and waster water stream consisted of corn and potato particles. 
     Slurry particles sizes from these tests had nominal sizes ranging from about 100 micros to ⅜″. It was found by the inventor that the pore size of an open weave passageway may be reduced by pulling on (increasing the length of) the passageway. Thus, for example, the pores in passageway  101  including an ALTA-FLEX™ TUFF Heavy Duty Expandable Nylon Monofilament Sleeving, model 78/84, and having a 5 strand monofilament, bias weave, 2″ diameter, were used in these tests. 
     The tests were conducted with pump  113  providing output at a pressure of from 5 to 125 psi. It was found that preferred pressures are from 5-25 psi, since at higher pressures a mechanical shearing of the polymers/coagulants used in the pre-process treatment of the waste water stream may be broken. 
     Example 1 
     In one test, dairy waste was treated This waste includes manure wash-down from stalls and milking parlor, fats, oils, grease. The wash-down water contained 13,000 ppm solids. The particle size ranged from the size of undigested alfalfa hay (approximately 2″ long× 1/16″ wide) to very fine particles of approximately 200 microns in size. In addition, polymers and a Bentonite compound was added to facilitate treatment of the wash-down water 
     System  200  was operated using passageway  101  formed from ALTA-FLEX™ # 78/84, 5 strand monofilament, bias weave, 2″ diameter, length ranged from 24″ to 48″. Pump  113  was operated with a flow rate of approximately 5 gallons per minute. 
     The results produced solids in stream C having solids concentration exceeding 30%, with the remainder being collected in stream B, with system  200  operating continuously for one day without any sign of clogging of the passageway walls. 
     Example 2 
     In another test, biowaste comprising residential waste water was treated. This waste included 4% solids of approximately 300 micron in size. 
     System  200  was operated using passageway  101  formed from a 72 inch length of ALTA-FLEXT SM -# 78/84, 5 strand monofilament, bias weave, 2″ diameter, length ranged from 24″ to 48″. Pump  113  was operated with a flow rate of approximately 5 gallons per minute. 
     The results produced solids in stream C having solids concentration exceeding 20%, with the remainder being collected in stream B, and with system  200  operating continuously without any sign of clogging of the passageway walls. 
     Example 3 
     In another test, a food waste water stream was treated. This waste stream included 8% solid particles from the manufacture of hominy (corn) and soups. The waste did not include meat products. The corn particles were from 100 microns to ⅜″ in size 
     System  200  was operated using passageway  101  formed from a 60 inch length of ALTA-FLEX™-# 78/84, 5 strand monofilament, bias weave, 2″ diameter, length ranged from 24″ to 48″. Pump  113  was operated with a flow rate of approximately 10 gallons per minute. 
     As one example of a start-up, or “priming” process, the flow of slurry stream A was started and passageway  101  was tensioned, pulled or stretched, to reduce the pore size down a size that captured particles in the 100 micron size range. Solid particles then accumulated in the walls of passageway  101 , and eventually stream B stopped flowing, the pore being clogged. At this point the tension on passageway  101  was relaxed, shortening the passageway length and slightly opening the pores, resulting in a steady flow of streams B, and C. 
     During steady operation, the rotational speed of the flywheel  124  was adjusted to produce a solids concentration in stream C, as desired. In general, the slower the speed of flywheel  124 , the drier the material in stream C. Alternatively, it was found that a longer passageway  101  also results in a drier material in stream C. 
     The results produced solids in stream C having solids concentration exceeding 25%, with the remainder being collected in stream B. System operated without needing to be cleaned. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. 
     Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 
     Thus, while there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.