Patent ID: 8419935

Claim:
A separator apparatus for treating a contaminated fluid, comprising: at least one separator with at least one annulus disposed therein; a flux cartridge with a semi-permeable membrane seated inside said annulus, wherein a fluid ring exists between an interior surface of the annulus and an exterior surface of the flux cartridge; a first pump in fluid communication with the separator capable of delivering an influent fluid containing at least one contaminant into the separator, wherein the pressure delivered by the first pump results in a turbulent flow caused by cavitation within the fluid ring of the separator resulting in the retention of contaminant particles on the exterior surface of the flux cartridge and the collection of the filtered fluid within an interior chamber of the flux cartridge; a slipstream fluid path in fluid communication with the separator for passing fluid from the fluid ring to upstream of the separator which acts to enhance the turbulent flow of contaminated influent within the separator thereby improving the filtration efficiency of the separator; a second pump in fluid communication with the separator capable of reversing the flow of fluid through the flux cartridge, wherein filtered fluid is pumped into the fluid ring from the interior chamber of the flux cartridge which provides for the removal of the contaminant particles retained by the flux cartridge and transports a substantial portion of the contaminant particles out of the separator; a reject tank in fluid communication with the separator which receives a substantial portion of the contaminant particles from the separator; and a product tank which receives a substantial portion of the filtered fluid from the separator.