Importance

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Abstract

In an ultrafiltration of a liquid having a starting solids concentration, in which the liquid is pumped through a filtration circuit including at least one membrane filter, and the loss of liquid resulting from the continuous extraction of filtrate from the filtration circuit is compensated for by feeding unfiltered liquid into the filtration circuit from a separate concentrate container which is connected with the filtration circuit by a feedline and a return line for flow of liquid to and from the filtration circuit, the liquid in the filtration circuit is periodically and repeatedly supplemented by additions of fresh unfiltered liquid taken from a reservoir having the starting solids concentration so as to repeatedly bring the solids concentration in the filtration circuit closer to the starting concentration. The individual fresh liquid additions from the reservoir are initiated in response to the level of the liquid in the concentrate container falling from a predetermined higher level to a predetermined lower level and are interrupted when the liquid in the container again reaches the given higher level. Filtration cycles lasting for a few weeks between each two successive shutdowns of the system for cleaning are achieved. The foregoing abstract is not to be deemed a complete exposition of the present invention, however, the details of which can be discerned only by reference to and from the hereto appended specification and claims.

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First Claim