A fluid separation and delivery apparatus and method are provided for
filtering a fluid from a source and delivering a filtrate derived
therefrom to a first destination, and delivering a decantate derived
therefrom to a second destination. The fluid separation and delivery
apparatus for the method comprises a filter device having an inlet port
for connecting to a fluid source, a first outlet port for directing
filtrate to a first destination, and a second outlet port for directing
decantate to a second destination; an inlet pump connected between the
inlet port of the filter device and the fluid source for pumping fluid at
a flow rate of Q.sub.in into the filter device; and an outlet pump
connected between the second outlet port of the filter device and the
second destination for pumping fluid at a flow rate of Q.sub.out out of
the filter device to the second destination. The outlet pump and the inlet
pump are sized and controlled so that Q.sub.out is less than Q.sub.in, and
so that the resulting flow rate of filtrate Q.sub.r from the filter device
through the first outlet port to the first destination is equal to
Q.sub.in -Q.sub.out.
