Patent ID: 8017019

Claim:
A method of treating a fluid including precipitatable materials therein, said method comprising the steps of: directing said fluid into the lower end of an elongated primary tubular section presenting a first upright longitudinal axis; creating fluidized bed conditions within said primary tubular section, and allowing precipitated particles to collect adjacent the lower end of the primary tubular section; directing portions of said fluid within said primary tubular section into a settling section operably coupled with and in communication with the interior of said primary tubular section above said inlet, said settling section presenting a plurality of oblique flow paths oriented in the direction of a second longitudinal axis through said settling section, said second longitudinal axis being oriented at an acute angle relative to said first upright axis of said primary tubular section to allow said precipitated particles to settle from said fluid, said fluid flowing through said plurality of flow paths to a settling section outlet; and allowing precipitated particles within the settling section to descend into the primary tubular section and collect adjacent the lower end of the primary tubular section.