The present invention comprises a process for filtering a slurry and a
filter cartridge construction for filtering a slurry having a filtration
medium formed of a depth filter such as a cylindrical seamless fibrous
depth filter comprising a nonwoven fibrous mass, woven fibers, a
plurality of nonwoven fibrous layers or a fibrous felt or the like or a
wound depth filter retained within a housing substantially free of an
open void volume upstream of the depth filter which causes separation of
solid particles from a slurry being filtered The filtration medium is
divided into a plurality of depth filter segments by spacers which are
spaced apart from each other along the length of a filter cartridge
housing which houses the depth filter, The spacers serve to divide the
depth filter medium into depth filter segments and to allow fluid to pass
there through along a defined path defined by the configuration of the
open portions of the spacers. In addition the spacers are configured to
seal the inner surfaces of the filter cartridge housing to prevent
channelling of the slurry being filtered along the inner surfaces of the
housing. By utilising the spacers, the compressibility of the filtration
medium also is substantially reduced.
