Rotary disk filter with high pressure medium cleaning system

Abstract

A rotating disk filter designed to remove suspended solids from wastewater is provided with a high pressure medium cleaning system. The high pressure medium cleaning system includes a segmented manifold extending along a side of the array of disc filter units. The sectioned manifold includes a plurality of hydraulic sections, wherein each hydraulic section is isolated from the other one or more hydraulic sections. Communicatively connected to each hydraulic section is a plurality of spray bars including nozzles. A spray bar communicatively connected to a specific hydraulic section is designated to clean only a section of the filter unit at any time. Pressurized water is supplied at a time to a hydraulic section. Pressurized water enters the hydraulic section and flows from the hydraulic section through respective spray bars communicatively connected to the hydraulic section and out of nozzles of the spray bars, and in the process cleans the filter media forming portions of the filter units of the particular filter unit section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating disc filter for filtering wastewater and water, and more particularly to a rotating disc filter having a high pressure media cleaning system for restoring the capacity of the filter media. Background Art

[0002] The type of rotating disc filters described herein are designed to filter wastewater and water (hereinafter collectively referred to as "wastewater"). They typically include a drum and a plurality of filter discs or units mounted on the drum. Each filter unit includes a medium that filters the wastewater as it passes through the filter unit. As the wastewater passes through the filter unit, the suspended solids contained in the wastewater are captured in the medium. In order to clean or remove the suspended solids from the medium, the rotating disc filter typically includes a backwash system, which is used from time to time to remove and remove the suspended solids from the medium. In fact, during the operation of the rotating disc filter, the backwash system is frequently used. Although conventional backwashing operations are important and play a valuable role, the filter medium may still become clogged and lose its ability to efficiently filter the wastewater passing through the filter unit after a period of time. This is sometimes referred to as long-term media clogging. Typically, it is noticeable after the medium has been used for several months. In addition, clogging may also occur due to sudden failure in the upstream treatment process. In any case, over time, it can be expected that the medium will become less efficient despite frequent and regular backwashing.

[0003] It is known to supplement conventional backwashing operations with less frequent media cleaning utilizing a system referred to herein as a high pressure media cleaning system. Compared to conventional backwashing, high pressure media cleaning is intended to restore the filtering capacity of the media and is typically employed less frequently than conventional backwashing.

[0004] One approach to high pressure medium cleaning requires a bracket that is mounted on a disc filter and can be moved along one side of a filter unit. This approach is described in U.S. Patent No. 8444862, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Mounted on the bracket are two spaced apart spray bars or arms that pivot from an inoperable position outside the filter unit to an operable position in which two spray bars extend along the opposite side of the filter unit. Once in an operable position, high pressure cleaning water is directed out of the nozzle associated with the spray bar and arrives on the opposite side of the filter unit. During this cleaning operation, the spray bar can be hinged to clean the various areas of the filter unit that the spray bar crosses. Once the filter unit is cleaned, the two spray bars are retracted to an inoperable position, and the bracket is incremented to the next adjacent filter unit, and the cleaning process is continued. This has been proven to be an unreliable approach to high pressure medium cleaning. Incremental brackets are challenging to accurately align with each filter unit and simultaneously control the positioning and movement of the spray bar and the associated nozzle to efficiently clean the filter unit with the required precision. This is even more challenging today as there is a trend to position filter units closer and closer to each other to improve floor space efficiency.

[0005] Another approach requires a high-pressure cleaning system including a separate spray bar and nozzle for each filter unit. In this case, each spray bar includes two nozzles. When extended between two adjacent filter units, each nozzle of the spray bar cleans one side of two adjacent filter units. The problem or disadvantage here is that for each spray bar, a separate flow control valve and high-pressure hose and accessories are required. That is, if the disc filter includes 22 filter units, this means that there are 23 flow control valves mounted on the disc filter and 23 high-pressure hoses and accessories extending from the flow control valves to the corresponding spray bars. In practice, the cost of the flow control valves and high-pressure hoses and accessories makes it difficult to justify this approach for, for example, disc filters with more than 12 filter units. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention seeks to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies of such high pressure media cleaning systems by providing a high pressure media cleaning system for disc filters which minimizes flow control valves, hoses and conduits and fittings, but cleans a large number of filter units one section at a time, wherein each section includes a plurality of filter units.

[0007] To achieve this, the disc filter is provided with a segmented manifold extending along one side of the filter unit. Formed in the segmented manifold are a plurality of hydraulic sections, each of which is isolated from one or more other sections. A spray bar including a nozzle is communicatively connected to each of the hydraulic sections and extends from there into the area between the respective filter units. More particularly, the spray bars are grouped, wherein each group is communicatively connected to a specific hydraulic section of the manifold. A pressurized water supply unit is provided, and the pressurized water supply unit is configured to supply pressurized water to one hydraulic section at a time. Pressurized water enters the hydraulic section and is directed into the associated spray bar and out of its nozzle to an adjacent filter medium. The manifold supporting the spray bar rotates, which causes the nozzle to sweep along the side of the filter unit as the filter unit rotates. This ensures that substantially all filter media are cleaned.

[0008] In one embodiment, the high pressure media cleaning system is automated. That is, the disc filter and the pressurized water supply unit are configured (i.e., designed) to sequentially, one by one, clean the sections of the filter unit. In this example, the pressurized water supply unit includes a pump and a pressurized water outlet and flow control valve for each hydraulic section formed in the manifold. The control system of the disc filter, together with the controller associated with the pressurized water supply unit, is effective to actuate the high pressure media cleaning system and cause it to automatically and sequentially clean one section of the filter unit at a time.

[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from the following description and from a study of the accompanying drawings, which merely illustrate such invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of the disc filter.

[0011] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a disc filter from behind with the housing and frame structure removed to better illustrate parts of the disc filter unit and the high-pressure medium cleaning system.

[0012] Figure 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a disc filter with the housing and frame structure again removed.

[0013] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a disc filter illustrating the movement of the spray bar of the high pressure media cleaning system during a cleaning operation.

[0014] Figure 5 is a schematic illustration showing portions of a pressurized water supply unit and a disc filter and in particular illustrating the relationship of the pressurized water supply unit and the segment manifold during a high pressure media cleaning operation.

[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a pressurized water supply unit.

[0016] Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a segmented manifold and a plurality of spray bars and associated nozzles extending therefrom and forming part of a high pressure media cleaning system.

[0017] Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of a disc filter illustrating the segmented manifolds and the spray bars extending therefrom between respective filter units.

[0018] Fig. 9 is a view showing an actuator assembly used to rotate a segment manifold during a high pressure media cleaning operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring further to the drawings, a rotating disc filter is shown therein and generally indicated by the numeral 10. As will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rotating disc filter 10 is designed to filter suspended solids from wastewater. The disc filter 10 includes a main frame 12 that supports the various components that make up the disc filter 10. In this regard, a drum 14 is rotatably mounted to the frame structure 12. Generally, the drum 14 is closed except that the drum 14 includes an inlet opening around the front end of the disc filter and includes a series of openings 14A formed in its surface. Secured to the drum 14 are a series of disc-shaped filter components or units 16. As shown in the drawings ( Figure 1-3 ), the filter units 16 are spaced axially along the drum 12. The number of filter units 16 can vary. Each filter unit 16 includes a filter frame 18 that can be made of various materials. In the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the filter frame 12 includes a modular plastic frame. In order to understand the typical modular plastic frame in more detail, see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 10188971, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Fastened around the opposite sides of each filter unit 16 is a filter medium. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the filter medium used on each filter unit 16 is a plurality of media panels 20 that are easily attached to and removed from the filter frame 18. The media panel 20, together with the filter frame 18, forms an open area or space inside the filter unit 16. The open area is connected to the inside of the drum 14 via an opening 14A formed in the surface of the drum. Some detailed design features of the disc filter are omitted from the drawings and the description herein because they are not the material of the present invention themselves. For further understanding and appreciation of spinning disk filters, reference is made to US Patent Nos. 11000791 and 11291935, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] There are two basic types of rotating disc filters for filtering wastewater. These are referred to as inside-out disc filters and outside-in disc filters. In the case of an inside-out disc filter, the treated wastewater is directed into a drum 14 and from the drum into an open area within a corresponding filter unit 16. Once in the filter unit 16, the treated wastewater is directed out of the filter unit through a media panel 20, and in the process, the wastewater is filtered. On the other hand, an outside-in disc filter operates by directing the treated wastewater from the outside of the filter unit 16 through a filter medium on the outside of the filter unit into an area or space within the filter unit. When the treated wastewater passes through the filter medium 20 into the filter unit 16, the suspended solids therein are captured in the filter medium 20. A high-pressure media cleaning system that is employed to periodically clean the media is described below. The high-pressure media cleaning system is applicable to both outside-in disc filters and inside-out disc filters.

[0021] As noted above, during the filtering of wastewater in either an inside-out disc filter or an outside-in disc filter, suspended solids contained in the wastewater are captured by the filter media 20. Thus, the filter media 20 must be cleaned from time to time. The disc filter 10 includes two different systems for cleaning the filter media 20. As discussed more fully below, the disc filter 10 includes a conventional backwash system and a high-pressure media cleaning system. Conventional backwash systems typically operate at relatively low pressures, generally about 6-10 bar. They are frequently employed during the filtering of wastewater. Especially when treating wastewater with relatively high concentrations of suspended solids, it is not uncommon to perform conventional backwashing every day (if not more frequently). But over time, conventional backwashing processes are not sufficient to address the blockages that typically occur over time. That is, over time, it is not uncommon for disc filters to experience long-term blockages, and this causes the filter media to lose its ability to effectively and efficiently filter wastewater. More aggressive cleaning (i.e., high-pressure cleaning) is required to restore or restore the filter media 20 to a situation in which the filter media 20 performs at an optimal or acceptable level. Therefore, the disc filter of the present invention is provided with a high pressure media cleaning system described more fully below. "High pressure" as used herein means pressures significantly greater than the 6-10 bar pressure typically employed in conventional disc filter backwash systems. The term "high pressure" as used herein means pressures equal to or greater than 20 bar. It is noted that the high pressure media cleaning system is used less frequently than conventional media backwash systems. Although the frequency of employing the high pressure media cleaning system may vary depending on the composition of the wastewater and the efficiency of the upstream process, in some cases, high pressure media cleaning may be employed only monthly.

[0022] Before discussing the high pressure media cleaning system, a brief discussion of the backwash system is appropriate. The backwash system includes a backwash pump (not shown), an elongated manifold 52 extending along a side portion of the disc filter 10, and a series of feed pipes or spray bars 54 connected to the manifold 52 and extending inwardly from the manifold 52 between the respective filter units 16. See Figure 3-4 Fastened to the distal ends of the spray bars 54 are a series of nozzle holders generally indicated by the numeral 56. The nozzle holders 56 are designed to support removable nozzles 58. In a backwash operation, a backwash pump pumps backwash material from a backwash source, such as filtered water, into and through the manifold 52. The backwash material is pumped from the manifold 52 into the respective spray bars 54 and from the spray bars into and through the nozzles 56.

[0023] The manifold 52 in the illustrated embodiment is rotatably mounted along one side of the disc filter 10. Various drive arrangements may be employed to rotate the manifold 52. In some cases, the manifold 52 is operably connected to a drive (not shown) that may be driven indirectly from the drum motor 22 or driven by a motor dedicated to rotating the manifold. In any case, the manifold 52 typically rotates back and forth during a backwash operation, which causes the nozzles 58 to sweep back and forth between the filter media 20 of adjacent filter units 16 to backwash the filter media disposed on opposite sides of the nozzles. For a more detailed discussion of backwash systems used on disc filters, see the disclosures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,000,791 and 11,291,935.

[0024] Continuing with reference to the drawings, a high pressure media cleaning system of the present invention is shown therein and generally indicated by the numeral 100. Figure 5-6 The high pressure media cleaning system 100 is designed to perform high pressure cleaning operations on the media 20 of one section of the filter unit 16 at a time. In one embodiment, as discussed below, the high pressure media cleaning system is automatically controlled to clean different sections of the filter unit 16 sequentially, one after the other.

[0025] Looking at the high pressure media cleaning system 100 in more detail, it includes a segmented manifold 102. The segmented manifold 102 is rotationally mounted along the side of the disc filter 10 opposite the manifold 52 which forms part of the backwash system. Figure 2-3 The segmented manifold 102 is divided into a plurality of hydraulic segments 104, see Figure 5 Each hydraulic section 104 is isolated from the other hydraulic section or sections and includes a pressurized water inlet 106. Communicably connected to each hydraulic section 104 is a plurality of elongated spray bars 108. The spray bars 108 are also supported on the manifold 102 and extend therefrom to a position where the spray bars extend between adjacent filter units 16. See Figure 3-5Provided on the end of most spray bars 108 are pairs of nozzles 110, wherein the pairs of nozzles point in opposite directions. Since the spray bars provided on the very ends of the disc filter 10 will only have to clean one side of one filter unit 16, those spray bars will only include one nozzle.

[0026] Extending along portions of the segmented manifold 102 are a series of supply hoses or conduits 112. Each conduit 112 is connected to the pressurized water inlet 106 of one of the hydraulic segments 104. The conduits 112 extend together along the segmented manifold 104 to one end of the disc filter 10 (the front end in the embodiment shown), where the conduits 112 terminate. The ends may be provided with appropriate couplings that allow each end to be quickly connected to a flexible supply hose extending from a pressurized water supply unit to be discussed below. Since the segmented manifold 102 rotates during cleaning in order to articulate the respective spray bars 108, the supply conduits 112 are secured around the segmented manifold so that the segmented manifold and the supply conduits rotate as a unit.

[0027] Effectively, each hydraulic section 104 and the spray bar communicatively connected to each hydraulic section 104 is responsible for cleaning only one section of the filter unit 16. The term "section" as it relates to the filter unit 16 does not necessarily mean that the entirety of any filter unit 16 must be located in one particular section. In some cases, one nozzle of a spray bar 108 may clean one side of a filter unit located in one section, and another nozzle of the same spray bar may clean one side of another filter unit located in an adjacent section.

[0028] During high pressure medium cleaning, the drum 14 and the filter unit 16 thereon rotate. Figure 2 As seen in FIG. 1 , a drum motor 22 is mounted on the back side of the disc filter 10 and is employed to rotate the drum 14 and the filter unit 16 mounted thereon. Various drive arrangements may be used to rotate the drum 14. Figure 2 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG, the drive for driving the drum 14 includes a driven sprocket 24 connected directly or indirectly to the drum 14. A chain 26 runs around a drive sprocket 28 connected to the motor 22 and the sprocket 24. Thus, actuation of the motor 22 drives the sprockets 26 and 28, which in turn rotates the drum 14 and the filter unit 16 mounted thereon.

[0029] Since the spray bar 108 is fixed to the segmented manifold 102, it follows that the spray bar is articulated and can be moved back and forth along the side of the media panel 20 by simply rotating the segmented manifold. Therefore, the segmented manifold 102 is carried at multiple points along its length. As previously noted, the supply conduits 112 extending along the length of a portion of the segmented manifold 102 are secured around the segmented manifold so that the segmented manifold and supply conduits rotate together as a unit. In order to rotate the segmented manifold 102 and associated supply conduits 112, an actuator assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 30, is provided around the front end of the disc filter 10. The actuator assembly 30 includes a linear actuator 32 anchored at one end to the frame structure of the disc filter 10. See FIG. Figure 1 and Fig. 9 . Connected to the linear actuator 32 at the other end is an actuator arm 34. The actuator arm 34 extends from the linear actuator 32 and is operably connected to the segment manifold 102 and the supply conduit 112. As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 , extending the linear actuator 32 rotates the segmented manifold 102 and the supply conduit 112 counterclockwise. This moves the spray bar 108 extending from the segmented manifold 102 from an inner position adjacent to the drum 14 to an outer position near the periphery of the filter unit 16. The spray bar 108 and the nozzle 110 associated therewith can be brought back to the home position by retracting the linear actuator 32.

[0030] In order to supply pressurized water to the hydraulic section 104 of the manifold 102, a pressurized water supply unit generally indicated by the numeral 140 is provided. Figure 5 and Figure 6 . The pressurized water supply unit 140 is provided with a water inlet 142 and comprises an electric motor 144 driving a pump 146 via a gearbox 145. In order to maintain a substantially constant water pressure downstream of the pump 146, a constant pressure regulating valve 148 and an associated bypass line 151 are provided. The pressurized water discharged by the pump 146 is divided into a plurality of streams. Each stream is directed to a separate flow control valve 150, which in the case of the illustrated embodiment is a solenoid valve. The output from the flow control valve 150 forms a plurality of outlets 152. A plurality of flexible hoses 154 may be connected between the outlets 152 and the inlet of the supply conduit 112, which feeds the pressurized water to the respective hydraulic sections 104 of the segmented manifold 102.

[0031] The pressurized water supply unit 140 includes a programmed controller 156 for controlling various components and functions of the pressurized water supply unit. Figure 6As seen in FIG. 1 , controller 156 controls motor 144 and therefore pump 146 and flow control valve 150. Power is supplied to controller 156 via power cable 158. Controller 156 is also operably connected to disc filter programming controller 162 via signal line 160.

[0032] exist Figure 5 , the controllers 156 and 162 may be programmed to automatically clean the sections of the filter unit 16 one by one until the entire array of filter units has been cleaned. In this case, the flow control valve 150 may be automatically sequenced to supply pressurized water to the hydraulic sections 104 one by one until all sections of the filter unit 16 have been cleaned. In another embodiment, however, the pressurized water supply unit may be provided with only one outlet. In this case, after cleaning one section of the filter unit 16, the pressurized water supply unit may be disconnected and reconnected to another hydraulic section 104 to clean another section of the filter unit 16. In this embodiment, the pressurized water supply unit 140 does not need to include a flow control valve or any other components or controls necessary to provide automatic sequential cleaning of multiple sections of the filter unit 16.

[0033] The controllers 156 and 162 can be programmed in a variety of specific ways to perform an automated high pressure media cleaning process. In one example, the high pressure media cleaning process is initiated by the disc filter controller 162. The activation can be manual or programmed. At startup, the disc filter controller 162 actuates the drum motor 22, which rotates the drum 14 and the filter unit 16 thereon. The disc filter 162 also actuates the linear actuator 32, which rotates the segmented manifold 102 back and forth, which in turn causes the spray bar 108 and its nozzle 110 to move up and down adjacent to the media panel 20 while the media panel and the filter unit 16 rotate through the nozzle. Moreover, the disc filter controller 162 signals the pressurized water supply unit controller 156 to start the motor 144. This causes the pump 146 to pressurize the inlet water and direct the pressurized water to a series of flow control valves 150 that are normally closed. As a result of the controller 156 opening the first flow control valve, the high pressure cleaning process begins. This causes pressurized water to be directed through the flow control valve and out one of the outlets 152 and into one of the hydraulic sections 104. The pressurized water in the hydraulic section 104 moves through the spray bar 108 communicatively connected to the hydraulic section 104 and out the associated nozzle 110. The pressurized water is discharged by the nozzle 110 onto the media panel 20 to remove suspended solids and generally clean the media panel. As previously noted, while the pressurized water is being discharged by the nozzle 110, the spray bar 108 is moving adjacent to the filter panel 20 as the filter panel rotates past the nozzle.

[0034] The cleaning duration may vary. In one example, the cleaning duration is programmed to last approximately 20 minutes, including a pause time to account for the duty cycle of the motor 144. In any case, once the first section of the filter unit 16 has been cleaned, the controller 156 closes the first flow control valve and opens the second flow control valve and allows pressurized water to flow through the second flow control valve to the second hydraulic section 104 for the purpose of cleaning the second section of the filter unit 16. This process continues until all sections have been subjected to the high pressure media cleaning process.

[0035] In one embodiment, Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in , the pressurized water supply unit 140 is mobile and is not supported on the disc filter 10. This can be a significant advantage. This is because many disc filter sites include multiple disc filters 10. In these cases, one pressurized water supply unit 140 can be used to service all or many disc filters 10 that are operating on site. In other embodiments, the pressurized water supply unit does not need to be mobile because it can be incorporated into the disc filter 10 or can be a non-mobile stand-alone unit. There are many other advantages of the high-pressure medium cleaning system described. One advantage over other approaches is the inherent reliability of the design of the high-pressure medium cleaning system described herein, and in particular the approach of providing a manifold with multiple hydraulic sections, each of which is designated as a section for cleaning the grouped filter units 16. This minimizes the number of flow control valves, conduits, and fittings required. This is particularly beneficial in terms of the cost of high-capacity rotating disc filters that can, for example, include up to 40 or more filter units.

[0036] The description and claims use the term “configured to.” As used herein, the term “configured to” means “designed to” and does not mean “able to.”

[0037] Of course, the present invention may be implemented in specific ways other than those set forth herein without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the present invention. The present embodiments disclosed herein are therefore to be interpreted in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all changes within the meaning and equivalent range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A rotating disc filter and a high pressure cleaning system for cleaning filter media associated with the disc filter, the disc filter being configured to filter wastewater and include: A. Rotating drum; B. a drive for rotating the drum during a media cleaning operation; C. a plurality of disc filter units mounted on the drum; D. a filter unit comprising said filter medium for filtering said wastewater passing through said filter unit; E. wherein the high pressure cleaning system is configured to clean the filter medium and comprises: i. an elongated manifold mounted on the disc filter and extending adjacent to the filter unit, the manifold comprising a plurality of hydraulic sections, wherein each hydraulic section is isolated from one or more other hydraulic sections; ii. a plurality of spray bars configured to extend between said filter units, wherein Each spray bar includes at least one nozzle; iii. said plurality of spray bars divided into groups, wherein each group of spray bars is communicatively connected to one hydraulic section of said manifold, such that each group of spray bars and said nozzles thereof are designated to clean one section of said filter unit; iv. A pressurized water supply unit comprising: a. Pump; b. Clean water inlet; c. a plurality of clean water outlets, wherein each clean water outlet is configured to supply clean water to one of the hydraulic sections of the manifold; d. a plurality of flow control valves configured to control the flow of clean water from the pressurized water supply unit to the plurality of hydraulic sections of the manifold; e. Each flow control valve is configured to control the flow of clean water from a clean water outlet to one of the hydraulic sections of the manifold; v. a control system configured to actuate one flow control valve at a time so that cleaning water is supplied from the pressurized water supply unit to one hydraulic section of the manifold and to a group of spray bars at a time; and, vi. wherein the filter media of different sections of the filter unit are cleaned by actuating different ones of the flow control valves, Thereby, pressurized cleaning water is directed from the pressurized water supply unit into and through the corresponding hydraulic sections of the manifold, and into and through the spray bars and their nozzles communicatively connected to the corresponding hydraulic sections.

2. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system according to claim 1, in, The control system is configured to clean the sections of the filter unit sequentially, one after the other, by sequentially actuating the flow control valves one after the other.

3. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system according to claim 1, in, The pressurized water supply unit includes a moving frame including the pump, the clean water outlet, and the flow control valve, and wherein the moving frame is not supported by the disc filter and is structurally independent from the disc filter.

4. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conduits operably connected between the pressurized water supply unit and the hydraulic section of the manifold, each conduit being communicatively connected to a different one of the flow control valves of the pressurized water supply unit and to a different one of the hydraulic sections of the manifold.

5. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system according to claim 1, in, The control system comprises: A. A first controller associated with the pressurized water supply unit, which is used to control the pump and the flow control valve; and B. A master controller associated with the disc filter and configured to actuate the first controller associated with the pressurized water supply unit.

6. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system according to claim 1, in, Each set of spray bars is communicatively connected to a different hydraulic section of the manifold and wherein each set of spray bars extends from a respective hydraulic section of the manifold into a position wherein the set of spray bars is effective for cleaning the filter media of one section of the filter unit.

7. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of pressurized water supply conduits extending along a portion of the manifold, wherein each pressurized water supply conduit is configured to connect to a water inlet formed in a respective hydraulic section; and in, The plurality of pressurized water supply conduits are secured to the manifold such that when the manifold rotates during a cleaning operation, the plurality of water supply conduits rotate with the manifold.

8. A method of filtering waste water using a rotating disc filter and cleaning the filter medium of the disc filter, wherein the filter medium forms part of a plurality of disc filter units mounted on a drum, in, The filter unit is divided into at least first and second sections, wherein each section comprises a plurality of filter units, the method comprising: A. filtering the wastewater using the disc filter by directing the wastewater through the filter media forming part of the filter unit; B. Cleaning the media of the first section of the filter unit by: i. actuating a first flow control valve associated with a pressurized water supply unit, and directing pressurized clean water from the pressurized water supply unit through the first flow control valve into a first hydraulic section of a manifold extending adjacent to the filter unit; ii. directing the pressurized clean water from the first hydraulic section of the manifold to a first set of spray bars extending between respective filter units of the first section of filter units, the first set of spray bars having a first set of nozzles associated therewith; iii. rotating the drum and the first section of the filter unit thereon, and spraying the pressurized cleaning water from the first set of nozzles onto the filter medium of the first section of the filter unit; C. After cleaning the media of the first section of the filter unit, cleaning the media of the second section of the filter unit by: i. actuating a second flow control valve associated with the pressurized water supply unit and directing pressurized cleaning water from the pressurized water supply unit through the second flow control valve into a second hydraulic section of the manifold isolated from the first hydraulic section and into a second set of spray bars extending between respective filter units of the second section of the filter unit, the second set of spray bars having a second set of nozzles associated therewith; and ii. rotating the drum and the second section of the filter unit mounted thereon, and spraying the pressurized cleaning water from the second set of nozzles onto the filter medium of the second section of the filter unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, in, The manifold is elongated and mounted on the disc filter adjacent the filter unit, and wherein the first and second hydraulic sections are aligned in the manifold; and wherein the first hydraulic section is aligned with the first section of the filter unit, and wherein the second hydraulic section is aligned with the second section of the filter unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, in, The first set of spray bars is communicatively connected to the first hydraulic section and extends therefrom into an area adjacent to the filter unit of the first section; and wherein the second set of spray bars is communicatively connected to the second hydraulic section and extends therefrom into an area adjacent to the filter unit of the second section.

11. The method according to claim 8, in, The pressurized water supply unit includes a mobile cart that is not supported by the disk filter and carries a pump and the first and second flow control valves.

12. The method according to claim 11, in, The pressurized water supply unit comprises a first controller for controlling the pump and the first and second flow control valves; and wherein the first controller is communicatively connected to a main controller associated with a disc filter, and wherein the main controller is configured to actuate the first controller so as to control cleaning of the media of the first and second sections of the filter unit.

13. The method according to claim 8, in, During cleaning of the media of the first and second sections of the filter units, the manifold is rotated, thereby moving the spray bars connected to the hydraulic sections of the manifold and their nozzles along the sides of adjacent filter units to clean the media thereof.

14. A rotating disc filter and a high pressure media cleaning system for cleaning filter media associated with the disc filter, the disc filter being configured to filter wastewater and include: A. Rotating drum; B. a drive for rotating the drum during a media cleaning operation; C. a plurality of disc-shaped filter units mounted on the drum, wherein each filter unit includes a filter medium for filtering the wastewater passing through the filter unit; D. wherein the high pressure cleaning system is configured to clean the filter medium and comprises: i. an elongated manifold mounted on said disc filter and extending adjacent to said filter unit; ii. a plurality of hydraulic sections formed in said manifold, wherein each hydraulic section is isolated from the other one or more hydraulic sections; iii. Each hydraulic section comprises an inlet for enabling pressurized water to be directed into said hydraulic section; iv. a plurality of spray bars extending from the manifold into the region between the filtration units, wherein each spray bar comprises at least one nozzle; v. the plurality of spray bars are divided into groups, wherein each group of spray bars comprises a plurality of spray bars communicatively connected to only one hydraulic section of the manifold, such that each group of spray bars and the nozzles thereon are designated to clean only one section of the filter unit, one of the sections includes a plurality of filter units, but not all of said filter units of said disc filter; vi. a pressurized water supply unit configured to be connected to one of said inlets of one of said hydraulic sections and to supply pressurized water to said one hydraulic section associated with said one inlet; vii. wherein the filter media associated with the filter unit of one section is cleaned by directing pressurized water from the pressurized water supply unit into the hydraulic section, the pressurized water flowing from the hydraulic section through the associated spray bar, and discharged onto the filter medium for the purpose of cleaning the filter medium of a section of the filter unit.

15. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system according to claim 14, in, Each isolated hydraulic section is laterally aligned with a section of the filter unit.

16. The disc filter and high pressure media cleaning system of claim 14, in, The spray bar is rigidly connected to the manifold and wherein, during a cleaning operation, the manifold is operable to rotate which causes the spray bar to move along a side of the filter unit during the cleaning operation.

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