A control method is provided for a filter system, which includes at least one filter element (2). The method includes continuously recording a total energy consumption (E.sub.G) during a filtration cycle (22) of the filter system. The total energy consumption (E.sub.G) includes at least of the energy consumption (E.sub.B) for a physical cleaning (24) and the energy consumption (E.sub.P) for the subsequent production cycle (23) up to a predefined, in particular current point in time. The method further includes computing a relative energy consumption (E.sub.rel) by way of division of the recorded total energy consumption (E.sub.G) by a net permeate volume (Q.sub.N) which has been produced during the filtration cycle (22) up to the predefined point in time and starting a physical cleaning (24) in dependence on the relative energy consumption or of a characteristic value derived from this.

The water treatment device according to the present disclosure includes: an electrochemical cell having electrodes including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a bipolar membrane; a tank; a power supply configured to apply power to the electrodes; a water circulation flow path having at least the tank and the electrochemical cell and through which water circulates; a circulation device configured to circulate water in the water circulation flow path; a raw water supply path configured to supply raw water to the water circulation flow path; and a control device. In performing water softening treatment in the electrochemical cell where power is applied to the electrodes so as to remove ions from raw water and soft water is produced, the control device drives the circulation device so as to circulate water in the water circulation flow path.

A sanitizing filter for sanitizing a residential water filtering system has a water filter assembly including a cartridge operable for removable attachment to the water filter assembly. When the cartridge is attached to the water filter assembly, a water flow passes into the cartridge, mixes with sanitizing media within the cartridge, and passes back into the water filter assembly. The residential water filtering system is then filled and flushed repeatedly and the mixture of water and sanitizing media sanitizes the portions of the system that are downstream from the sanitizing filter.

A filter system of the type having a pressure vessel having an annular filter media therein with a filter wiper piston moved by an air or hydraulic piston actuator. An electrically operated drain valve purges wiped contaminants from the filter media. Pressure sensors provide a signal to a controller of vessel inlet and outlet pressure. Position detectors provide signals to the controller of the drain valve position and filter actuation position. The controller has a computer which computes from the sensor inputs parameters representative, in real time, of entry fluid condition, relative amount of filter contamination, relative amount of filter wear, and relative amount of contaminant removal, and provides signals of the representation to indicators providing visual display thereof.

The invention relates to a method for the processing of protein-containing suspensions or solutions, for example for concentrating or purifying the protein-containing particles or dissolved protein-containing substance contained in the suspensions or solutions, wherein the protein-containing suspensions or solutions are filtered by means of a filter module and the protein-containing particles or dissolved protein-containing substance retained in the filter module are conveyed out of the filter module by means of a backwashing fluid.

A system for separating a suspension of biological cells is disclosed comprising a single-use fluid circuit and a durable hardware component. The fluid circuit comprises a separator having a housing that includes an inlet for introducing the suspension of biological cells into the gap, a first outlet in communication with the gap for flowing a first type of cells from the separator, and a second outlet in communication with the second side of the filter membrane for flowing a second type of cells from the separator. The hardware component comprises a pump for flowing the suspension of biological cells to the inlet of the separator and at least one flow control device associated with the first outlet and the second outlet of the separator for selectively opening and closing the outlets so as to permit one of the first type of cells and the second type of cells to flow out of the separator in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle equal to the ratio of a target flow rate of first type of cells through the first outlet to the predetermined inlet flow rate.

Provided is a method for producing platelets, in which damage to platelets is suppressed compared with a method in which platelets are separated using a filter from a megakaryocyte culture, and then the platelets are concentrated using a hollow fiber membrane and are further washed using the hollow fiber membrane, and purified platelets can be produced in a shorter period of time compared with the time that is taken to perform the above-described method so as to reduce damage to platelets. The method for producing purified platelets of the present invention includes a concentrating step of concentrating a megakaryocyte culture, and a centrifuging step of centrifuging platelets from an obtained concentrate.

A filter system of the type having a pressure vessel having an annular filter media therein with a filter wiper piston moved by an air or hydraulic piston actuator. An electrically operated drain valve purges wiped contaminants from the filter media. Pressure sensors provide a signal to a controller of vessel inlet and outlet pressure. Position detectors provide signals to the controller of the drain valve position and filter actuation position. The controller has a computer which computes from the sensor inputs parameters representative, in real time, of entry fluid condition, relative amount of filter contamination, relative amount of filter wear, and relative amount of contaminant removal, and provides signals of the representation to indicators providing visual display thereof.

A system for separating a suspension of biological cells is disclosed comprising a single-use fluid circuit and a durable hardware component. The fluid circuit comprises a separator having a housing that includes an inlet for introducing the suspension of biological cells into the gap, a first outlet in communication with the gap for flowing a first type of cells from the separator, and a second outlet in communication with the second side of the filter membrane for flowing a second type of cells from the separator. The hardware component comprises a pump for flowing the suspension of biological cells to the inlet of the separator and at least one flow control device associated with the first outlet and the second outlet of the separator for selectively opening and closing the outlets so as to permit one of the first type of cells and the second type of cells to flow out of the separator in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle equal to the ratio of a target flow rate of first type of cells through the first outlet to the predetermined inlet flow rate.

Water treatment apparatus, including: a ceramic filter; and a flow apparatus operable to pass water through the ceramic filter in a forward direction so as to filter the water, the flow apparatus also operable to pass water through the ceramic filter in a reverse direction so as to remove material from the ceramic filter, whereby material having been deposited by filtration of the water is removed.