Patent ID: 8382994

Claim:
A method for preparing a composite pressure vessel for use as a water treatment apparatus comprising: providing a composite pressure vessel comprising: a thermoplastic liner; a reinforcing layer covering the thermoplastic liner, the reinforcing layer comprising a plurality of glass filaments wrapped helically and circumferentially around the thermoplastic liner; a lower separator having a top side, a bottom side, a central opening and a perimeter edge that is joined to the thermoplastic liner, wherein a plurality of slits are provided in the lower separator to define fluid flow passages through the lower separator, wherein the plurality of slits are disposed between the central opening and the perimeter edge and have respective longitudinal axes that are radially-aligned with respect to a center of the central opening, and wherein the plurality of radially-aligned slits collectively impart a swirling motion to fluid flowing from the bottom side of the lower separator through the fluid flow passages to the top side of the lower separator, the swirling motion being such that fluid swirls above the top side of the lower separator in a first circular direction relative to the central opening; and a supply pipe having a first end engaged with and retained to the central opening in the lower separator and a second end accessible through an aperture formed in thermoplastic liner; and disposing a first water treatment media through the aperture in the thermoplastic liner into the composite pressure vessel such that the first water treatment media is supported by the lower separator.