Patent Description:
One of the major challenges in the world today is to provide safe drinking water for humans and animals. Some main contributions to pollution of water come from untreated sewage, untreated process water from industries, agricultural waste and runoff water. This water needs to be treated before it is safe to drink.

One way to provide safe drinking water from polluted water is to evaporate the polluted water under vacuum. By changing the phase of the water to steam under vacuum, the water is boiling at a low temperature. The disadvantage with this method is that it requires a lot of energy to change the phase of the water to steam under vacuum.

<CIT> discloses a filtration apparatus for filtrating particles from fluid, the filtration apparatus comprising a filtration vessel; at least one filtering element for removing particles from fluid passing therethrough, the at least one filtering element being arranged to move along a path into the filtration vessel, and out from the filtration vessel; a filtration inlet arranged to convey a mixture of particles and fluid to the at least one filtering element within the filtration vessel; and a filtration outlet arranged to convey fluid, filtrated by the at least one filtering element, out from the filtration vessel; wherein the filtration apparatus is configured to establish a differential pressure over the at least one filtering element inside the filtration vessel.

<CIT> discloses a filter stand and a method therefor. The filter stand comprises a filter element arranged on a belt, a suction line, a collection tank, a vacuum pump and a filtrate pump. A required underpressure in the collection tank is generated by the vacuum pump.

<CIT> discloses a filter device comprising a filter cloth, a first compartment, a second compartment, a pump and a vacuum pump. An underpressure can be created in the second compartment by suctioning filtered water out from the second compartment using the pump. The vacuum pump can create an underpressure within the second compartment such that liquid situated in the first compartment will be pulled with force through the filter cloth.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of efficiently filtrating liquid.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method efficiently kills living organisms in the liquid.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method is energy efficient.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method is cost-efficient.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method is environmentally friendly.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method can filtrate large volumes of liquid over long periods of time.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filtrating liquid, which method solves several or all of the foregoing objects in combination.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a filtration apparatus for filtrating liquid, which filtration apparatus has a compact design.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a filtration apparatus for filtrating liquid, which filtration apparatus solves one, several or all of the foregoing objects.

According to one aspect, there is provided a method of filtrating liquid, the method comprising conducting a liquid through a filtering element, through an outlet line downstream of the filtering element and to a collection volume downstream of the outlet line; controlling a differential pressure of the liquid over the filtering element; and controlling a passing time of a filter flow of the liquid through the filtering element in conjunction with the differential pressure; wherein the control of the differential pressure and the passing time comprises controlling a collection volume liquid flow of the liquid out from the collection volume; and controlling a gas flow out from the collection volume.

The method may be carried out with a filtration apparatus of any type according to the present disclosure. The method may be used in various applications. The method may for example be used to provide safe drinking water or to clean water from fish farms. In the latter case, outlet water from the fish farm may be recirculated through a filtration apparatus as described herein before being returned to the fish farm. The method may be used to filtrate any liquid where it is desired to reduce an amount of living organisms. The inlet water to the filtering element may or may not be pretreated. Examples of pretreatment include precleaning and preheating.

All living organisms, such as bacteria and parasites, have a membrane. Living organisms therefore react to changes in pressure. Living organisms can tolerate sudden increases in pressure quite well, but not sudden pressure drops. If a human is exposed to a sudden pressure drop from atmospheric pressure of <NUM> bar to <NUM> mbar, the human's lungs will burst and the human's blood will start boiling by releasing gases such as dioxygen and carbon dioxide. The normal lung volume of a human at atmospheric pressure is six liters. With a pressure drop from <NUM> bar to <NUM> mbar, the lung volume will expand to <NUM> liters, and so on. Although bacteria and parasites do not have lungs, they have liquid inside their membranes containing dissolved gases, which with a sudden pressure drop will expand inside the membranes and cause the membranes to burst. A rapid pressure drop will therefore kill the bacteria and the parasites.

The pressure of the liquid in the outlet line immediately downstream of the filtering element is referred to as an underpressure or outlet pressure. The pressure of the liquid immediately upstream of the filtering element may be referred to as an inlet pressure. When carrying out the method, the inlet pressure may be atmospheric or substantially atmospheric (e.g. <NUM> mbar to <NUM> mbar).

The method may further comprise monitoring the underpressure in the outlet line immediately downstream of the filtering element. The underpressure may be monitored by means of a pressure sensor according to the present disclosure.

The collection volume liquid flow may be controlled by means of a liquid outlet device. The liquid outlet device may be of any type according to the present disclosure. By means of the liquid outlet device, the underpressure of the liquid can be controlled.

The gas flow out from the collection volume may be controlled by means of a gas outlet device. The gas outlet device may be of any type according to the present disclosure.

Moving liquids, like water, can contain high amounts of energy. This is evidenced by the phenomenon of a water hammer that can cause a lot of damage to pipes, valves and other equipment by a sudden stop of a water flow.

By controlling the differential pressure in conjunction with the passing time, the method can provide a controlled energy release from the liquid. The collection volume liquid flow and the gas flow may for example be controlled in conjunction based on a target underpressure in the outlet line. The higher the differential pressure is and the shorter the passing time is, the higher is the energy release from the liquid. By generating a sufficiently high energy release from the liquid through the filtering element in a sufficiently short passing time, any living organisms in the liquid will be killed. By subjecting living organisms in the liquid to a high energy release, e.g. to a high pressure drop in a few microseconds, the membranes of any living organisms in the liquid will be ruptured and the living organisms will be efficiently killed. The energy release from the liquid provided by the method thereby causes residual contaminants to be eliminated to a very large degree. The method will therefore have a huge impact on liquid cleaning, e.g. to provide safe drinking water.

The method further enables gases released from the liquid in the collection volume to be evacuated. Examples of such gases are carbon dioxide, nitrogen, dioxygen and ammonium. The gases are inter alia generated when the membranes of the living organisms burst when subjected to the rapid pressure decrease through the filtering element. The gases will elevate to the liquid surface before leaving the liquid. By monitoring an underpressure immediately downstream of the filtering element and a temperature of the liquid, it becomes possible to see at what underpressure and at what temperature the different gases are released (flesh of) from the liquid. In general, more gases are generated the higher the differential pressure is.

The method may thus further comprise monitoring a temperature of the liquid. The temperature may be monitored by means of a temperature sensor according to the present disclosure.

By controlling the gas flow out from the collection volume, the gas pressure of gases released from the liquid inside the collection volume can be controlled. The gas pressure affects the pressure of the liquid in the collection volume, which in turn affects the differential pressure over the filtering element. By controlling the gas flow out from the collection volume, the underpressure downstream of the filtering element can be controlled and stabilized.

The method may comprise controlling the liquid level in the collection volume such that the liquid level is geodetically higher than a geodetic height of an outlet of the outlet line into the collection volume. In this way, it can be prevented that the gases enter the outlet line from the collection volume. To this end, the filtration apparatus may comprise an outlet level sensor configured to monitor an outlet level of liquid in the collection volume. The liquid level in the collection volume may thus be referred to as an outlet level of liquid.

Throughout the present disclosure, the liquid may be water. The energy it takes to change the pressure of water from a relatively low pressure to a relatively high pressure can be determined as the flow of water times the gravity force times a lifting height. The corresponding energy is released when the water undergoes a pressure decrease from the relatively high pressure to the relatively low pressure. By controlling the passing time, also the power can be controlled.

The flow speed or velocity of the liquid through the filtering element can be determined as the filter flow divided by the active filter area of the filtering element. The passing time can be determined as the thickness or active depth of the filtering element divided by the flow speed. The method enables the filter flow and the differential pressure to be controlled exactly.

The filtering element may for example be provided on a continuous belt. The filtering element may be moved continuously or intermittently when carrying out the method. Over time, the filtering element clogs. When the clogging increases, the flow speed of the liquid through the filtering element increases.

Alternatively, the method may employ one or more stationary filtering elements. In case a plurality of filtering elements are provided, these are arranged in parallel and the active filter area may thus be composed of more than one filtering element.

The outlet line may only open to at least one upstream filtering element and to the downstream collection volume. A certain drop of liquid may be provided in the outlet line. The liquid drop may comprise a geodetic height difference of one meter to ten meters. The height of the liquid drop affects the differential pressure over the filtering element. By controlling the differential pressure over the filtering element, the liquid flow through the filtering element can be controlled without using a liquid pump. The method will therefore reduce the carbon footprint.

The outlet line may comprise a pipe. In this case, the pipe may be a drop pipe. The pipe may for example be vertically oriented or inclined, e.g. up to <NUM> degrees or more, with respect to vertical. The collection volume may be a tank.

The method may further comprise conducting the liquid through an upstream filter, upstream of the filtering element, prior to conducting the liquid through the filtering element. The upstream filter may be a coarse filer, i.e. having a substantially higher permeability than the filtering element.

The control of the differential pressure and/or the control of the passing time may further comprise controlling an inlet flow of the liquid to the filtering element; controlling a filter speed of the filtering element; controlling an active filter area of the filtering element; controlling the filter flow; controlling a flow speed of the filter flow; and/or controlling an outlet line flow of the liquid in the outlet line.

The inlet flow may be controlled by means of a liquid inlet device according to the present disclosure. For example, the liquid inlet device may be controlled such that a liquid level in a vessel upstream of the filtering element is held substantially constant, or constant. To this end, the liquid inlet device may be controlled based on signals from an inlet level sensor. The inlet level sensor is configured to monitor an inlet level of liquid, for example in the vessel. By controlling the liquid outlet device in conjunction with the gas outlet device and the liquid inlet device, gases can be evacuated from the collection volume and a target underpressure immediately downstream of the filtering element can be accurately held.

The filter speed of the filtering element may be controlled by a motor. In case the filtering element is arranged on a continuous belt, the motor may drive the belt.

The filter flow can for example be controlled by controlling the active filter area and/or by controlling the filter speed. By reducing the filter speed, the particles will successively clog the filtering element to thereby reduce the permeability of the filtering element. When the permeability of the filtering element is reduced, the differential pressure over the filtering element will increase.

The outlet line may have a geodetic difference in height of at least one meter. By means of the geodetic difference in height of the outlet line, a gravity force of a liquid column in the outlet line pulls the liquid through the filtering element. When the geodetic difference in height of the outlet line is high enough to obtain a desired differential pressure, the liquid outlet device may be constituted by a valve instead of a liquid pump. In this way, the method can be carried out more energy efficient.

The differential pressure may be established by means of downstream movement of the liquid in the outlet line. When the liquid moves downstream in the outlet line, more room is made available upstream of the liquid in the outlet line. This creates the underpressure below the filtering element.

The passing time may be controlled to be less than <NUM>, such as less than <NUM>, such as less than <NUM>.

The differential pressure may be controlled to at least <NUM> bar, such as at least <NUM> bar, such as at least <NUM> bar. Alternatively, or in addition, the underpressure may be controlled to <NUM> bar or less, such as to <NUM> bar or less, such as to <NUM> bar or less. By passing liquid through the filtering element such that the liquid undergoes a pressure change of at least <NUM> bar in <NUM> or less, living organisms in the liquid will be killed.

The filtering element may have a substantially constant, or constant, permeability for filtrations after a nominal degree of clogging of the filtering element. For example, the filtering element successively clogs for an initial number of filtration cycles, where each filtration cycle comprises filtration of the liquid and a succeeding cleaning, such as backwashing. The permeability of the filtering element is then substantially constant, or constant, for filtration cycles following the initial number of filtration cycles. One example of such filtering element is Minimesh ® RPD HIFLO-S sold by Haver & Boecker, such as RPD HIFLO <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>.

The filtering element may comprise a wire cloth, such as a metal wire cloth or alloy wire cloth, having a three-dimensional pore geometry. Such filtering element can provide a substantially constant, or constant, permeability for filtrations after a nominal degree of clogging of the filtering element. The wire cloth may comprise warp wires and weft wires crossing each other and interwoven by a weave pattern. The warp wires may be formed in at least two different configurations to define warp wires of first and second types. A length of the first type of warp wires may deviate from a length of the second type of warp wires in relation to a particular length unit. Pores may be formed in interstices between sections of two neighbouring warp wires and crossing sections of two neighbouring weft wires.

One example of a wire cloth according to the present disclosure is Minimesh ® RPD HIFLO-S sold by Haver & Boecker, such as RPD HIFLO <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>. Such wire cloths have exceptionally high permeabilities and higher filtride carrying capacity in comparison with other filters of the same pore size, and can perform filtration over a wide range of differential pressures. A further example of a wire cloth according to the present disclosure is also described in US patent application <CIT>. The at least one filtering element may be acid resistant, corrosion resistant, pressure resistant and/or temperature resistant.

The collection volume may have a horizontal extension and a vertical extension, where the horizontal extension is larger than the vertical extension. A horizontal area of the collection volume may be at least twice the square of the vertical extension. For example, if the vertical extension of the collection volume is <NUM> meters, the horizontal area of the collection volume may be at least <NUM> square meters. By providing the collection volume with a relatively large horizontal area, gases in the liquid are more effectively released from the liquid. The increased release of gases in turn improves the control of the method.

The collection volume is closed to atmosphere. In this case, no direct communication between the collection volume and the atmosphere exists. According to one example, the only interfaces to the exterior of the collection volume are the outlet line, the liquid outlet device and the gas outlet device.

The filtration apparatus may comprise a plurality of downstream volumes arranged in parallel and downstream of the liquid outlet device. Each downstream volume may comprise a downstream tank. In this case, the method may further comprise alternatingly supplying the collection volume liquid flow to the downstream volumes.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a filtration apparatus for filtrating liquid, the filtration apparatus comprising a filtering element; an outlet line downstream of the filtering element; a collection volume downstream of the outlet line; a liquid outlet device configured to control a collection volume liquid flow of the liquid out from the collection volume; a gas outlet device configured to control a gas flow out from the collection volume; and a control system configured to control a differential pressure of the liquid over the filtering element; and control a passing time of a filter flow of the liquid through the filtering element in conjunction with the differential pressure; wherein the control of the differential pressure and the passing time comprises controlling the liquid outlet device to control the collection volume liquid flow; and controlling the gas outlet device to control the gas flow.

The liquid outlet device and the gas outlet device may be arranged in parallel. The liquid outlet device may for example comprise a proportional valve. Alternatively, the liquid outlet device may comprise a liquid pump, such as a lobe pump.

The gas outlet device may for example comprise a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump can thus be used to suck dissolved gases out from the collection volume and discharge the gases, e.g. to the atmosphere. Alternatively, or in addition, the gas outlet device may comprise one or more valves, e.g. constant pressure valves. In any case, the gas outlet device may be positioned at, and/or connected to, a geodetically highest section of the collection volume.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the liquid. The temperature sensor may be arranged in the collection volume.

The filtration apparatus enables filtering of the liquid by means of the filtering element, killing of living organisms in the liquid by means of a rapid pressure decrease, and evacuation of gases released from the liquid in a single apparatus. The filtration apparatus can be made compact even when performing all these functions.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a motor for moving the filtering element. In this case, the control system may be configured to control the motor to thereby control a filter speed of the filtering element in order to at least partly control the differential pressure and/or the passing time.

Alternatively, the filtration apparatus may comprise one or more stationary filtering elements. In case a plurality of filtering elements are provided, these are arranged in parallel. The outlet line may in this case comprise a common section and a filter section associated with, and downstream of, each filtering element. The filter sections may join in the common section. Thus, the common section may branch into the filter sections in an upstream direction.

The control of the differential pressure and the passing time may further comprise controlling an inlet flow of the liquid to the filtering element; controlling a filter speed of the filtering element; controlling an active filter area of the filtering element; controlling the filter flow; controlling a flow speed of the filter flow; and/or controlling an outlet line flow of the liquid in the outlet line.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a liquid inlet device positioned upstream of the filtering element, e.g. on an inlet line. By means of the liquid inlet device, the inlet flow of the liquid to the filtering element can be controlled.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise an upstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned between the inlet line and the filtering element or in the inlet line.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a vessel. The vessel may be positioned between the inlet line and the filtering element. In one example, the upstream filter is integrated in the vessel, e.g. in a bottom thereof.

In some variants, relatively small volumes of liquid may be manually poured into the inlet line and/or into the vessel. The filtration apparatus can thus also be used for relatively small scale implementations, e.g. to provide safe drinking water in smaller communities.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a plurality of restriction members. The restriction members may be positioned downstream of the filtering element, such as immediately downstream of an active filter part of the filtering element. By adding or removing one or more restriction members, the active filter area of the filtering element is reduced or increased, respectively. By means of the restriction members, the inlet flow to the filtering element can be preset. When the active filter area is reduced, the liquid level in the vessel is increased and vice versa, if all other parameters are held constant. Each restriction member can be selectively moved into and out from the liquid path. According to one example, the restriction members are restriction plates that can be manually moved into and out from the liquid path.

The outlet line may have a geodetic difference in height of at least one meter.

The filtration apparatus may be configured to establish the differential pressure by means of downstream movement of the liquid in the outlet line.

The control system may be configured to control the passing time to be less than <NUM>, such as less than <NUM>, such as less than <NUM>.

The control system may be configured to control the differential pressure to at least <NUM> bar.

The filtering element may have a substantially constant, or constant, permeability for filtrations after a nominal degree of clogging of the filtering element.

The collection volume may have a horizontal extension and a vertical extension. In this case, the horizontal extension may be larger than the vertical extension.

The collection volume is closed to atmosphere.

The filtration apparatus may further comprise a plurality of downstream volumes arranged in parallel and downstream of the liquid outlet device. Each downstream volume may comprise a downstream tank. In this case, the control system may be configured to control the liquid outlet device to alternatingly supply the collection volume outlet flow to the downstream volumes.

The provision of a plurality of downstream volumes enables one downstream volume to be filled at the same time as one downstream volume is being emptied. Moreover, the plurality of downstream volumes enables operational redundancy of the filtration apparatus.

The control system may be in signal communication with several or all of the liquid inlet device, the belt motor, one or more valves, pressure sensors, level sensors, temperature sensors, the one or more liquid outlet devices and the gas outlet device. The signal communication may for example take place via an electrical bus system.

Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:.

In the following, a method of filtrating liquid and a filtration apparatus for filtrating liquid, will be described. The same or similar reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

<FIG> represents a perspective side view of one example of a filtration unit <NUM>, and <FIG> represents a cross-sectional perspective side view of the filtration unit <NUM> in <FIG>. With collective reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the filtration unit <NUM> of this example comprises a vessel <NUM>, a filtering element <NUM> and an outlet line <NUM>. The outlet line <NUM> is only partly shown in <FIG>. The filtering element <NUM> is arranged downstream of the vessel <NUM>. The outlet line <NUM> is arranged downstream of an active part of the filtering element <NUM>. The vessel <NUM> is open to atmosphere.

The filtering element <NUM> of this example is a continuous belt. The filtering element <NUM> is movable into an out from a filtration area. The filtration area is in this example provided below the vessel <NUM>. The width of the filtering element <NUM> may for example be <NUM> or larger, such as <NUM>. The filtering element <NUM> may for example have a pore size of at least <NUM> and/or less than <NUM>. The filtering element <NUM> may for example have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The filtering element <NUM> of this example is a metal wire cloth having a three-dimensional pore geometry. The wire cloth comprises warp wires and weft wires crossing each other and interwoven by a weave pattern. The warp wires are formed in at least two different configurations to define warp wires of first and second types. Pores are formed in interstices between sections of two neighboring warp wires and crossing sections of two neighboring weft wires. Due to this three-dimensional pore geometry, the filtering element <NUM> has a constant permeability after a certain degree of clogging, for example when subjected to backwashing after each filtration cycle. The filtering element <NUM> may for example be of the type Minimesh ® RPD HIFLO-S sold by Haver & Boecker, such as RPD HIFLO <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>. The filtration unit <NUM> further comprises an electric motor <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is configured drive the filtering element <NUM> and is configured to control the speed of the filtering element <NUM>. The filtration unit <NUM> of this example further comprises a plurality of rollers <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> guide the filtering element <NUM> along a movement path. The motor <NUM> is here arranged to drive one of the rollers <NUM> to cause the filtering element <NUM> to move along the movement path.

As shown in <FIG>, the filtration unit <NUM> further comprises an upstream filter <NUM>. The upstream filter <NUM> is here exemplified as a plurality of openings in the bottom of the vessel <NUM>. The upstream filter <NUM> has a substantially higher permeability than the filtering element <NUM> and may therefore be referred to as a coarse filter.

As further shown in <FIG>, the filtration unit <NUM> of this example further comprises a plurality of restriction plates <NUM>. The restriction plates <NUM> are examples of restriction members according to the present disclosure. The filtration unit <NUM> also comprises a plurality of slots <NUM>. The restriction plates <NUM> and the slots <NUM> are provided below an active part of the filtering element <NUM>. Each slot <NUM> is configured to selectively receive an associated restriction plate <NUM>. In <FIG>, there are eight slots <NUM> and one restriction plate <NUM> is received in each of the first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth slot <NUM> (as counted from left to right in <FIG>). Thus, the third and fifth slots <NUM> are open such that liquid can pass therethrough.

By selectively inserting or removing the restriction plates <NUM>, an active filter area of the filtering element <NUM> can be adjusted. The restriction plates <NUM> may be manually inserted or removed. The filtration unit <NUM> may for example comprise <NUM>-<NUM> restriction plates <NUM> and a corresponding number of slots <NUM>. The active filter area of the filtering element <NUM> may for example be varied from <NUM><NUM> to <NUM><NUM> by means of the restriction plates <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically represents a cross-sectional side view of a filtration apparatus 28a. In addition to the filtration unit <NUM>, the filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a collection unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the collection unit <NUM> is positioned vertically below the filtration unit <NUM>. The collection unit <NUM> comprises a collection tank <NUM>. The collection tank <NUM> is one example of a collection volume according to the present disclosure. The liquid is here exemplified as water <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> comprises a data processing device <NUM> and a memory <NUM> having a computer program stored thereon. The computer program comprises program code which, when executed by the data processing device <NUM> causes the data processing device <NUM> to perform, or command performance of, various steps as described herein.

The filtration apparatus 28a of this example further comprises an inlet line <NUM>. The inlet line <NUM> is here exemplified as a vertical pipe for conducting water to be filtrated to the vessel <NUM>. The upstream filter <NUM> is positioned between the inlet line <NUM> and the filtering element <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a of this example further comprises an inlet valve <NUM>. The inlet valve <NUM> is one example of a liquid inlet device according to the present disclosure. By controlling the inlet valve <NUM>, an inlet flow <NUM> through the inlet line <NUM> of water to be filtrated can be controlled. The inlet valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control an opening degree of the inlet valve <NUM>.

In <FIG>, one example of the outlet line <NUM> can be seen. The outlet line <NUM> is here exemplified as a vertical pipe. The outlet line <NUM> does however not necessarily need to be vertically oriented. An upstream and geodetically highest end of the outlet line <NUM> is open to the filtering element <NUM>. A downstream and geodetically lowest end of the outlet line <NUM> is open to the collection tank <NUM>. Besides the upstream end and the downstream end, the outlet line <NUM> is closed. The outlet line <NUM> thus conducts water from the filtering element <NUM> to the collection tank <NUM>. The outlet line <NUM> provides a connection between the filtration unit <NUM> and the collection unit <NUM>. Reference numeral <NUM> in <FIG> denotes an outlet line flow through the outlet line <NUM>. The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a one-way outlet line valve <NUM> in the outlet line <NUM>, here exemplified as a check valve.

The outlet line <NUM> may have a vertical extension of one meter to ten meters. A vertical drop of water below the filtering element <NUM> is thereby provided by the outlet line <NUM>. For this reason, the outlet line <NUM> may be referred to as a drop pipe. A water drop of five meters in the outlet line <NUM> may correspond to a differential pressure of <NUM> mbar over the filtering element <NUM>, and a water drop of eight meters in the outlet line <NUM> may correspond to a differential pressure of <NUM> mbar over the filtering element <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises an outlet valve <NUM>. The outlet valve <NUM> is one example of a liquid outlet device according to the present disclosure. One alternative example of a liquid outlet device according to the present disclosure is a liquid pump. By controlling the outlet valve <NUM>, a collection volume liquid flow <NUM> out from the collection tank <NUM> through a collection outlet <NUM> can be controlled. The outlet valve <NUM> is positioned in a geodetically low region of the collection tank <NUM>, such as in a vertically lowest half of a height of the collection tank <NUM>, such as in a vertically lowest quarter of the height of the collection tank <NUM>. The outlet valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control an opening degree of the outlet valve <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a vacuum pump <NUM>. The vacuum pump <NUM> is one example of a gas outlet device according to the present disclosure. The vacuum pump <NUM> is arranged in parallel with the outlet valve <NUM>.

The vacuum pump <NUM> is configured to suck gases <NUM> out from the top of the collection tank <NUM> to thereby evacuate the gases <NUM>. By controlling the vacuum pump <NUM>, a gas flow <NUM> out from the collection tank <NUM> can be controlled. The vacuum pump <NUM> is positioned in, and connected to, a geodetically highest region of the collection tank <NUM>. The vacuum pump <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control a speed of the vacuum pump <NUM>, for example by means of a variable frequency drive.

The collection tank <NUM> is positioned downstream of the outlet line <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the collection tank <NUM> is closed to atmosphere. In this example, the only interfaces out from the interior volume of the collection tank <NUM> are through the outlet line <NUM>, through the outlet valve <NUM> and through the vacuum pump <NUM>.

The collection tank <NUM> houses a large horizontal area in relation to its height. This horizontal area may for example be at least twice the square of its height, such as at least four times the square of its height. This flat design of the collection tank <NUM> promotes release of gases <NUM> from the water <NUM>. The collection tank <NUM> may for example have a cuboidal shape.

The filtration apparatus 28a may optionally comprise further equipment to promote the release of gases <NUM> in the collection tank <NUM>. Examples of such equipment include a spraying device for spraying the water <NUM>, a stirring device for stirring the water <NUM>, and an air injection device for injecting air, such as ozone enriched air, into the water <NUM>. Such further equipment may for example be provided in the collection tank <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a may optionally comprise further equipment to treat the water <NUM>. Examples of such equipment include a deironization device for deironizing the water <NUM>, a demanganization device for removing compounds of manganese from the water <NUM>, a water softening device for softening the water <NUM>, a desalination device for desalinating the water <NUM>, and a pH-adjusting device for adjusting the pH-value of the water <NUM>, an ultraviolet device for subjecting the water <NUM> to ultraviolet radiation, and a chemical processing device for subjecting the water <NUM> to various chemical treatments (e.g. chlorination). Such further equipment may for example be provided in the collection tank <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises an inlet level sensor <NUM>. By means of the inlet level sensor <NUM>, an inlet level of water in the vessel <NUM> can be monitored. The inlet level sensor <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises an outlet level sensor <NUM>. By means of the outlet level sensor <NUM>, an outlet level <NUM> of water <NUM> in the collection tank <NUM> can be monitored. The outlet level sensor <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a temperature sensor <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> of this example is arranged in the collection tank <NUM>. By means of the temperature sensor <NUM>, a temperature of the water <NUM> in the collection tank <NUM> can be monitored. The temperature sensor <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a pressure sensor <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> is configured to monitor an underpressure of the water. The pressure sensor <NUM> of this example is positioned in the outlet line <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28a further comprises a cleaning device <NUM>. The cleaning device <NUM> is configured to clean a passive part the filtering element <NUM>, i.e. outside a filtration area below the vessel <NUM>. The cleaning device <NUM> is configured to force filtride or filter cake away from the filtering element <NUM>. To this end, the cleaning device <NUM> may for example comprise a plurality of air knives. Also the cleaning device <NUM> may be in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

In this example, the inlet line <NUM>, the vessel <NUM>, the filtering element <NUM>, the restriction plates <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are provided in the filtration unit <NUM>, and the collection tank <NUM>, the vacuum pump <NUM> and the outlet valve <NUM> are provided in the collection unit <NUM>. An upper part of the outlet line <NUM> may be provided in the filtration unit <NUM> and a lower part of the outlet line <NUM> may be provided in the collection unit <NUM>. The upper part and the lower part of the outlet line <NUM> may be connected at a filtration site. The filtration unit <NUM> and the collection unit <NUM> are modules that can be transported separately. The filtration unit <NUM> and the collection unit <NUM> can be connected and disconnected when desired. The control system <NUM> may for example be provided in the filtration unit <NUM> or may be remotely located.

In the following, a method of filtrating polluted water to become drinking water will be described. The method has an enormous impact on killing bacteria, parasites and other living organisms in the water.

Polluted water is conducted through the inlet line <NUM> to the vessel <NUM>. The inlet flow <NUM> is controlled by means of the inlet valve <NUM> based on signals from the inlet level sensor <NUM>. In this way, the inlet level of water in the vessel <NUM> can be controlled, for example to a constant level. Coarse particles in the water are filtered by the upstream filter <NUM>. Finer particles are filtered by the filtering element <NUM>. The filtering element <NUM> may move continuously during filtration, but the filter speed may be controlled.

As the water moves downstream in the outlet line <NUM>, more room is made available upstream of the water in the outlet line <NUM> below the filtering element <NUM>. An underpressure is thereby created in the outlet line <NUM> below the filtering element <NUM>. This underpressure can be measured by the pressure sensor <NUM>. The temperature of the water may for example be <NUM>. In this case, the water boils at an underpressure of <NUM> bar. When the underpressure is reduced (to a lower absolute pressure value), the filter flow through the filtering element <NUM> is increased.

The difference between the atmospheric, or substantially atmospheric, pressure upstream of the filtering element <NUM> and the underpressure downstream of the filtering element <NUM> constitutes a differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM>. By means of the geodetic difference in height of the outlet line <NUM>, the gravity force of the water column in the outlet line <NUM> pulls the water through the filtering element <NUM> to establish a differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM>. In this way, a liquid pump for driving the water out from the collection tank <NUM> can be avoided and the energy efficiency of the filtration apparatus 28a can thereby be improved.

Although bacteria can survive quite rapid and high pressure increases, bacteria cannot survive rapid pressure decreases. The method exploits this phenomenon by subjecting the water to a rapid pressure decrease over the filtering element <NUM>. In this way, any living organisms in the water will be killed.

For example, if the filter flow of water through the filtering element <NUM> is <NUM>/s, the pore size of the filtering element <NUM> is <NUM>, the porosity of the filtering element <NUM> is <NUM> %, and the pressure drop coefficient is <NUM>, the pressure drop through the filtering element <NUM> will be <NUM> mb and the flow speed of the water will be <NUM>/s. The flow speed of water through the filtering element <NUM> can be determined as the thickness of the filtering element <NUM> divided by the active filter area of the filtering element <NUM>.

If the thickness of the filtering element <NUM> is <NUM> and the flow speed is <NUM>/s, the passing time, i.e. the time it will take for the water to change from slightly above atmospheric pressure upstream of the filtering element <NUM> to the underpressure, is <NUM>. The passing time can be determined as the thickness of the filtering element <NUM> divided by the flow speed. Since the water is pulled through the filtering element <NUM>, the flow speed will change from <NUM>/s to <NUM>/s in <NUM>. This gives an acceleration of <NUM>,<NUM>/s<NUM>. The g-force of this acceleration is <NUM>,<NUM>.

The energy release E [J] of the water can be determined as: <MAT> where m is the mass of the water [kg], g is the gravity of Earth [N/kg] and d is the distance [m]. The energy release of <NUM> liters will then be <NUM>,<NUM> kJ since the pressure drop of <NUM> mbar corresponds to a distance of <NUM> meters. Since the energy release happens during the passing time of <NUM> in this example, the energy release will be <NUM> kJ/liter. Thus, a huge amount of energy can be released from the water in a very short time. The fast pressure drop of the water kills bacteria and other living organisms in the water. The amount of energy released will depend on the filter flow of water, the passing time through the filtering element <NUM> and the differential pressure.

During operation of the filtration apparatus 28a, the outlet level <NUM> in the collection tank <NUM> is controlled by means of the outlet valve <NUM>. By increasing an opening degree of the outlet valve <NUM>, the water level in the collection tank <NUM> will sink. As a consequence, the underpressure in the outlet line <NUM> will be reduced. This in turn causes the differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM> to be increased and the passing time to be shortened. The differential pressure and passing time can therefore be controlled by the outlet valve <NUM>.

If the inlet valve <NUM> remains with a constant opening, an increased opening degree of the outlet valve <NUM> will also cause the water level in the vessel <NUM> to sink. Several operational parameters of the filtration apparatus 28a can thus be controlled by means of the outlet valve <NUM>.

The active filter area is known, for example by checking the status of each restriction plate <NUM>. By adjusting the filter flow of water through the filtering element <NUM>, the passing time through the filtering element <NUM> can be accurately controlled. Thus, the time it takes for the water to undergo the differential pressure can be accurately controlled. The energy release from the water when passing through the filtering element <NUM> can thereby also be accurately determined and controlled. The method may comprise controlling the passing time to be less than <NUM> and controlling the differential pressure to at least <NUM> bar. The passing time and the differential pressure are controlled in conjunction to obtain a controlled pressure drop over the filtering element <NUM> during a particular passing time, such as a target energy release per volume of water during the passing time. The shorter the passing time is and the higher the differential pressure is, the higher the energy release will be.

In case the output flow from the vacuum pump <NUM> is reduced, the gases <NUM> released from the water in the collection tank <NUM> will gradually push the water level down. As a consequence, the underpressure in the outlet line <NUM> will increase. This in turn causes the differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM> to be decreased. The differential pressure and the passing time can therefore be controlled also by the vacuum pump <NUM>. By decreasing the speed of the vacuum pump <NUM> when the outlet level <NUM> is high, it can further be prevented that the vacuum pump <NUM> starts sucking water from the collection tank <NUM>. Conversely, by increasing the speed of the vacuum pump <NUM> when the outlet level <NUM> is low, it can be prevented that the gases <NUM> enter the outlet line <NUM>.

After a certain number of filtration cycles, with intermediate cleaning by the cleaning device <NUM>, the filtering element <NUM> has a constant permeability. The differential pressure through the filtering element <NUM> can then be accurately controlled in a less complicated manner, for example by adjusting the filter speed of the filtering element <NUM> and/or by adjusting filter flow of the water through the filtering element <NUM>.

Due to the design of the filtration apparatus 28a, the water <NUM> enters the collection tank <NUM> from the outlet line <NUM> with a turbulent flow. This turbulence promotes the release of gases <NUM> from the water <NUM>. Also the relatively large horizontal area of the collection tank <NUM> promotes release of gases <NUM> from the water <NUM>. The gases <NUM> may comprise carbon dioxide, nitrogen, dioxygen and ammonium generated by membrane rupture of the living organisms in the water.

The vacuum pump <NUM> sucks gases <NUM> out from the top of the collection tank <NUM> and discharges the gases <NUM> to the atmosphere. In this way, the water level in the collection tank <NUM> can be held constant. The vacuum pump <NUM> is therefore synchronized with the underpressure in the outlet line <NUM>.

The collection tank <NUM> provides several advantages. The collection tank <NUM> enables a steady differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM> to be held, to thereby provide a steady filter flow through the filtering element <NUM>. Moreover, the collection tank <NUM> gives the water <NUM> the necessary holding time for allowing the gases <NUM> to elevate to the surface and provides a large free surface area of the water <NUM> for degassing.

The method can be performed with different fineness of the filtering element <NUM> and with different active filter areas. The method can thus be carried out with a wide range of different filtering elements <NUM>. The finer the filtering element <NUM> is, the easier it becomes to establish a high differential pressure over the filtering element <NUM> with a low flow speed.

As shown in <FIG>, the filtration apparatus 28a has a very compact design, for example in comparison with prior art filtration systems for degassing carbon dioxide and nitrogen form dirty water from fish tanks. The method and the filtration apparatus 28a have been tested by the inventors and have proven to function very well.

In order to check the quality of the water <NUM>, a part of the collection volume liquid flow <NUM> may be diverted to a bypass line comprising one or more measuring devices (not illustrated). The measuring devices can also be arranged directly in the collection volume liquid flow <NUM>. Such measuring devices may be in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically represents a cross-sectional side view of a further example of a filtration apparatus 28b. Mainly differences with respect to the filtration apparatus 28a in <FIG> will be described.

The filtration apparatus 28b of this specific example comprises a first filtering element 14a, a second filtering element 14b and a third filtering element 14c. Each filtering element 14a-14c may for example have a pore size of at least <NUM>, less than <NUM> and/or a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>.

Moreover, the outlet line <NUM> comprises a first outlet section 74a, a second outlet section 74b and a third outlet section 74c. The filtration apparatus 28b further comprises a first filter valve 76a in the first outlet section 74a downstream of the first filtering element 14a, a second filter valve 76b in the second outlet section 74b downstream of the second filtering element 14b, and a third filter valve 76c in the third outlet section 74c downstream of the third filtering element 14c. The outlet sections 74a-74c converge to a single drop pipe downstream of the respective filter valves 76a-76c. The outlet line <NUM> of this example thus has a plurality of geodetically highest ends, each associated with one of the filtering elements 14a-14c. Also the outlet line <NUM> of this example may comprise a vertical extension of one to ten meters, e.g. from the filtering elements 14a-14c to a geodetically lowest point inside the collection tank <NUM>. The outlet line <NUM> of this example may be referred to as an outlet line arrangement.

The filtration apparatus 28b of this example further comprises an upstream filter <NUM> arranged inside the inlet line <NUM>. The upstream filter <NUM> is here exemplified as a prefilter. The upstream filter <NUM> has a substantially higher permeability than the filtering elements 14a-14c and may therefore be referred to as a coarse filter.

Instead of the outlet valve <NUM>, the filtration apparatus 28b of this example comprises a first three-way valve <NUM>. The first three-way valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control the opening degree of the first three-way valve <NUM>. The first three-way valve <NUM> is a further example of a liquid outlet device according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the first three-way valve <NUM> is here positioned geodetically below the collection tank <NUM> in a collection outlet <NUM>.

By means of the first three-way valve <NUM>, water can be selectively led to either a primary first line 108a or a secondary first line 108b. The collection outlet <NUM> branches into the primary first line 108a and the secondary first line 108b. As shown in <FIG>, the first three-way valve <NUM> is positioned at a junction between the collection outlet <NUM>, the primary first line 108a and the secondary first line 108b.

The filtration apparatus 28b of this example further comprises a collection gas valve <NUM> and a vacuum tank <NUM>. The collection gas valve <NUM> is positioned on a collection gas line <NUM> fluidly between the vacuum tank <NUM> and the collection tank <NUM>. The vacuum tank <NUM> is positioned fluidly between the collection gas valve <NUM> and the vacuum pump <NUM>. The collection gas valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The vacuum pump <NUM> is arranged in parallel with the first three-way valve <NUM>. When the collection gas valve <NUM> is open, the vacuum pump <NUM> can suck gases <NUM> out from the top of the collection tank <NUM>. In <FIG>, the only interfaces out from the interior volume of the collection tank <NUM> are through the outlet line <NUM>, through the first three-way valve <NUM> and through the vacuum pump <NUM>.

In this example, the inlet line <NUM>, the upstream filter <NUM>, the vessel <NUM>, the filtering elements 14a-14c, the filter valves 76a-76c and the outlet sections 74a-74c are provided in the filtration unit <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28b of this example further comprises a primary downstream tank 90a and a secondary downstream tank 90b. The downstream tanks 90a and 90b are examples of downstream volumes according to the present disclosure. The downstream tanks 90a and 90b are arranged in parallel. This contributes to an operational redundancy of the filtration apparatus 28b. The primary first line 108a conducts water from the collection outlet <NUM> into the primary downstream tank 90a and the secondary first line 108b conducts water to the secondary downstream tank 90b (when the first three-way valve <NUM> is correspondingly opened).

The primary downstream tank 90a comprises a primary valve 92a, a primary high level sensor 94a and a primary low level sensor 96a. Correspondingly, the secondary downstream tank 90b comprises a secondary valve 92b, a secondary high level sensor 94b and a secondary low level sensor 96b. The primary valve 92a and the secondary valve 92b are here exemplified as check valves. The primary valve 92a is positioned in the primary first line 108a and the secondary valve 92b is positioned in the secondary first line 108b. The high level sensors 94a and 94b and the low level sensors 96a and 96b are in signal communication with the control system <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28b of this example further comprises a second three-way valve <NUM>. The second three-way valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The second three-way valve <NUM> is positioned geodetically below the downstream tanks 9oa and 90b. By means of the first three-way valve <NUM> and the second three-way valve <NUM>, the collection volume liquid flow <NUM> from the collection outlet <NUM> can be selectively led to one of the downstream tanks 90a and 90b while the other of the downstream tanks 9oa and 90b is drained through a final outlet <NUM> downstream of the second three-way valve <NUM>, e.g. for consumption. Thus, one of the downstream tanks 9oa and 90b can be filled at the same time as the other of the downstream tanks 9oa and 90b is being emptied.

As shown in <FIG>, the filtration apparatus 28b of this example further comprises a primary second line 110a and a secondary second line 110b. The primary second line 110a leads water out from the primary downstream tank 90a and the secondary second line 110b leads water out from the secondary downstream tank 90b. The primary second line 110a and the secondary second line 110b branch into the final outlet <NUM>. In this example, the second three-way valve <NUM> is positioned in a junction between the primary second line 110a, the secondary second line 110b and the final outlet <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28b further comprises a downstream gas valve <NUM>, here exemplified as a three-way valve. The downstream gas valve <NUM> is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The downstream gas valve <NUM> is connected to the primary downstream tank 90a via a primary gas line 104a, to the secondary downstream tank 90b via a secondary gas line 104b, and to the vacuum tank <NUM> via a common gas line <NUM>.

The collection unit <NUM> of this example comprises the collection tank <NUM>, the vacuum pump <NUM>, the first three-way valve <NUM>, the second three-way valve <NUM>, the primary downstream tank 90a, the secondary downstream tank 90b, the collection gas valve <NUM>, the downstream gas valve <NUM> and the vacuum tank <NUM>. Similarly to the filtration apparatus 28b in <FIG>, an upper part of the outlet line <NUM> may be provided in the filtration unit <NUM> and a lower part of the outlet line <NUM> may be provided in the collection unit <NUM>.

The filtration apparatus 28b can be controlled in a corresponding way as the filtration apparatus 28a to filtrate polluted water to become drinking water. Coarse particles in the water are filtered by the upstream filter <NUM>. Finer particles are filtered by one or more of the filtering elements 14a-14c. The rapid pressure decrease over one or more active filtering elements 14a-14c kills living organisms in the water.

An active filter area can be changed by selectively opening one or more of the filter valves 76a-76c. According to one variant, each of the outlet sections 74a-74c has a unique cross-sectional area. In this way, more options for setting an active filter area by means of the filter valves 76a-76c become available. Moreover, each filtering element 14a-14c may have unique characteristics, such as unique porosity and/or thickness. By selectively activating one or more of the filtering elements 14a- 14c by opening an associated filter valve 76a-76c, the differential pressure of the liquid over the one or more active filtering elements 14a-14c and the passing time therethrough can be controlled.

The parallel arrangement of the filtering elements 14a-14c also enables one filtering element 14a-14c to be replaced or cleaned while one or more of the other filtering elements 14a-14c remain in operation. This contributes to an operational redundancy of the filtration apparatus 28b.

When the primary downstream tank 9oa is being filled, the control system <NUM> controls the first three-way valve <NUM> to guide water from the collection outlet <NUM> into the primary downstream tank 90a, controls the second three-way valve <NUM> to close an outlet from the primary downstream tank 90a, and controls the downstream gas valve <NUM> to open the primary gas line 104a to the common gas line <NUM>. At the same time, the control system <NUM> controls the first three-way valve <NUM> to prevent water from the collection outlet <NUM> to enter the secondary downstream tank 90b, controls the second three-way valve <NUM> to open an outlet from the secondary downstream tank 90b, and controls the downstream gas valve <NUM> to close the secondary gas line 104b to the common gas line <NUM>. When the primary downstream tank 9oa has been filled, as determined by the primary high level sensor 94a, the above control is switched.

The first three-way valve <NUM>, the second three-way valve <NUM> and the downstream gas valve <NUM> are controlled based on readings from the high level sensors 94a and 94b and the low level sensors 96a and 96b. The final outlet <NUM> may have a larger cross-sectional area than the collection outlet <NUM>. In this way, the draining of one of the downstream tanks 90a and 90b is faster than a filling of the other of the downstream tanks 90a and 90b. The filtration apparatus 28b can filtrate water at a very low power consumption, such as <NUM> kWh. This makes the filtration apparatus 28b excellent for providing safe drinking water in small communities.

As one possible modification of the filtration apparatus 28b, the downstream tanks 90a and 90b may be omitted. In this case, the final outlet <NUM> may be constituted by the collection outlet <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically represents a cross-sectional side view of a further example of a filtration apparatus 28c. Mainly differences with respect to the filtration apparatus 28b will be described. Instead of the first three-way valve <NUM>, the filtration apparatus 28c comprises a primary first valve 112a in the primary first line 108a and a secondary first valve 112b in the secondary first line 108b. The primary first valve 112a and the secondary first valve 112b constitute a further example of a liquid outlet device according to the present disclosure. Each of the primary first valve 112a and the secondary first valve 112b is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control an opening degree of each of the primary first valve 112a and the secondary first valve 112b. In this example, the collection outlet <NUM> may be omitted and each of the primary first line 108a and the secondary first line 108b may instead be directly connected to the collection tank <NUM>.

Furthermore, instead of the second three-way valve <NUM>, the filtration apparatus 28c comprises a primary second valve 114a in the primary second line 110a and a secondary second valve 114b in the secondary second line 110b. Each of the primary second valve 114a and the secondary second valve 114b is in signal communication with the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> can control an opening degree of each of the primary second valve 114a and the secondary second valve 114b.

Claim 1:
A method of filtrating liquid (<NUM>), the method comprising:
- conducting a liquid (<NUM>) through a filtering element (<NUM>; 14a-14c), through an outlet line (<NUM>) downstream of the filtering element (<NUM>; 14a-14c) and to a collection volume (<NUM>) downstream of the outlet line (<NUM>), the collection volume (<NUM>) being closed to atmosphere;
- controlling a differential pressure of the liquid (<NUM>) over the filtering element (<NUM>; 14a-14c); and
- controlling a passing time of a filter flow of the liquid (<NUM>) through the filtering element (<NUM>; 14a-14c) in conjunction with the differential pressure;
wherein the control of the differential pressure and the passing time comprises:
- controlling a collection volume liquid flow (<NUM>) of the liquid (<NUM>) out from the collection volume (<NUM>); and
- controlling a gas flow (<NUM>) out from the collection volume (<NUM>).