If the pressure in the filter drops then this indicates that the filter is not getting sufficient pool water through the circulation system. This could be due to blocked skimmers and sumps inside the pool, restricted suction pipes in the balance tank, or the suction pipes from the pool are blocked off or restricted.
Pressure filter consists of a pressure vessel-this could be either vertical or horizontal-fitted with a set of frontal pipe work and valves, graded silica quartz sand supported by layers of graded under bed consisting of pebbles and gravels, a top distributor to distribute the incoming water uniformly throughout the cross section of the filter, and an under drain system to collect filtered water.
Raw water flows down wards through the Pressure filter bed and as the suspended matter- which has usually been treated by addition of a coagulant like alum- is retained on the sand surface and between the sand grains immediately below the surface. There is steady rise in the loss of head as the filter process continues and the flow reduces once the Pressure filter drop across the filter is excessive.
The Pressure filter is now taken out of service and cleaning of the filter is effected by flow reversal. To assist in cleaning the bed, the backwash operation is often preceded by air agitation through the under drain system. The process of air scouring agitates the sand with a scrubbing action, which loosens the intercepted particles. The filter is now ready to be put back into service.
Picture Low Flow Pressure filter (FRP Vessel) and High flow custom Vessel (MS Vessel)