DEVICE FOR FILTERING A FLUID, IN PARTICULAR A BERNOULLI FILTER DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for filtering a fluid, in particular a Bernoulli filter device, comprising a housing, a plurality of filter elements arranged in the housing for filtering the fluid, an inlet for admitting the fluid to be filtered into the housing, and an outlet for discharging the filtered fluid from the housing.

[0002] Filter devices of the type mentioned above are generally known. Such a filter device typically comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a filter element arranged within the housing. The filter element is generally substantially cylindrical.

[0003] In addition, such generic filter devices preferably have a filter cleaning element that can be inserted into the filter element along the central axis of the cylindrical filter element. This axial insertion of the filter cleaning element increases the flow velocity in an area of ​​an inner surface of the filter element due to the cross-sectional constriction, whereby substances adhering to the filter element are rinsed off and discharged via backwash pipes. Cleaning such a filter element is therefore generally performed contactlessly by increasing the flow velocity. Such filter devices are also referred to as Bernoulli filters.

[0004] DE 10 2011 007 003 A1 and DE 10 2009 012 444 A1 each disclose a filter device for filtering liquids and a method for filtering liquids. DE 10 2005 055 555 A1 discloses a filter device and a device and method for killing living organisms contained in a fluid.

[0005] The size of such filter devices determines the volume flow of liquid to be filtered. The throughput of liquid to be filtered is therefore limited due to size restrictions.

[0006] However, size restrictions make economic sense, as otherwise manufacturing and transport costs would rise disproportionately. Transport and tooling costs increase both for housings made of, for example, glass-fiber-reinforced plastic, which often require curing in so-called autoclaves, and for housings manufactured by casting, and especially for the transport of heavy and bulky steel or cast structures.

[0007] Maintenance and cleaning of filters and filter cleaning elements usually require opening the housings and dismantling or shutting off pipes or backwash pipes, necessitating a complete shutdown of operations. This dismantling work is usually very time-consuming. The resulting downtime negatively impacts the throughput of the liquid being filtered.

[0008] Such filter devices, especially Bernoulli filters, are used in a wide variety of industrial applications, for example, in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, the energy sector, or even on ships. It is therefore of particular interest to maximize the throughput of the liquid to be filtered. So-called multi-Bernoulli filters combine a plurality of filter elements in a common housing with an inlet and an outlet connected to the housing.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of addressing at least one of the above-mentioned problems. In particular, a solution is to be proposed that provides a higher throughput of liquid to be filtered while maintaining or reducing manufacturing and transport costs. Alternatively, an alternative to previously known methods is to be provided.

[0010] The invention solves the underlying problem by a device having the features of claim 1. In particular, the invention proposes that the housing has a plurality of housing segments which can be connected to adjacent housing segments, and that in each case a filter element is arranged at least partially within a housing segment, and that the housing segments and filter elements together form a modular filter module.

[0011] Thus, according to the invention, the filter module can comprise both several housing segments combined to form a housing with a large filter element, as well as a plurality of filter elements arranged within the housing segments. The achievable throughput is thus increased and transport and manufacturing costs reduced. By segmenting the housing, the housing can be adapted to the available installation space, and production-related size restrictions do not lead to a reduction in throughput, as individual housing segments can be manufactured independently of one another.

[0012] It is understood that a filter element arranged at least partially within a housing segment may also comprise components arranged outside the housing, such as filter cleaning elements.

[0013] Such a modular filter module can comprise one or more filters, allowing for flexible and customized adaptation. The filter module is preferably designed to be pressure- and media-tight. The individual housing segments of a filter module can be flowed through by the liquid to be filtered in parallel or in a series, one after the other.

[0014] Preferably, several filter modules are arranged adjacent to one another, connected in series, and each filter module can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to at least one adjacent filter module.

[0015] It is therefore provided that adjacent filter modules are positioned in a series or parallel manner, i.e. evenly behind or next to each other, and can be connected to each other so that they form a device for filtering a fluid consisting of several filter modules.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of filter modules are arranged in a row between inlet and outlet in such a way that the housing segments of the filter modules are arranged in a battery-like manner, wherein the housing segments are designed substantially the same or identically.

[0017] Thus, the fluid to be filtered is distributed evenly across the battery-like housing segments, which are preferably arranged evenly in two spatial directions. It is filtered in each filter element, and flows through the subsequent filter elements connected in series or around the filter elements within the housing. Furthermore, the essentially identical design of the housing segments offers significant potential for cost savings during production. For example, the individual housing segments can be manufactured using a single casting process using the same or multiple identical casting molds.

[0018] Such a device can thus be flexibly expanded in two spatial directions. The liquid to be filtered flows through individual housing segments of a filter module in parallel as well as through the individual filter modules in series before exiting the device's outlet.

[0019] Preferably, the housing segments each have at least one fluid inlet for admitting the fluid to be filtered and at least one fluid outlet for discharging the filtered fluid.

[0020] Thus, each housing segment has at least one fluid inlet for admitting the dirty fluid and at least one fluid outlet for discharging the filtered fluid. The fluid inlet and outlet of a housing segment are preferably arranged vertically spaced from each other. The fluid flows into the filter on the "dirty side" of the housing segment and exits it as filtered fluid on the "clean side." The individual volume flows of the housing segments leaving the outlet opening preferably converge and exit the device as a single volume flow.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing segments have at least one passage opening which is designed to distribute or pass the fluid in the filter module.

[0022] Thus, passage openings are provided through which the fluid to be filtered can flow and is thus distributed on the dirty side of the filter module before it flows through the individual filter elements and leaves the housing segments on the clean side again through corresponding passage openings and flows around the subsequent housing segments through corresponding passage openings.

[0023] A passage opening can thus be designed both to distribute the fluid to be filtered in the filter module before it flows into the individual filter elements in the housing segments, and to pass through the filtered fluid which exits from the filter elements so that it meets the volume flows of adjacent housing segments and finally leaves the device as a single volume flow of filtered fluid.

[0024] Such a passage opening according to the invention can be formed, for example, by the fluid inlets and fluid outlets of the housing segments that are not connected to the inlet or outlet.

[0025] Preferably, the fluid inlets are fluid-conductingly connectable to a fluid outlet of an adjacent filter module or the outlet, and the fluid inlets are fluid-conductingly connectable to a fluid inlet of an adjacent filter module or the inlet.

[0026] Thus, the identical housing segments, which have a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, can each be connected either to two adjacent filter modules or to one filter module and the inlet or outlet.

[0027] It is further provided that a single filter module is arranged between the inlet and the outlet and is connected on the outlet side to the fluid outlet and on the inlet side to the fluid inlet, so that the liquid to be filtered flows through only a single filter module.

[0028] The invention is advantageously further developed by at least one sealing part for the end sealing of the housing segments of a filter module arranged on the inlet side and / or outlet side, wherein the sealing part is designed to seal the fluid inlets or passage openings of a housing segment.

[0029] The passage openings of the individual housing segments of a filter module, for example, coupled to the outlet on the outlet side, are thus sealed by the sealing part. This enables the use of identical housing segments within a filter module, regardless of the filter module's arrangement within the device. If a filter module is thus arranged at the end, i.e., at the inlet or outlet, the fluid inlets or passage openings are not used, as they are neither connected to the inlet or outlet nor to an adjacent housing segment of an adjacent filter module. The sealing part is thus designed to seal these fluid inlets or passage openings in a fluid-tight manner.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing segments are cylindrical at least in some areas, and the filter elements have a substantially round cross-section.

[0031] The cylindrical surface of the cylindrical filter element therefore forms the effective surface of the filter element.

[0032] The housing segments are thus pressure-optimized, at least in some areas. This is advantageous because high pressures can arise in the filter modules due to thermal or process-related influences or process steps. Furthermore, the round cross-sections allow for easier removal of residues from the filters, thus ensuring uniform filtration of the flowing fluid.

[0033] Preferably, support structures are formed between the housing segments of a filter module, which are designed to reinforce the housing segments.

[0034] By forming support structures, preferably in the end areas of the housing segments, these are reinforced in certain areas so that they are pressure-optimized and can thus achieve high throughput rates and process pressures. An ideal pressure vessel has a substantially round shape. Due to the cylindrical design in some areas and, in particular, the reinforcement of the edge areas, such a housing segment behaves similarly to an idealized pressure vessel.

[0035] The invention is advantageously further developed by a filter module coupling unit for fixing and coupling two or more filter modules, with at least one coupling means which is designed to couple filter modules arranged adjacent to one another, and at least one fixing means assigned to the coupling means which is designed to fix the filter modules arranged adjacent to one another in their position.

[0036] Such a coupling unit connects the individual filter modules to one another, in particular by means of a force-fitting connection. Such a coupling unit is preferably designed to couple a plurality of filter modules arranged adjacent to one another, so that any number of filter modules can be combined to form a device according to customer requirements. The coupling unit can be designed, for example, as a wire rope, a tension rod, a threaded rod with an internal or external thread, or a loop. A fixing means preferably fixes the individual filter modules relative to one another and to the coupling means, so that they can be fixed to the coupling means in a precisely positioned manner. A fixing means is understood to mean both a mechanical fixation such as a nut, and a chemical-physical fixation such as an adhesive, or even a material-to-material connection between the filter module and the coupling unit.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, each housing segment is assigned at least one coupling means, preferably three vertically spaced coupling means each, which can be brought into engagement with the fixing means at the ends, wherein the coupling means are preferably designed as rods.

[0038] Thus, each housing segment is assigned a coupling means, so that the forces acting on the adjacent filter modules are distributed among the individual housing segments, which are connected by the coupling means. Particularly preferably, several, for example, three vertically spaced coupling means are provided, so that the force acting on the individual housing segments is distributed across the height of the housing segment.

[0039] An operationally and structurally simple solution is a rod as a coupling element, which can be engaged at its end with a fixing element, such as a nut, so that the individual housing segments of a filter module can be frictionally coupled to the housing segments of adjacent filter modules. The fixing elements can be easily removed, allowing the device to be modularly expanded as needed.

[0040] Preferably, the housing segments have receptacles for the coupling means corresponding to the coupling means, which are preferably designed as receptacles for passing the rods through.

[0041] Thanks to receptacles for the coupling elements formed in the housing segments, these can be easily integrated into the device even in limited installation space. Furthermore, the variety of components is reduced, which also results in economic advantages. Thus, several filter modules can be connected to one another using the coupling element and, in particular, are aligned relative to one another by it, thus facilitating assembly and, in particular, the connection of the individual filter modules to one another.

[0042] Preferably, the inlet comprises an inlet flange for connection to a pipeline and an inlet-side pipe section for connection to the housing segments, and preferably the outlet comprises an outlet flange for connection to a pipeline and an outlet-side pipe section for connection to the housing segments.

[0043] Pipelines which either conduct the fluid to be filtered to the filtering device or which receive the fluid filtered by the device and conduct it further can thus be easily connected to the device by means of a flange connection.

[0044] Furthermore, the housing segments and thus the filter modules can be designed independently of the existing piping systems at the end user. The device can be easily connected to the piping system by appropriately designing the inlet and outlet flanges.

[0045] Preferably, the inlet-side pipe section is designed to correspond to the outlet-side pipe section and the inlet flange is designed to correspond to the outlet flange.

[0046] By designing the inlet flange corresponding to the outlet flange, the pipes of such a pipe system can be easily connected to the device at the end.

[0047] The variety of components and consequently the manufacturing costs are thus reduced.

[0048] Preferably, the pipe sections have a first filter module-side cross-sectional area and a second flange-side cross-sectional area, and the center of the flange-side cross-sectional area is arranged vertically and / or horizontally spaced from the center of the filter module-side cross-sectional area.

[0049] The filter device thus operates "in-line." This means that the device can be integrated into an existing piping system by removing a section of the piping and installing the filter device at the appropriate location.

[0050] Particularly preferably, the housing outlet is arranged coaxially with the inlet. Thus, the inlet and outlet of the filter device are arranged coaxially with each other, allowing the filter device to be easily installed "in-line," for example, in an existing pipeline.

[0051] The corresponding inlet- and outlet-side pipe section is designed to connect the opening of the filter module, which is formed by the individual fluid inlets of the housing segments and can, for example, have an oval or rectangular cross-section, to the inlet flange, which can be connected to the pipeline. The same applies to the outlet-side flange and the corresponding fluid outlets of the housing segments.

[0052] The inlet and outlet flanges can preferably be designed according to DIN or ASME standards or other standards and can thus be easily connected to any opening of the filter module.

[0053] The device can thus also be connected to pipes in the case of vertical fluid inlets and fluid outlets in the housing segments in such a way that height differences can be compensated by the vertical spacing of the centers of the cross-sectional area on the filter module side and the cross-sectional area on the flange side.

[0054] Preferably, the distance between the center point of the flange-side cross-sectional area and the filter module-side cross-sectional area can be changed in the vertical and / or horizontal direction by rotation about a horizontal axis.

[0055] Thus, the vertical and horizontal positions of the inlet and outlet flanges can be individually adapted to the conditions at the installation site. Consequently, a device according to the invention can also be integrated into pipe systems that extend at different heights or have horizontally spaced sections. This advantageously increases the flexibility of the installation situation.

[0056] According to the invention, the device comprises a filter cleaning device for cleaning the filter elements of residues of the filtered fluid, with at least one movably mounted filter cleaning element, which is designed to correspond to a respective filter element and is configured to clean the filter element of residues of the filtered fluid, and a backwash system fluidly connected to the filter elements for conveying and discharging the residues of the filtered fluid.

[0057] As the fluid to be filtered flows axially through the filter element, this fluid must pass between the inner surface of the filter element and the filter cleaning element, significantly increasing the flow velocity and significantly reducing the pressure locally. This loosens particles adhering to the inner surface of the filter element that have been filtered out of the fluid, thus cleaning the filter element. This effect is also known as the Bernoulli effect. This type of cleaning is particularly advantageous because the filter element is cleaned particularly gently thanks to the contactless cleaning process.

[0058] The invention is advantageously further developed by a lifting device with an actuator and a lifting rod coupled to the filter cleaning element, wherein the lifting device is designed to insert the filter cleaning element into the filter element by means of the lifting rod in such a way that a cleaning gap is formed between an inner wall of the filter element and the filter cleaning element, so that a flow velocity of the liquid to be filtered is locally increased and substances located in the filter element are rinsed away.

[0059] Such a lifting device can be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, electromagnetic, or other types of mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, it can include a cable pull or similar mechanism to axially insert the lifting rod into the filter element. Filter cleaning can thus be performed contactlessly and fully automatically.

[0060] Preferably, the backwash system further comprises a backwash outlet for discharging the residues of the filtered fluid, a plurality of backwash pipes for fluidly connecting adjacent filter modules, and a connecting pipe for fluidly connecting the backwash pipes to one another and to the backwash outlet.

[0061] Once a filter element has been cleaned using the filter cleaning element, the fluid in the filter element is particularly heavily laden with particles (cleaned particles). Therefore, it is advantageous to channel this heavily contaminated fluid through backwash pipes and remove it from the device via a backwash outlet. This prevents the filter elements from becoming immediately contaminated again and allows them to continue to be used effectively for filtering.

[0062] By connecting adjacent filter modules using a connecting pipe, a common backwash outlet can be used, making it particularly easy to remove the backwashed liquid from the device.

[0063] Preferably, the backwash pipes are spaced apart and arranged substantially parallel to one another, and the backwash pipes each have at least one closable pipe segment with a closable backwash connection, wherein each pipe segment is connected to a housing segment of the filter modules, in particular arranged adjacent to one another in a row.

[0064] This allows for a compact design and, in particular, for housing segments arranged in a battery-like manner to be connected to one another by such a system of backwash pipes. By shutting off individual backwash connections assigned to a pipe segment, the housing segments can be selectively connected to the device's outlet via the backwash pipes to remove residues of the purified fluid from the device.

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises at least one housing cover for closing the housing, at least one filter cleaning device for cleaning the filter element of residues of the filtered fluid, and at least one backwash system fluidly connected to the filter element for guiding and discharging the residues of the filtered fluid, wherein the filter cleaning device is associated with the housing cover and in particular is fastened thereto, and the backwash system is associated with the housing, in particular housing segments.

[0066] This significantly simplifies access to the filter elements and filter cleaning elements for cleaning and maintenance purposes. The housing cover can be easily removed from the housing without, for example, having to dismantle parts of the backwash system. Downtime due to maintenance and assembly can thus be minimized, and the achievable throughput of filtered liquid for such a device can be significantly increased. By shutting off individual pipe segments, for example, the filter elements can be selectively serviced, thus avoiding downtime.

[0067] Furthermore, the backwash system is not damaged by disassembly during maintenance and cleaning of the filter and the filter cleaning device, which would otherwise cause damage to the device and thus downtime. The filter cleaning device, which is attached to the housing cover, can thus be removed and serviced together with the housing cover. At the same time, the filter element is easily accessible and can be replaced or cleaned if necessary. Overall, this significantly reduces maintenance effort.

[0068] According to a preferred development of the invention, the filter cleaning device further comprises a filter cleaning element integrated into the housing cover, wherein the filter cleaning element can be inserted into the filter element and is designed to clean the filter element of residues of the filtered fluid.

[0069] Thus, such a filter cleaning element does not interfere with the filter element during cleaning of the flowing fluid, thus reducing the filtered throughput of the respective filter element. The integration of the filter cleaning element into the housing cover simplifies its assembly, so that only the housing cover needs to be connected to the respective housing segment. This eliminates assembly steps at the customer's site and provides easy access for cleaning the filter cleaning element.

[0070] The invention is advantageously further developed in that the filter cleaning device further comprises: a lifting device with an actuator and a lifting rod coupled to the filter cleaning element, wherein the lifting device is designed to insert the filter cleaning element into the filter element by means of the lifting rod in such a way that a cleaning gap is formed between an inner wall of the filter element and the filter cleaning element, so that a flow velocity of the liquid to be filtered is increased locally and substances located in the filter element are rinsed away.

[0071] Such a lifting device takes advantage of the advantages of lifting devices for filter cleaning systems described above.

[0072] Preferably, the lifting device is assigned to the housing cover and in particular the actuator is firmly connected to the housing cover, and an opening for the passage of the lifting rod is formed in the housing cover.

[0073] The lifting device, which can be operated pneumatically, electrically, or hydraulically, is thus positioned at a distance from the piping system and the flow path of the fluid to be filtered. Damage to the lifting device due to leaks can thus be largely avoided. Furthermore, the positioning of the lifting device on the housing cover allows for easy maintenance of the lifting devices, especially the actuator, thus reducing downtime due to maintenance work.

[0074] According to a preferred development of the invention, the backwash system further comprises a plurality of backwash pipes for fluidically connecting adjacent filter modules, wherein the backwash pipes each have at least one pipe segment with a closable outlet, which is fluidically connected to the filter element, and wherein a backwash valve is integrated in the housing cover, which is designed to at least partially close off the backwash pipes.

[0075] The individual housing segments can thus be connected to the pipe system using assigned pipe segments and lockable backwash connections, and can also be shut off again from the system. By integrating a backwash valve into the housing cover, the fluid from the interior of the housing segment can exit an individual housing segment via the housing cover and through the valve seat and be supplied to the respective pipe segment and thus to the pipe system via the lockable backwash connection. It is therefore not necessary to connect the housing cover itself to the backwash pipe system; instead, the housing segment and an assigned pipe segment can be connected or separated from one another using such a backwash valve.

[0076] Preferably, the backwash valve has a valve housing which is formed by the housing cover, and a valve body which is movably mounted on the valve housing and which can be brought into contact with a valve seat in order to close the valve.

[0077] The heavily contaminated fluid can thus flow past the valve seat, which is either blocked or opened by the valve body, to the backwash outlet, where it can be removed via the piping system at the device's outlet. Integrating the valve housing into the housing cover also reduces component diversity and vertical integration.

[0078] Preferably, the backwash valve is coupled to a return element which is arranged in the housing cover and is designed to apply a return force to the valve body in order to hold the valve body in contact with the valve seat.

[0079] Such a valve represents a fail-safe shut-off device which remains closed even in the event of a system failure, preventing fluid from escaping from the device in an undesirable manner.

[0080] Preferably, a flow channel is formed in the housing cover, which is designed to connect the filter element to the backwash pipe in a fluid-conducting manner, and the valve body blocks the flow channel when the valve is closed.

[0081] Such a flow channel formed in the housing cover allows the backwash pipe to be connected to the housing segment in a simple and compact design. This prevents fluid from entering the backwash pipe segment when the housing cover is open, as the flow channel is removed together with the housing cover. Therefore, no additional shut-off mechanisms are required to prevent unwanted fluid leakage.

[0082] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve seat is designed as an orifice which is designed to change the flow velocity of the volume flow flowing into the backwash pipe.

[0083] The flow velocity of the volume flow can thus be easily varied by varying the inner diameter of the orifice, which forms the valve seat. The flow velocity of the volume flow influences the cleaning performance and the discharge of heavily contaminated liquid from the filter element.

[0084] The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals in the exemplary embodiments. They show: Figure 1: a perspective view of a device for filtering a fluid according to a first embodiment; Figure 2a: a sectional view of the device for filtering a fluid according to Figure 1 in a side view; Figure 2b: a sectional view of the device for filtering a fluid according to Figure 1 in a perspective view; Figure 3: a section of the Figure 1 shown device; Figure 4a: a section of the device shown in Figure 2a shown sectional view of the device according to Figure 1 ; Figure 4b: a section of the Figure 2b shown sectional view of the device according to Figure 1 ; Figure 5: a perspective view of a device for filtering a fluid according to a second embodiment; Figure 6: a first section of the device shown in Figure 5 shown device; Figure 7: a second section of the device shown in Figure 5shown device; Figure 8: a sectional view of the device for filtering a fluid according to Figure 5 in a perspective view; Figure 9: a first section of the Figure 8 shown sectional view of the device according to Figure 5 ; Figure 10: a second section of the Figure 8 shown sectional view of the device according to Figure 5 ; Figure 11: a sectional view of the device for filtering a fluid according to Figure 5 in a side view.

[0085] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for filtering a fluid according to a first preferred embodiment.

[0086] The device 1 comprises a housing 3 with an inlet 5 for admitting the fluid to be filtered and an outlet 7 for discharging the filtered fluid from the housing 3.

[0087] The housing 3 further comprises a filter module 9 with four filter elements arranged in the housing 3 for cleaning the liquid to be filtered.

[0088] The device 1 further comprises at least one filter cleaning device 11, which is assigned to a respective filter module 9 and is designed to clean the filter module 9, in particular the filter elements arranged in the filter module 9.

[0089] The housing 3 is further connected to a backwash system 13, which is designed to guide away and discharge the residues which are removed from the filter elements by means of the filter cleaning device 11.

[0090] The inlet 5 comprises an inlet flange 15 for coupling to a pipeline for providing fluid to be filtered and a pipe section 17 for attachment to the housing 3 of the device 1.

[0091] The inlet flange 15 has a first cross-sectional area configured to correspond to a pipe. The pipe section 17 has a second cross-sectional area on the filter module side, which is configured to correspond to the housing 3. The center of the cross-sectional area on the pipe side is arranged vertically spaced from the center of the cross-sectional area on the housing side, i.e., in particular, below it.

[0092] The outlet 7 comprises an outlet flange 19 for coupling to a pipe for receiving the filtered fluid and a pipe section 21 for connection to the housing 3.

[0093] The outlet flange 19 also has a pipe-side cross-sectional area and a second filter module-side cross-sectional area, which is configured to correspond to the opening of the housing 3. The center points of the housing-side cross-sectional area and the pipe-side cross-sectional area are vertically spaced from one another, with the center point of the housing-side cross-sectional area lying above the center point of the pipe-side cross-sectional area.

[0094] The filter module 9 comprises four adjacent housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are arranged in a battery-like manner. The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are cylindrical in some areas and essentially identical to one another. Each of the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d can be closed by means of a housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d. The housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d is connected to the respective housing segment 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d by means of connecting means, screws 33 in this embodiment.

[0095] A support structure 27 is formed between each housing segment 23 of a filter module 9. Cylindrical recesses are formed in the support structures 27.

[0096] Such a filter module 9 can be composed of any number of interconnectable housing segments including filter elements arranged in them.

[0097] On the inlet side, the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d have an opening that can be connected to the inlet flange. Furthermore, the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d have a second common opening on the inlet side, which can be closed by a sealing part 31.

[0098] The sealing part 31 can be connected to the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d by means of a plurality of connecting means, according to this embodiment screws 33.

[0099] The filter cleaning device 11 for cleaning the filter module 9 comprises a plurality of filter cleaning elements, wherein each filter cleaning element is configured to clean one of the filter elements arranged in the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d.

[0100] The filter cleaning device 11 further comprises a number of lifting devices 35 for driving the filter cleaning elements, corresponding to the number of filter cleaning elements. The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d can be connected to and shut off from the backwash system 13 by means of a controllable backwash valve 37.

[0101] The backwash system 13 comprises a plurality of backwash pipes 39 coupled to a connecting pipe 41. The connecting pipe 41 connects the backwash pipes 39 to a backwash outlet 43, which is configured to discharge the heavily contaminated fluid from the housing 3.

[0102] The backwash pipes 39 are connected to the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d by means of the pipe coupling unit 45.

[0103] As can be seen from the sectional view of the device 1 according to Figures 2a and 2bAs can be seen, the filter module 9 comprises four housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d arranged adjacent to one another and connected to one another. Furthermore, support structures 27 are formed between the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, which reinforce the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. Three vertically spaced cylindrical recesses are formed in each of the support structures 27, which are designed for the passage of mounting means or coupling means.

[0104] The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d each have a lower housing section 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d with a common fluid inlet 49 for connection to the inlet 5, and an upper housing section 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d with a common fluid outlet 53 for connection to the outlet 7. The lower housing section 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d and the upper housing section 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d are spatially separated from each other. The contaminated fluid flows through the inlet 5 into the lower housing section 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d, which is therefore also referred to as the "contaminated side." The cleaned fluid flows through the upper housing part 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d to the outlet 7, which is therefore also called the "clean side".

[0105] As in particular Figure 2bshows, the fluid inlet 49 is formed by the individual fluid inlets 49a, 49b, 49c and 49d in the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d and the fluid outlet 53 is formed by the individual fluid outlets in the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d.

[0106] A filter element 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d is arranged in each of the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d. The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d are cylindrical in some areas, and the filter elements 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d, which have a substantially cylindrical cross-section, are arranged coaxially therewith.

[0107] The filter cleaning device 11 for cleaning the filter module 9 is at least partially coupled to the housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d.

[0108] The lifting device 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d is firmly connected to the housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and the backwash valves 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d are at least partially integrated into the housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d.

[0109] The majority of filter cleaning elements 57 (cf. Fig. 4a and 4b ) for cleaning the filters 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d of the filter cleaning device 11 is arranged in the housing cover 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and can be moved into the respective filter element 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d by means of a corresponding lifting device 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d.

[0110] The filter cleaning elements 57 are designed as a disc with a substantially round cross-section, wherein the outer radius of the filter cleaning element 57 is smaller than the inner radius of the filter element 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d.

[0111] The housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d can be connected to and shut off from the backwash system 13, in particular the backwash pipes 39, by means of the controllable backwash valve 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d.

[0112] As in particular Figure 3 As shown, the backwash pipes 39d or an individual pipe segment 59d of the backwash system can be sealed fluid-tight at the end by means of a pipe cap 61d. Thus, the fluid transported through the backwash system 13 can be discharged solely through the backwash outlet 43.

[0113] The pipe coupling unit 45d comprises a plurality of pipe sleeves 63d, each of which encloses a backwash pipe 39d or a single pipe segment 59d and connects it to the housing segments 23d. The pipe sleeves 63d are configured to pass through coupling rods 65d. Coupling rods 65d have engagement means 67 at their ends, which are configured to engage with coupling rods 65d of adjacent pipe segments 59 of a backwash pipe 39d.

[0114] Furthermore, the pipe cap 61d can be connected to the pipe coupling unit 45d and by means of this connected to the backwash system 13 and the housing 3.

[0115] As the Figures 4a and 4b show, the lifting device 35a comprises a lifting rod 69a, which is coupled to the filter cleaning element 57a, and an actuator 71a which is designed to drive the lifting rod 69a.

[0116] An opening is formed in the housing cover 25a for the passage of the lifting rod 69a.

[0117] When the filter cleaning elements 57a are moved into the filter element 55a by the lifting rod 69a driven by the actuator 71a, the cross-sectional area of ​​the filter element 55a is reduced. This reduction in the cross-sectional area through which the fluid can flow significantly increases the flow velocity.

[0118] This increase in flow velocity removes residues from the filter elements 55a. These residues are directed through the housing cover 25a, particularly through the backwash pipe 59, into the backwash system 13.

[0119] The backwash valve 37a comprises a valve body 75a and a valve seat 77a, with which the valve body 75a can be brought into contact. The backwash valve 37a further comprises a reset element 73a, which is configured to apply a restoring force to the valve body 75a, so that it is held in contact with the valve seat 77a. The reset element 73a is designed as a spring and is arranged in a valve housing 74 integrated into the housing cover.

[0120] The valve body 75a is partially cylindrical and is guided in a corresponding recess in the housing cover 25a.

[0121] The valve seat 77a is designed as an orifice plate, which is configured to control the flow velocity of the fluid flowing into the backwash system 13. The flow velocity can thus be regulated in an application-specific manner by replacing the orifice plate.

[0122] In the housing cover 25a, a flow channel 79a is formed which can be shut off by the backwash valve 37a and which connects the upper housing part 51a (cf. Fig. 2b ) and the pipe segment 59a.

[0123] The backwash valve 37a is preferably electropneumatically controllable, so that the valve body 75a is moved against the restoring force of the restoring element 73a when, due to a cleaning process by the filter cleaning device 11, heavily contaminated fluid must be led out of the respective housing segment 23a into the backwash system 13.

[0124] The filter cleaning device 11 can thus receive a command, for example via a control device, to actuate the lifting device 35a, so that the actuator 71a and the cleaning disc 57a, coupled by the lifting rod 69a, move into the filter element 55a. The residues present in the filter element are flushed out of it due to the increase in flow velocity and transported into the upper housing part 51a of the respective housing segment 23a. As soon as the backwash valve 37 is actuated and the valve body 75a moves against the restoring force exerted by the restoring element 73a, the flow channel 79a in the housing cover 25a is opened, through which the residues enter the backwash system 13.

[0125] For maintenance purposes, the housing cover 25a and thus also the parts of the filter cleaning device 11 associated with it can be easily dismantled by means of the connecting means 33.

[0126] The functioning of the Figures 1 to 4The device 1 according to the invention shown is explained below using a practical example: For example, in a power plant, highly contaminated cooling water is piped to such a device. The pipes are connected in a fluid-tight manner to the inlet 5 of the device 1. The heavily contaminated cooling water flows through the inlet 5 into the housing 3. The housing 3 has a plurality of adjacent housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d. In the housing 3, the contaminated cooling water is distributed among the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d and flows from below into the filter elements, is cleaned by them and flows through the upper part of the housing 3 before leaving the housing again through the outlet 7. The outlet 7 can be coupled to a pipe which feeds the cleaned cooling water back into the cooling circuit.

[0127] If the filter elements in the filter module 9 are heavily contaminated, they are cleaned by the filter cleaning device 11. For this purpose, the filter elements are moved into the housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d by means of the lifting device 35, resulting in an increase in the flow velocity due to the reduced cross-section within the housing. The backwash valve 37 is subsequently, or preferably already, activated by actuation of the lifting device 35 in order to fluidically connect the housing 3 or the individual housing segments 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d to the backwash system 13, so that the residues are removed from the device 1 by the backwash system 13.

[0128] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a device 1' for filtering a fluid according to a second preferred embodiment.

[0129] The device 1' comprises a housing 3' and an inlet 5 for admitting the fluid to be filtered into the housing 3' and an outlet 7 for discharging the filtered fluid from the housing 3'.

[0130] The housing 3' comprises four filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 arranged adjacent to one another between the inlet 5 and the outlet 7, which are designed to filter the admitted fluid by means of filter elements.

[0131] The device 1' further comprises four filter cleaning devices 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, each of which is assigned to a filter module 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 and is configured to clean the filter module 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4.

[0132] The housing 3' is further connected to a backwash system 13', which is designed to guide away and discharge the residues which are removed from the filter elements by means of the filter cleaning devices 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4.

[0133] The inlet 5 comprises an inlet flange 15 (cf. Fig. 1 ) for coupling with a pipeline and a pipe section 17 (cf. Fig. 1 ) for fastening to the housing 3', in particular to a filter module 9.1 arranged on the inlet side, of the device 1'.

[0134] The outlet 7 comprises an outlet flange 19 (cf. Fig. 1 ) for coupling with a pipeline for receiving the filtered fluid and a pipe section 21 (cf. Fig. 1 ) for connection to the housing 3', in particular a filter module 9.4 arranged on the outlet side.

[0135] The filter module 9.1 arranged on the inlet side has a fluid inlet 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d (cf. Fig. 2b ) of the individual housing segments, common fluid inlet 49.

[0136] The filter module 9.4 arranged on the outlet side has a common fluid outlet 53 formed from the fluid outlets of the individual housing segments (cf. Fig. 2a) on.

[0137] The fluid inlets 49 and fluid outlets 53 of the housing segments, which are not connected to the inlet 5 or outlet 7, form a passage opening through which the inflowing fluid is distributed in the housing 3' and flows into the filter elements in the housing segments.

[0138] The filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are coupled to each other by means of a filter module coupling unit 81.

[0139] The filter module coupling unit 81 comprises a plurality of filter module coupling means 85 (cf. Fig. 6 ), which are designed here as a rod with an external thread at the end, and a plurality of fixing means 87 (cf. Fig. 6 ), which are designed here as nuts. The nuts 87 can be engaged with the external threads of the coupling means 85.

[0140] The housing segments have receptacles 29 corresponding to the coupling means 85 (cf. Fig. 6) for the coupling agents 85.

[0141] The filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are positioned and fixed in position by means of the filter module coupling means 85, wherein sealing means 83 are further arranged between the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4, so that the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are coupled to one another in a fluid-tight manner.

[0142] The housing segments of a filter module 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are arranged parallel to each other between inlet 5 and outlet 7, and the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are arranged in a row between inlet 5 and outlet 7, so that the fluid to be filtered flowing in through inlet 5 is distributed among the filter elements.

[0143] The filter cleaning devices 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4 for cleaning the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 comprise a plurality of filter cleaning elements, wherein each filter cleaning element is configured to clean one of the filter elements arranged in the housing segments.

[0144] The filter cleaning devices 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4 further comprise a number of lifting devices 35 corresponding to the number of filter cleaning elements (cf. Fig. 1 ) to drive the filter cleaning elements. The housing segments 23 (see Fig. 1 ) are by means of a controllable backwash valve 37 (cf. Fig. 1 ) can be connected to the backwash system 13' and shut off from it.

[0145] The backwash system 13' comprises a plurality of backwash pipes 39, which are connected to a connecting pipe 41 (cf. Fig. 1) are coupled. The connecting pipe 41 connects the backwash pipes 39 with a backwash outlet 43 (cf. Fig. 1 ), which is designed to discharge the heavily contaminated fluid from the housing 3'. The backwash pipes 39 can be sealed fluid-tight at the ends by means of a pipe cap 61.

[0146] The backwash pipes 39 comprise a plurality of pipe segments 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d, each of which corresponds to a housing segment 23 (cf. Fig. 11 ) are assigned.

[0147] The backwash pipes 39 each comprise at least one pipe segment 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d, which is each assigned to a housing segment 23.

[0148] Each of the pipe segments 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d preferably comprises a closable outlet through which the respective pipe segment 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d and the housing segment 23 are fluidly connected to one another.

[0149] By means of the backwash valve (not shown), the pipe segments 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d can be connected to the housing segments 23 and shut off from them.

[0150] The backwash system 13' is fluidly connected to the housing 3' and is designed to conduct away the residues removed from the filter elements of the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 by means of the filter cleaning device 11 and to remove them from the device 1'.

[0151] The device 1' further comprises a pipe coupling unit 45d with a plurality of pipe sleeves, each of which encloses an individual pipe segment 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d and connects it to the housing segments 23.1b, 23.2b, 23.3b, 23.4b. The pipe sleeve 63d is configured to pass through a coupling rod 65d. The coupling rod 65d has an engagement means (not shown) at its end, which is configured to engage with coupling rods of adjacent pipe segments 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d of a backwash pipe 39d. Thus, a plurality of pipe segments 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d can be combined to form a backwash pipe 39d.

[0152] As in particular Figure 6 shows, the coupling means 85 can be carried out through receptacles 29 which are formed in the support structures 27 of the housing segments 23.

[0153] Screws 33 are arranged above and below the coupling means 85 with the end-side fixing means 87. The lower screw is designed to connect the sealing part 31 to the housing 3', and the screws arranged below the coupling means 85 and fixing means 87 are designed to connect the pipe section 17 of the inlet 5 to the housing 3'. For this purpose, recesses are provided in the support structures 27, into which the screws 33 can be inserted and, in particular, can be brought into engagement.

[0154] As in particular Figure 7 shows, further screws 33 for connecting the pipe section 17 to the housing 3' at the circumference of the outer housing segments 23.1c and 23.1d can be brought into engagement with these.

[0155] Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the device 1' according to Figure 5in a perspective view. The filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, and 9.4, which are arranged between inlet 5 and outlet 7, are connected to one another by means of the filter module coupling unit 81.

[0156] The filter module coupling means 85 are guided through receptacles 29 in the support structures 27 formed between the housing segments 23.

[0157] In each case, three vertically spaced filter module coupling means 85 are arranged between two adjacent housing segments 23 of a filter module 9.

[0158] Above and below the receptacles 29, recesses are formed which can be engaged with the screws 33. The screws 33 are designed to connect the sealing means 83, which are provided between the housing segments 23 of adjacent, mutually coupled housing segments 23, to the housing segments 23.

[0159] As in particular Figure 9 As shown, the receptacles 29 are substantially cylindrical, allowing the coupling means 85, designed as a rod with a circular cross-sectional area, to pass through. The recesses for the screws 33 are arranged in pairs adjacent to the receptacles 29.

[0160] As in particular Figure 10 As shown, the end-mounted fixing means 87, which engage with the coupling means 85, are self-locking nuts. Furthermore, threads are formed in the support structures 27 of the housing segments 23, with which connecting means 33 for fastening the pipe sections 17, 21 of the inlet 5 and the outlet 7, as well as the sealing part 31, are engaged.

[0161] Figure 11 shows a sectional view of the device 1' according to the invention for filtering a fluid.

[0162] As can be seen in particular from this sectional view, the inlet 5 with the inlet flange 15 and the pipe section 17 (cf. Fig. 1 ) and the outlet 7 with the outlet flange 19 and the pipe section 21 (cf. Fig. 1 ) are designed identically. The cross-sectional area at the inlet flange 15, and in particular the center of this cross-sectional area, is vertically spaced from the center of the housing-side cross-sectional area of ​​the pipe section 17. The pipe section 17 is thus tapered toward the housing 3'. The same applies to the pipe section 21 of the outlet 7.

[0163] Due to the asymmetrical design of the inlet 5 and the outlet 7, the fluid to be filtered can flow from a predetermined height of the pipeline into the lower part of the housing 3', distribute itself within the housing 3', and flow into the filter elements arranged in the upper housing part. Due to the vertical offset, the device according to the invention thus operates "in-line," meaning that the device can be installed in an existing pipe system, for example, between two spaced-apart pipe sections at the same height.

[0164] The functioning of the Figures 5 to 11The device 1' according to the invention shown is explained below using a practical example: For example, in a power plant, highly contaminated cooling water is piped to such a device. The pipes are fluid-tightly connected to the inlet 5 of the device 1'. The heavily contaminated cooling water flows through the inlet 5 into the housing 3'. The housing 3' has a plurality of housing segments 23, preferably arranged adjacent to one another. In the housing 3', the contaminated cooling water flows into at least one filter element, each of which is arranged at least partially within a housing segment 23 of the housing 3'. The housing segments 23, in each of which a filter element is arranged, together form a first filter module 9.1. Such a filter module 9 can be composed of any number of housing segments, including filter elements arranged therein.The contaminated cooling water can flow through several filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, and 9.4 connected in series and be cleaned therein before leaving the housing 3' through the outlet 7. The outlet 7 can be coupled to a pipe that feeds the cleaned cooling water back into the cooling circuit.

[0165] If the filter elements of the filter modules 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 are too heavily contaminated, each of the filter modules is assigned a filter cleaning device 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4, which cleans the filter elements arranged in the housing segments 23. List of reference symbols:

[0166] 1Device (1, 1') 3Housing (3, 3') 5Inlet 7Outlet 9Filter module (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4) 11Filter cleaning device (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4) 13Backwash system (13, 13') 15Inlet flange 17Pipe section 19Outlet flange 21Pipe section 23Housing segment (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d; 23.1c, 23.1d, 23.1b, 23.2b, 23.3b, 23.4b) 25Housing cover (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) 27Support structure 29Receptacles 31Sealing part 33Screw 35Lifting device (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d) 37Backwash valve (37a, 37b, 37c, 37d) 39Backwash pipe (39d) 41Connecting pipe 43Backwash outlet 45Pipe coupling unit (45d) 47Lower housing part (47a, 47b, 47c, 47d) 49Fluid inlet (49a, 49b, 49c, 49d) 51Upper housing part (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) 53Fluid outlet 55Filter element (55a, 55b, 55c, 55d) 57Filter cleaning elements (57a) 59Pipe segment (59d; 59.1d, 59.2d, 59.3d, 59.4d) 61Pipe cap (61d) 63Pipe sleeve (63d) 65Coupling rod (65d) 67Engaging means 69Lifting rod (69a, 69b, 69c, 69d) 71Actuator (71a, 71b, 71c, 71d) 73Reset element (73a, 73b, 73c, 73d) 74Valve housing 75Valve body (75a, 75b, 75c, 75d) 77Valve seat (77a, 77b, 77c, 77d) 79Flow channel (79a, 79b, 79c, 79d) 81Filter module coupling unit 83Sealant 85Filter module coupling agent 87Fixing agent.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1, 1') for filtering a fluid, in particular a Bernoulli filtering apparatus (1, 1'), comprising - a housing (3, 3'), - one or a plurality of filter elements (55), arranged in the housing (3, 3'), for filtering the fluid, - an inlet (5) for admitting fluid to be filtered into the housing (3, 3'), and - an outlet (7) for discharging the filtered fluid from the housing (3, 3'), - a filter cleaning mechanism (11) for cleaning the filter element(s) (55) of residues from the filtered fluid, comprising - at least one movably mounted filter cleaning element which is embodied to match a respective filter element (55) and is adapted to clean the filter element (55) of residues from the filtered fluid, - a backflushing system (13, 13') in fluid communication with the filter elements, for conducting and discharging the residues from the filtered fluid, andcharacterised in that the housing (3, 3') has a plurality of housing segments (23) which can be connected to adjacent housing segments (23), and in that a filter element (55) is arranged at least partially inside each housing segment (23), and in that the housing segments (23) and filter elements (55) together form a modularly assembled filter module (9).

2. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of filter modules (9) are arranged adjacent to one another, are connected in series, and a filter module (9) is fluidically connectable to at least one adjacent filter module (9).

3. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of filter modules (9) are arranged in a row between an inlet (5) and an outlet (7) in such a way that the housing segments (23) of the filter modules (9) are arranged like a battery, wherein the housing segments (23) are substantially the same or identical in design.

4. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing segments (23) each have at least one fluid inlet (49) for admitting the fluid to be filtered and at least one fluid outlet (53) for discharging the filtered fluid, wherein each of the fluid inlets (49) is fluidically connectable to a fluid outlet (53) of an adjacent filter module (9) or to the outlet (7), and in that each of the fluid inlets (49) can be fluidically connected to a fluid inlet (49) of an adjacent filter module (9) or to the outlet (5), and / or has at least one through opening which is adapted to distribute the fluid to be filtered within the filter module (9).

5. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 4, characterised by at least one seal member (31) for sealing the ends of the housing segments (23) of a filter module (9) arranged on the inlet side and / or the outlet side, wherein the seal member (31) is adapted to seal the fluid inlet (49) or the fluid outlet (53) of a housing segment (23), respectively.

6. The apparatus (1, 1') according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised by a filter module coupling unit (81) for fixing and coupling two or more filter modules (9), comprising - at least one coupling means (85) which is adapted to couple adjacently arranged filter modules (9) to one another, and - at least one fixing means associated with the coupling means (85), which fixing means is adapted to fix the adjacently arranged filter modules (9) in their positions.

7. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one coupling means, preferably three vertically spaced-apart coupling means (85) are associated with each housing segment (23), which coupling means can be brought into engagement at their ends with the fixing means (85), wherein the coupling means (85) are designed as rods, and wherein the housing segments (23) have receptacles for the coupling means (85), which are embodied to match the coupling means and which are preferably embodied as receptacles through which the rods are guided.

8. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inlet (5) includes an inlet flange (15) for connecting to a pipeline and a pipe section (17) on the inlet side for connecting to the housing (3, 3'), and in that the outlet (7) includes an outlet flange (19) for connecting to a pipeline and a pipe section (21) on the outlet side for connecting to the housing (3, 3'), wherein the pipe sections (17, 21) each have a first cross-sectional area on the filter module side and a second cross-sectional area on the flange side, and the centre of the cross-sectional area on the flange side is spaced apart vertically and / or horizontally from the centre of the cross-sectional area on the filter module side.

9. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 8, characterised in that the distance between the centre of the cross-sectional area on the flange side and the cross-sectional area on the filter module side can be changed in the vertical and / or horizontal direction by rotation about a horizontal axis.

10. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a lifting device (35) comprising an actuator (71) and a lifting rod (69) coupled to the filter cleaning element (57), wherein the lifting device (35) is adapted to introduce the filter cleaning element (57) into the filter element (55) by means of the lifting rod (69) in such a way that a cleaning gap is formed between an inner wall of the filter element (55) and the filter cleaning element (57), so that a flow velocity of the liquid to be filtered is locally increased and substances in the filter element (55) are flushed off.

11. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 10, characterised in that the backflushing system (13, 13') further comprises: - a backflush outlet (43) for discharging the residues from the filtered fluid, - a plurality of backflush pipes (39) for fluidically connecting adjacent filter modules (9), wherein the backflush pipes (39) are spaced apart and arranged substantially parallel to one another and each have at least one pipe segment (59) which can be shut off and which is connected to a housing segment (23) of the filter modules (9), - a connecting pipe (41) for fluidically connecting the backflush pipes (39) to each other and to the backflush outlet.

12. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - at least one housing cover (25) for closing the housing, and - at least one backflushing system (13, 13') in fluid communication with the filter element (55), for conducting and discharging the residues from the filtered fluid, wherein the filter cleaning mechanism (11) is associated with the housing cover (25) and in particular is fixed thereto, and the backflushing system (13, 13') is associated with the housing (3, 3'), in particular with housing segments (23).

13. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 12, characterised in that the filter cleaning mechanism (13, 13') further comprises: - a filter cleaning element (57) integrated in the housing cover (25), wherein the filter cleaning element (57) is insertable into the filter element (55) and is adapted to clean the filter element (55) of residues from the filtered fluid.

14. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 13, characterised in that the filter cleaning mechanism (13, 13') further comprises: - a lifting device (35) comprising an actuator (71) and a lifting rod (69) coupled to the filter cleaning element (57), wherein the lifting device (35) is adapted to introduce the filter cleaning element (57) into the filter element (55) by means of the lifting rod (69) in such a way that a cleaning gap is formed between an inner wall of the filter element (55) and the filter cleaning element (57), so that a flow velocity of the liquid to be filtered is locally increased and substances in the filter element (55) are flushed off, and wherein the lifting device (35) is associated with the housing cover (25) and the actuator (71), in particular, is securely connected to the housing cover (25), and an opening is provided in the housing cover (25) for the lifting rod (69) to pass through.

15. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the backflushing system (13, 13') further comprises a plurality of backflush pipes for fluidically connecting adjacent filter modules (9), wherein the backflush pipes (39) each have at least one pipe segment (59) having an outlet (7) which can be shut off, said pipe segment being in fluid communication with the filter element (55), and wherein a backflush valve (37) adapted to shut off the backflush pipes (39) at least in sections is integrated in the housing cover (25).

16. The apparatus (1, 1') according to claim 15, characterised in that the backflush valve (37) has a valve housing (74) which is formed by the housing cover (25), and that a valve body (73) which can be brought into contact with a valve seat (77) in order to close the valve is movably mounted on the valve housing (74), wherein a flow channel adapted to connect the filter element (55) fluidically with the backflush pipe (39) is formed in the housing cover (25), and the valve body (73) shuts off the flow channel when the valve is closed.

17. The apparatus (1, 1') according to any of the claims 12 to 16, characterised in that the valve seat (77) is embodied as an aperture which is adapted to change the velocity of the volumetric flow which flows into the backflush pipe (39).