Filter apparatus and system

Abstract

A filtration apparatus 100 comprising: inlet 144, operable to receive a fluid for filtration; cyclone filter 130, to which the inlet is attached; gauze filter 175, in fluid communication with the cyclone filter; and air separator 150 in fluid communication with the cyclone filter and comprising a fluid outlet 155 and an air outlet 170. The cyclone filter may be formed as an upper, substantially cylindrical portion and a lower, substantially conical portion 130a. The apparatus may also comprise a magnet filter which may be in the form of a magnet belt wrapped around the outside of the cyclone filter in a helical arrangement. Doser 160 may also be present for introducing chemicals into the fluid for filtration. The apparatus may have a debris collector 120 and debris removal valve 110 allowing the filtered debris to be collected and removed. Gaskets may be provided between the cyclone filter, air separator, debris collector and the lower and upper portions of the cyclone filter. The apparatus may be used to filter debris from water in a heating system.

Description

Field The present invention relates to a filtration apparatus and system. More particularly, the present invention relates to filtration for a commercial heating system that provides both a more compact apparatus that also provides filtration of a variety of debris rather than filtration of just one type of debris. Background Commercial heating systems, for example that provide heating to medium to large commercial or industrial or government buildings, typically use metal pipework to transport cold and hot water around the building. Both the heating equipment and metal pipework rust over time due to exposure to the water used in the system and the rust creates a sludge within the sealed pipework, which needs to be removed by a filtration system to prevent the heating system from failing or working non-optimally. Current filtration systems for commercial heating installation require a number of different units to provide filtration across a variety of debris that may be present in the commercial heating system. A typical filtration system for a commercial heating system would require five different units, including a cyclone filter, a magnet filter, a gauze filter, an air separator and a doser. These separate units are connected together and to the commercial heating system and require significant amounts of space. Each of the units performed on a single task, where for example the magnet filter only filters out metallic debris from the commercial heating system installation. Summary of Invention Aspects and / or embodiments seek to provide an integrated filtration apparatus for a commercial heating system that can filter debris from the commercial heating system, such as metallic, non-metallic, fine and coarse materials. In some aspects and / or embodiments the integrated filtration apparatus is substantially smaller than separate units providing substantially the same level of filtration performance and can reduce space requirements and equipment cost and servicing. In some aspects and / or embodiments the integrated filtration unit provides the ability to filter substantially all debris that might be present in a commercial heating system. According to a first aspect, there is provided a filtration apparatus (100) comprising: an inlet (110) operable to receive a fluid for filtration, the inlet (110) attached to a cyclone filter (130) and substantially offset from the centre of the cyclone filter (130); wherein the cyclone filter (130) is in fluid communication with the inlet (110), the cyclone filter (130) operable to cause the fluid for filtration to flow around the substantially outer portion of the cyclone filter (130) in a substantially circular motion; a gauze filter (120) in fluid communication with the cyclone filter (140), the gauze filter (120) comprising at least one gauze and wherein the gauze filter (120) is operable to filter the fluid for filtration through the at least one gauze; an air separator (150) in fluid communication with the cyclone filter (140), the air separator (150) comprising a fluid outlet (155) and an air outlet (170), the air separator (150) operable to remove air from the fluid for filtration and output the removed air via the air outlet (170); a fluid outlet (170) in fluid communication with the air separator (150), the fluid outlet (170) operable to allow the fluid for filtration to leave the filtration apparatus (100). By providing a sequence of filtration operations in one apparatus, the fluid for filtration can be filtered more space efficiently that if filtration is provided by separate equipment per type of filtration. Further, by providing a single filtration apparatus, if unexpected debris is present in the fluid to be filtered then the single filtration apparatus can still filter the debris as it is operable to filter different types of debris in contrast to the same debris entering filtration apparatus only suitable for one type of filtration that may cause damage to the apparatus. By providing a cyclone filter, the speed of the water can increase and the centrifugal forces can cause impurities to move towards the walls of the filter equipment, which then allows these impurities to descend to the bottom of the apparatus. By providing the specific order of filtration, substantially all types of debris can be removed effectively without damaging the filtration apparatus. Optionally, the cyclone filter (130) is formed as an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower substantially conical portion. By providing a cyclone filter having a lower portion that is conical, the conical configuration can cause the fluid to speed up as it descends the apparatus. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a magnet filter (140), the magnet filter (140) comprising a magnet belt mounted on the outside of the cyclone filter (130). Optionally, the magnet belt is provided in a substantially helix arrangement. By providing a magnet around the outside of the cyclone filter, magnetic debris will be attracted to the outer wall of the cyclone filter in order to collect at the bottom of the apparatus. Optionally, one or more particles in the fluid for filtration move to the substantially outer perimeter of the cyclone filter (130) due to the flow around the substantially outer portion of the cyclone filter (130) in a substantially circular motion. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a doser (160), the doser (160) in fluid communication with the air separator (150) and the doser (160) comprising a fluid inlet, wherein the fluid inlet is operable to receive chemicals for introduction to the fluid for filtration. Optionally, the apparatus is operable to introduce chemicals to a closed loop heating system using the doser (160). Chemicals can be introduced into the fluid using the doser and air in the fluid can be removed using the air separator. By introducing chemicals to the fluid for filtration, chemical operations such as cleaning or improving the fluid properties can be performed following filtration of the fluid and / or without needing to stop the fluid system in order to open the fluid system in order to introduce the chemicals. Optionally, the filtration apparatus (100) is operable to filter substantially all types of debris from the fluid for filtration. Optionally, the filtration apparatus (100) is operable to filter from the fluid for filtration any or any combination of: fine debris; coarse debris; metallic debris; non-metallic debris. As the apparatus can collect all types of debris, it can be more effective than using separate equipment to perform specific filtration functions per piece of equipment. As all filtration will be performed using one apparatus, this can result in there being no issue if any type of unexpected debris comes through the apparatus. In a real life scenario, it is unlikely that there is only one type of material debris in a system - for example a heating system that can be used with the apparatus might have plastic pipes with plastic debris as well as metal pipes with rust, thus for any scenario where foreign debris enters the fluid within the system it can be filtered by the apparatus. Optionally, the air separator (150) is operable to remove from the fluid for filtration any or any combination of: air present in the fluid for filtration; air introduced via the air inlet (144). By removing air as part of the filtration process, air that is introduced by the filter can be removed again and / or air that is present in the fluid for filtration can be removed as when air is present in heating system fluid it can reduce the efficiency of the heating system. Optionally, the filtration apparatus (100) is operable to be disassembled for cleaning. The filtration apparatus can be easier to clean and / or can save space if it is designed to be able to be disassembled. Optionally, one or more gaskets (135, 146) are provided between any or any combination of: the cyclone filter (130); the air separator (150); the debris collector (120); the lower and upper portions of the cyclone filter (130, 130a). Optionally, any or any combination of: the gauze and / or the gaskets (135, 146) are replaceable. Replacement consumable parts can be limited to the gauze and the gasket(s), which means cheaper material / consumable costs and / or a more environmentally friendly system / apparatus. Optionally, any or any combination of: the filter inlet (110); the gauze filter (120); the cyclone filter (130); the magnet filter (140); the air separator (150); the doser (160); the fluid outlet (170); are substantially cylindrical and / or conical. Optionally, each of the one or more cylinder dimensions depend on the filtration to be performed. By providing the various filtration stages as substantially cylinder or conical configurations, the apparatus can be provided in a smaller physical footprint and / or the cyclone filter can be more efficient or effective. Optionally, the filtration apparatus (100) is operable to filter heating systems. Optionally, the fluid for filtration comprises substantially water. The filtration apparatus can filter fluids within heating systems, optionally wherein these heating systems are commercial heating systems or heating systems for large buildings. Optionally, each of the one or more cylinder dimensions depend on the filtration to be performed. By providing the components of the apparatus with different dimensions, different functionality can be provided depending on the capabilities of the various filtering mechanisms relative to each of that are required for the installation where the apparatus is to be used. Brief Description of Drawings Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings having I ike-reference numerals, in which: Figure 1 shows the filtration apparatus 100 with the interior features visible, according to a first embodiment; and Figure 2 shows the filtration apparatus 100 with only the exterior features visible, according to the first embodiment. Specific Description Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a filtration apparatus 100 will now be described in more detail below. The filtration apparatus has a inlet 110 to allow the fluid to be filtered to enter the apparatus 100. In this example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is connected to a commercial heating system, such as might be installed in a care home or an office building, but in other embodiments other systems containing fluid can be filtered / connected to the apparatus 100. The inlet 110 is offset from the centre of the apparatus 100, such that fluid input into the apparatus 100 enters the cylinder 130 along the inner side of the wall of the cylinder 130 and creates a circular flow within the cylinder 130. The fluid entering the system may have a variety of impurities to be filtered out of it in order to ensure that the heating system operates effectively and efficiently. For example, in a commercial heating system, over time the pipes and equipment in the system can rust (if metal) and create sludge or can degrade (if plastic) and create plastic parti cl es / pieces among other impurities / debris that might collect within the system. The filtration apparatus 100 collects most types of debris, including metallic, non-metallic, fine and coarse debris. Typically the fluid in such systems is mostly or entirely water. Entering via the fluid inlet 144, the fluid passes into the cyclone filter 130. Due to the offset of the fluid inlet 144, the fluid entering the cyclone filter 130 causes the fluid inside the cyclone filter 130 to rotate around the inside circumference of the cyclone filter 130, which is shaped as a cylinder, causing the fluid to accelerate as it rises through the filter and causing the fluid to move any impurities towards the walls of the cyclone filter and out of the flow of the fluid, allowing the impurities to descend under gravity to the bottom of the apparatus and eventually into the debris collector 120. Inside the core of the cyclone filter 130, there is provided a hollow tube 130b around which the cyclone of fluid can flow. By providing a conical narrowing base to the cyclone filter 130, the speed of the fluid can increase as the diameter of the conical structure decreases, i.e. as the water moves lower into the apparatus 100. Between the upper portion of the cyclone filter 130 and the lower portion of the cyclone filter 130a, there is provided a gasket 135 to seal the fluid connection between the two portions 130, 130a. The gasket 135 also allows the relative angle to be adjusted between the two portions, allowing the fluid inlet 144 to be positioned in a direction substantially convenient when installed (as the position of the fluid source will differ per installation). At the bottom of the lower portion of the cyclone filter 130a, a magnet filter 140 is positioned on the outside of the lower portion of the cyclone filter 130a. The magnet filter 140 comprises a magnet belt surrounding the bottom of the lower portion of the cyclone filter 130a. As the fluid flows lower in the cyclone filter 130 and into the lower portion of the cyclone filter 130a, the fluid passes the magnet filter 140. The magnet filter 140 causes magnetic debris within the fluid to be attracted to . The magnet belt attracts magnetic debris present in the fluid and thus causes it to be attracted towards the magnet and out of the fluid flow. The magnet 140 is positioned around the outside of the lower cyclone 130a in this embodiment, but other arrangements are possible in other embodiments. Debris that reaches the bottom of the lower cyclone filter 130a and that is attracted by the magnet filter 140 passes through into a debris collector 120. Debris collected in the debris collector 120 can be extracted using the debris removal valve 110. Above the cyclone filter 130 there is an air separator 150, both of which are metal cylinders. Between the cyclone filter 130 and the air separator 150, there is provided a gasket 146 to seal the fluid connection between the two filters 130, 150. Again, the gasket 146 can allow the rotational position of the cyclone filter 130 and the air separator 150 to be adjusted to conform to installation requirements such as a convenient position for the fluid outlet 155. From the cyclone filter 130, the fluid passes into the air separator 150. The air separator 150 removes any air introduced by the cyclone filter 130, 130a and any air already present when the fluid entered the apparatus 100 at the inlet 110. The air is evacuated via the air outlet and vent 170. Inside the air separator, the fluid passes through a gauze filter 175. The gauze filter contains a gauze having a certain gauze dimension, i.e. allowing only certain size particles to pass through the gauze and capturing anything larger than the gauze dimension in the gauze. As fluid keeps being ingested into the system, existing fluid in the system is forced up through the gauze 175 into the top portion of the air separator 150. The gauze is one of the consumables of the filtration apparatus as eventually the gauze will become blocked once it has captured a certain amount of larger-sized particles. To at least partially clean the gauze, stopping the fluid intake via the fluid inlet 144 allows debris that has been caught by the gauze 175 to descend into the hollow tube 130b and into the debris collector 120. From the air separator 150, the fluid passes into the fluid outlet 155. The fluid outlet is also provided in fluid communication with a doser 160. The top of the air separator 150 is a dome shape, with approximately a 10 degree incline. The doser 160 allows chemicals to be easily dosed into the system by pouring these into a funnel provided in the doser, which allows the chemicals to be introduced into the fluid that flows to the fluid outlet and thereby mixes with the now filtered fluid. The fluid outlet 155 allows the fluid introduced at the inlet 110 and now filtered to re-enter the system, in the embodiment the heating system. There is also provided a gauge 180 in fluid communication with the air separator 150 to allow measurements of the fluid to be taken and visually inspected. In this embodiment, the apparatus is easier to clean that multiple separate existing filter equipment as well as saving space compared to having multiple pieces of filter equipment. Consumable parts are limited to the gauze and the gasket which should mean a cheaper consumable cost and also that the equipment is more environmentally friendly. Since the apparatus can collect all types of debris, it provides advantages when installed since it should not be limited to certain debris as would equipment that performs only one type of filtration operation and, as all filter operations will be in one apparatus, there should be no unexpected debris coming through the system - i.e. debris that the apparatus can’t filter. The sizing of the cylinders depends on the filtration to be performed and the expected particles / debris to be filtered at each stage of filtration. For example, the cyclone filter 130 could be increased in height versus the air separator 150 in order to filter micro products. By providing the different filtration stages in one piece of equipment, a more cost effective and compact piece of equipment can perform all of the filtration required in many types of installation environment. In this embodiment, the apparatus 100 is mounted on three legs attached to the outside of the cylindrical portions at even spacings. Any system feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure. Any feature in one aspect may be applied to other aspects, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to system aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and / or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and / or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects can be implemented and / or supplied and / or used independently.

Claims

1. A filtration apparatus (100) comprising:an inlet (110) operable to receive a fluid for filtration, the inlet (110) attached to a cyclone filter (130) and substantially offset from the centre of the cyclone filter (130);wherein the cyclone filter (130) is in fluid communication with the inlet (110), the cyclone filter (130) operable to cause the fluid for filtration to flow around the substantially outer portion of the cyclone filter (130) in a substantially circular motion;a gauze filter (120) in fluid communication with the cyclone filter (140), the gauze filter (120) comprising at least one gauze and wherein the gauze filter (120) is operable to filter the fluid for filtration through the at least one gauze;an air separator (150) in fluid communication with the cyclone filter (140), the air separator (150) comprising a fluid outlet (155) and an air outlet (170), the air separator (150) operable to remove air from the fluid for filtration and output the removed air via the air outlet (170);a fluid outlet (170) in fluid communication with the air separator (150), the fluid outlet (170) operable to allow the fluid for filtration to leave the filtration apparatus (100).

2. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim where the cyclone filter (130) is formed as an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower substantially conical portion.

3. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim further comprising a magnet filter (140), the magnet filter (140) comprising a magnet belt mounted on the outside of the cyclone filter (130).

4. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein one or more particles in the fluid for filtration move to the substantially outer perimeter of the cyclone filter (130) due to the flow around the substantially outer portion of the cyclone filter (130) in a substantially circular motion.

5. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim further comprising a doser (160), the doser (160) in fluid communication with the air separator (150) and the doser (160) comprising a fluid inlet, wherein the fluid inlet is operable to receive chemicals for introduction to the fluid for filtration.

6. The filtration apparatus (100) of claim 5 operable to introduce chemicals to a closed loop heating system using the doser (160).

7. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim operable to filter substantially all types of debris from the fluid for filtration.

8. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim operable to filter from the fluid for filtration any or any combination of: fine debris; coarse debris; metallic debris; non-metallic debris.

9. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein the air separator (150) is operable to remove from the fluid for filtration any or any combination of: air present in the fluid for filtration; air introduced via the air inlet (144).

10. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim operable to be disassembled for cleaning.

11. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim further comprising a debris collector (120) and a debris removal valve (110), wherein the debris collector (120) is in fluid communication with the cyclone filter (130) and wherein the debris removal valve (110) allows debris collected in the debris collector (120) to be removed via the valve (110).

12. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein one or more gaskets (135, 146) are provided between any or any combination of: the cyclone filter (130); the air separator (150); the debris collector (120); the lower and upper portions of the cyclone filter (130, 130a).

13. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein any or any combination of: the gauze and / or the gaskets (135, 146) are replaceable.

14. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein any or any combination of: the filter inlet (110); the gauze filter (120); the cyclone filter (130); the magnet filter (140); the air separator (150); the doser (160); the fluid outlet (170); are substantially cylindrical and / or conical.

15. The filtration apparatus (100) of claim 9 wherein each of the one or more cylinder dimensions depend on the filtration to be performed.

16. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim operable to filter heating systems.

517. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein the fluid for filtration comprises substantially water.

18. The filtration apparatus (100) of any preceding claim wherein the magnet belt is io provided in a substantially helix arrangement.1511

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