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Abstract

Apparatus for increasing a concentration of large particles in a mixture which includes the large particles and smaller particles, including a flow chamber, a filtrate accepting chamber, a filtering component separating the flow chamber from the filtrate accepting chamber, the filtering component including a plurality of pores passing therethrough, characterized by further including means for generating a flow of the fluid in the flow chamber, with a flow component in a direction parallel to a surface of the filtering component sufficient to substantially prevent particles from adhering to the filtering component and clogging the pores. A method of increasing a concentration of large particles in a mixture which includes the large particles and smaller particles, including providing a flow chamber and a filtrate accepting chamber separated by a filtering component, the filtering component including a plurality of pores passing therethrough, and placing a fluid with the mixture in the flow chamber, characterized by causing the fluid with the mixture to flow in the flow chamber, with a flow component parallel to a surface of the filtering component sufficient to substantially prevent particles from adhering to the filtering component and clogging the pores, thereby increasing the concentration of the larger particles relative to the concentration of the smaller particles in the mixture. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

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First Claim