Patent ID: 7210488

Claim:
A method of removing solids settled in a container, comprising the following steps: providing a manifold assembly comprised of separate manifold sections with jet nozzles and positioning the manifold sections inside the container; providing a valve assembly connectable to respective manifold sections, providing a means for controlling operation of the valve assembly according to a pre-programmed sequence wherein said control means comprises a data processing unit adapted to processing data related to solids accumulation in the container and generating a control signal for operation of the valve assembly according to the pre-programmed sequence; providing an outlet conduit and connecting the outlet conduit to the manifold sections; providing a means for moving solid particles and fluids removed from the container to a solid/fluid separator; admitting a solids-dislodging fluid into the manifold sections and forcing the solids-dislodging fluid through the nozzles to contact the settled solids, thereby dislodging the solids; removing a mixture of the dislodged solids and the solids-dislodging fluid from the container and transferring the mixture to a solid/fluid separator for separating solids from the mixture; and re-circulating solids-free fluid into the manifold sections.