Controlled-debris elements inhibit the formation of a fibrous/particulate debris bed that unduly increases the pressure head loss through the perforated plates of strainers in a nuclear power plant emergency core cooling system. In a loss of cooling accident, pumps draw cooling water through the plates, which retain on their surfaces fibrous material in the circulating water to prevent it from reaching the pumps while permitting entrained particulate matter to pass through the perforations. The controlled-debris elements have a specific gravity substantially the same as the circulating water so they are entrained in the cooling water that is drawn toward the strainers and intimately intermix with the fibrous and particulate matter in the cooling water. The elements are configured to provide open structures in the bed formed on the plate surfaces to distribute fibers in the flow away from the surface and maintain cavities between the elements for the particulates.

A water filtration and disinfection device comprises a water basin having an inlet for receiving water from a source. A sidestream treatment device is provided for treating water from the water basin, and the sidestream treatment device comprises a plurality of filtration or disinfection mechanisms for acting on water within the sidestream treatment device. A feed conduit extends between the water basin and the sidestream treatment device for feeding water from the water basin to the sidestream and a return conduit extends from the sidestream treatment device to the water basin for returning at least a part of the water to the water basin.

Controlled-debris elements inhibit the formation of a fibrous/particulate debris bed that unduly increases the pressure head loss through the perforated plates of strainers in a nuclear power plant emergency core cooling system. In a loss of cooling accident, pumps draw cooling water through the plates, which retain on their surfaces fibrous material in the circulating water to prevent it from reaching the pumps while permitting entrained particulate matter to pass through the perforations. The controlled-debris elements have a specific gravity substantially the same as the circulating water so they are entrained in the cooling water that is drawn toward the strainers and intimately intermix with the fibrous and particulate matter in the cooling water. The elements are configured to provide open structures in the bed formed on the plate surfaces to distribute fibers in the flow away from the surface and maintain cavities between the elements for the particulates.

A solid-liquid filtration assembly for removing solids from a solid-liquid mixture includes a filter module comprising a pan, to which a screen is attached, and a scraping arm, to which is attached slurry nozzles. A media bed on the screen separates solids from a mixture of a liquid and the solids. Filtrate drains from the pan via a drain tube. A scraping arm removes dewatered solids and soiled media from atop the media bed, forward of the scraping arm. The scraping arm also expels the dewatered solids and the soiled media from the pan, while slurry nozzles deliver the mixture to the media bed aft of the scraping arm.

A system for treating water includes at least one pump, at least one filter pot coupled to the at least one pump and configured to pass the flow of water to be treated in a first direction, at least one valve upstream of the filter pot, and, a processor operably coupled to the at least one pump and the at least one valve. The processor is configured to implement computer executable instructions that cause the processor to perform functions that include receiving a signal reflective of the parameter from at least one sensor, generating a cleaning signal as a function of the parameter, transmitting the cleaning signal to the at least one valve to close the valve to the source of water to be cleaned, and operating a cleaning cycle in which a cleaning water is flushed through the filter pot in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A system includes a sand filter disposed within a tank. A pipe connected to the tank is configured to flow fluid in or out of the tank. The system includes a valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow through the pipe and a flowmeter configured to measure a flow rate of fluid through the pipe. An automatic control unit includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations including determining a debris accumulation status for the sand filter based in part on flow measurements from the flowmeter, and determining a failure status of the valve based in part on flow measurements from the flowmeter.

A water filter medium container includes a removable upper cover and a removable lower cover. The container includes a tube defining a filter medium compartment operative to receive a replaceable filter medium. A first containment element may be placed between the upper cover and the tube. A second containment element may be placed between the lower cover and the tube. The water filter medium container may be adapted to be placed in a water container.

An underdrain filtered water collection system includes: a pair of opposing drainpipes, each drainpipe having a plurality of collection drains; and a diffuser screen. The diffuser screen can slide within an outlet in each of the collection drains. A diffuser screen for a pressure vessel containing filter media includes: a screen pipe; a solid plate coupled to a base of the screen pipe; and a winged diffuser arranged around an outer circumference of the solid plate. The winged diffuser includes a plurality of foldable wings. The screen pipe includes a mesh screen having preconfigured interstices therethrough. Feed water flows through the screen pipe where it is directed by an inner surface of the solid plate to flow in a diffused flow through the interstices of the mesh screen and the wings.

An underdrain filtered water collection system includes: a pair of opposing drainpipes, each drainpipe having a plurality of collection drains; and a diffuser screen. The diffuser screen can slide within an outlet in each of the collection drains. A diffuser screen for a pressure vessel containing filter media includes: a screen pipe; a solid plate coupled to a base of the screen pipe; and a winged diffuser arranged around an outer circumference of the solid plate. The winged diffuser includes a plurality of foldable wings. The screen pipe includes a mesh screen having preconfigured interstices therethrough. Feed water flows through the screen pipe where it is directed by an inner surface of the solid plate to flow in a diffused flow through the interstices of the mesh screen and the wings.

A water filter includes an elongated housing including a first distal portion forming a mouth, a second distal portion forming holes, and a sidewall forming a nozzle that is fluidly coupled to an inner chamber of the elongated housing via a passage. The inner chamber fluidly couples the mouth with: the nozzle in a first configuration; and an external environment via the holes in a second configuration. The water filter includes a substantially spherical structure disposed in the inner chamber. The substantially spherical structure is configured to be forced: toward the mouth in the first configuration; and toward a portion of the inner chamber that is opposite the mouth in the second configuration to create a temporary seal. The elongated housing forms a protrusion that extends into the inner chamber and is configured to prevent the substantially spherical structure from exiting through the mouth.