Filtration

1. Sand Filter

Sand filters are used to remove suspended solids from water and wastewater. Because they have
one layer of filter media, sand filters remove only relatively large solids (normally in the range
of 40 micron and larger). The effective size of each granule of sand typically varies from 0.35mm
– 1.2mm. Larger granules yield coarser filtration. Finer granules yield finer filtration.

Sand filters are typically used for:

 Irrigation water

 Storm water

 Cooling water

 Swimming pool water

 Water in fountains and other water features

The size of each filter, the number of filters required, and the type of filter media used depend
upon:

 how small a solid needs to be removed,

 how dirty the water is,

 how the water will be used once it is filtered,

 The source of backwash water needed to clean the filters.

Size of Solids to be removed: The smaller the solid to be removed, the slower the water must pass
through the media and the finer the granule of media must be. Very often the end user doesn’t
know how small a solid must be removed. In those situations, how the filtered water will be used
will determine how small a solid should be removed.
Concentration of Suspended Solids: The higher the concentration of suspended solids, the larger
the diameter of the filter needs to be. All filters have a maximum concentration of suspended solids
that can be managed without compromising filter performance.

Source of Backwash Water: Backwash water is used to clean the filters and flush out the
suspended solids that have been trapped in the media bed. Water for backwashing can come either
from the filters themselves or from an external source of clean water (such as a domestic water
line or a storage tank).

If backwash water comes from the filter system, there must be more than one filter in the system.
Filters are backwashed one-at-a-time. During the backwash cycle, a portion of filtered water
exiting the other filter(s) in the system is used to clean the dirty filter. During these periods (which
typically last for several minutes per filter), the amount of filtered effluent flowing downstream of
the filter is reduced by the amount of water required for backwashing.

In cases where this temporary reduction in flow is acceptable, there will be two or more filters in
the system.

If no decrease in the flow of filtered water can be accepted, then water for backwashing is supplied
from an external source or the pump supplying water to the filters must be able to increase its
output when backwashing is required.

(http://everfilt.com/sand-filters-multi-media-filters/)