How does a pool filter work?

Question

I need to know how a pool filter works in depth. Can someone explain it to me?

Answer 1

All types are based on the principle of moving water through some sort of material, to trap small particles. Some do a better job than others. There are three types of filter used for pools. I'll list them in effectiveness, from least to best.

1/ Sand filter: Water from the circulation pump, is pumped into the top portion of a tank, that contains silica sand. The water is forced down through the sand, trapping particulate matter. When it reaches the bottom, it enters what's called the lateral assembly. Imagine a wagon wheel, hub and spokes. Each spoke (lateral) has slits that are large enough for the water to pass, but not the sand. The water enters the lateral, proceeds to the hub and up what we call the stand pipe to the pool heater, sanitization system and back to the pool returns. Sand filters remove particles down to 40 microns in size.

2/ Cartridge filters: Water in the filter housing from the pump, is forced through a paper like material. Sort of like a coffee maker filter. They are cylindrical in shape. The material traps solids on the outside of the cartridge. Clean water from the centre returnns to the pool through the heater and sanitizning system. There are two types of cartridge. The most poular is a single element and made of just one membrane. More effecient ones have two or more membranes and have a filtered water channel between them. Water is forced into the cartridge from two sides, not one, the filtered water now being inside the two membranes is then pushed to the outlet port and on it's way to the heater, sanitizer and back to the pool.
Cartridge filters remove particles down to 20 microns in size.

3/Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters: Water is pumped into the tank and is forced through a membrane that is coated in DE powder. DE is actually the crushed fossilized bodies of marine critters that lived thousands of years ago. Various filter manufacturers use different shapes of grids or fingers for the DE to sit on. Essentially, this type of filter is an enhanced cartridge filter. The DE removes smaller particles. This type of filter removes particulates down to 1 micron in size.

That's it in a nut shell. All filter manufacturers use these principles, but may differ in tank design, valves and element design.

Answer 2

Try the two sites below. The first explains clearly how different types of filters work, the second is for pools and how the filter fits into the system.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

it be helpful to know why you need to know, as in are you trying to repair one, there are different types. I can tell you about the one I had. It had a huge filter for the size pool it was. The filter itself was about 2' tall, 1.5' across. It was a sort of paper/material sort of thing that was accordianed into a circle. The water was pulled in through the sides and sucked out rapidly through the bottom and sent back to the pool. It was quite simple and easy to maintain. All you had to do was pull it out and hose it off to clean it. It worked beautifully too! T

There are also sand filters that work much slower. With a sand filter the water comes in through the bottom and sort of perculates up to the top. Beneficial bacteria is in the sand so it eats up algae and such to keep the sand clean. I have no idea how the sand gets cleaned, I don't think they would work as efficiently as the one I had.

My pool was from Viking Pools, I think their web site has ample info on filter, so do pond companies. I used to have a pond and researched and tried many filters. The method for that application is no longer the prefered method for ponds but it worked beautifully, with that the idea was to have enough beneficial bacteria and the medium for it to live in at the bottom of the pond and in the filter to keep everything sparkling.....which meant having river rock and gravel on the bottom of the pond so the bacteria have a place to live and thrive....I had very happy fish then!

Answer 4

Vacuume to waste. likelihood is stable that between the plastic issues ( I dont recognize what they're stated as ) has come lose or has broken. Any pool place can inform you information on a thank you to repair it. no longer a large difficulty.