Apparatus and method for separating entrained particulate matter from a

Abstract

An apparatus and method for separating entrained particulate matter from a fluid wherein particulate matter is collected in an overlying porous layer on an upstream side of a rotatable, fluid-permeable filter in a first chamber, and rotatably conveyed into a second chamber and used as an additional filtering medium. The filter comprises a cylindrical drum having a filter surface thereon and is rotatably mounted in an enclosed housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. Fluid pumping means operatively communicate with the housing for inducing a flow of fluid into the housing through the inlet and out of the housing through the outlet. Chamber means are disposed within the housing and sealingly cooperate therewith and with the cylindrical drum and define a first chamber fluidly communicating with the inlet and a predetermined portion of the cylindrical drum on the upstream and downstream sides thereof. A second chamber is provided which fluidly communicates with the outlet and a second predetermined portion of the cylindrical drum on the upstream and downstream sides thereof. Drive means rotate the cylindrical drum at a predetermined rate through the first chamber for collecting on the filter surface an overlying porous layer of particulate matter, and through the second chamber for filtering fluid through the filter surface and the overlying porous layer of particulate matter. Doffing means are provided for cleaning the filter surface by removing the porous layer of particulate matter therefrom subsequent to the passage thereof through the second chamber.