How does water flow upwards in a lamellar clarifier without being pumped?

Question

Something peaked my interest in a report this morning and I wanted to find out how lamellar filters in a column work. In a series of angled filters it seems like the sediments flow down due to gravity and the cleaner water ends up at the top of the tower. But how does the water get to the top if it is a pressureless system? I can’t find anywhere that explains how… just that it does.

In: 2

Answer 1

The inlet is already at the top, so it’s just like filling a bucket. The water level will be the same everywhere in the bucket unless your divider completely seals off a section.