Patent ID: 6843920

Claim:
An apparatus for conducting liquid separation utilizing an ion exchange process, the apparatus comprising: a liquid separation column, the column comprising a partition within the column dividing the column, into first and second vertical compartments, the vertical compartments being joined at their lower ends to form a U-tube portion between the compartments, wherein the first and second compartments are in fluid communication; each vertical compartment including an upper fluid inlet port located in the top of the compartment, the inlet ports being in fluid communication with the interior of the compartments and an external fluid source; each vertical compartment being equipped with an upper bed disposed inside each compartment, the beds being proximate to the upper end of the compartments and below the inlet ports; the upper beds having fluid distribution nozzles, wherein fluid received from the inlet ports is directed into the compartments at a controlled flow rate; each compartment further including an outlet port for backwashng, each outlet port being disposed adjacent to and below each upper bed, wherein the outlet ports remove particulate matter larger than the upper bed nozzle openings; and an ion exchange resin layer disposed within each vertical compartment, wherein a free board is defined between a top level of the ion exchange resin layer and the upper bed in each compartment, whereby the free board allows the resin layer to expand and contract during the liquid separation process.