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A filter system and method of filtering a feed liquid utilizing a combined plurality of filter assemblies. Each filter assembly includes a filter housing, a filter cartridge and a spiral passageway for imparting secondary flow currents, particularly Dean-Flow currents, to fluid flowing within the sp

A filter system and method of filtering a feed liquid utilizing a combined plurality of filter assemblies. Each filter assembly includes a filter housing, a filter cartridge and a spiral passageway for imparting secondary flow currents, particularly Dean-Flow currents, to fluid flowing within the spiral passageways to prevent particulate build-up on filter surfaces so as to extend filter life and duration between replacement. The filter system can be operated within positive or negative pressure filtration processes. A dual-stage filtration process utilizing a cap filter and a cylindrical depth filter is also disclosed.

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What is claimed is: 1. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing defining a housing cavity; a plurality of filter cartridges received within the plurality of housing cavities, said filter cartridges defining an elongate permeate passageway, said permeate passag

What is claimed is: 1. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing defining a housing cavity; a plurality of filter cartridges received within the plurality of housing cavities, said filter cartridges defining an elongate permeate passageway, said permeate passageway being in fluid communication with a permeate manifold; a plurality of spiral guides extending around an outer filter cartridge surface, wherein each said spiral guide imparts secondary flow across said outer filter surface and perpendicular to a fluid flowing through said spiral guides; and a concentrate manifold being in fluid communication with said spiral guides, said concentrate manifold receiving concentrate passing through said spiral guides, wherein said permeate manifold and said concentrate manifold each include elongated, generally cylindrical cavities, and wherein said permeate manifold and said concentrate manifold are generally parallel to each other and are generally concentrically aligned. 2. The filter system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of passageways providing fluid communication between the concentrate manifold and the spiral guides. 3. The filter system of claim 2 wherein the permeate manifold and concentrate manifold each define elongated, generally cylindrical cavities. 4. The filter system of claim 1 wherein said spiral guides define a cross-sectional area for fluid flow which, for the velocity of the fluid flow therethrough, induces Dean-Flow currents in the fluid following through said spiral guides. 5. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing defining a housing cavity; a plurality of filter cartridges received within the plurality of housing cavities, said filter cartridges defining an elongate permeate passageway, said permeate passageway being in fluid communication with a permeate manifold; a plurality of spiral guides extending around an outer filter cartridge surface, wherein each said spiral guide imparts secondary flow across said outer filter surface and perpendicular to a fluid flowing through said spiral guides; a concentrate manifold being in fluid communication with said spiral guides, said concentrate manifold receiving concentrate passing through said spiral guides; and an apertured cap through which fluid flows prior to introduction into the spiral guides, said cap providing initial filtering of said fluid. 6. The filter system of claim 5 wherein the cap is mounted at an end of the filter housing opposite the concentrate manifold. 7. The filter system of claim 6 wherein the caps are secured to ends of the filter cartridges. 8. The filter system of claim 7 wherein the caps each include a non-porous portion which prevents fluid access into the permeate passageways and a filter portion which provides initial filtering of said liquid. 9. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing defining a housing cavity; a plurality of filter cartridges received within the plurality of housing cavities, said filter cartridges defining an elongate permeate passageway, said permeate passageway being in fluid communication with a permeate manifold, wherein the filter cartridges include a plurality of fluid flow resistors within the permeate passageways sized to equalize a pressure differential across a filter media along a length of the filter cartridge; plurality of spiral guides extending around an outer filter cartridge surface, wherein each said spiral guide imparts secondary flow across said outer filter surface and perpendicular to a fluid flowing through said spiral guides; and a concentrate manifold being in fluid communication with said spiral guides, said concentrate manifold receiving concentrate passing through said spiral guides. 10. A filter system comprising: a concentrate manifold; a permeate manifold being generally linearly aligned relative to the concentrate manifold; a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing having a spiral guide extending toward a housing center, and said filter housings being generally linearly aligned relative to the concentrate manifold; and a plurality of filter cartridges, each cartridge being mounted within one of the plurality of filter housings and positioned proximate to the spiral guide, wherein the filter housings and cartridges extend upwardly from the concentrate manifold, and wherein feed liquid is drawn into the filter housings through multiple apertures. 11. The filter system of claim 10 wherein passageways provide fluid communication between the concentrate manifold and the filter housings. 12. The filter system of claim 10 wherein the multiple apertures are defined caps secured at ends of filter housings. 13. The filter system of claim 12 wherein the caps are secured to the filter cartridges. 14. The filter system of claim 10 wherein said spiral guides define a cross-sectional area for fluid flow which, for the velocity of the fluid flow therethrough, induces Dean-Flow currents in the fluid flowing through said spiral guides. 15. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter assemblies, each assembly including an elongate filter housing having an interior cavity, an elongate filter cartridge within the cavity, and a spiral guide spanning within the cavity, said spiral guide defining a spiral fluid passageway extending along a length of the cartridge, said filter housing having a first open end in fluid communication with a feed fluid and a second end coupled to a permeate manifold and a concentrate manifold, with said permeate manifold and said concentrate manifold being generally cylindrical and concentrically aligned. 16. The filter system of claim 15 wherein said permeate manifold extends within said concentrate manifold, with passageways extending through the concentrate manifold to provide fluid communication between the permeate manifold and an interior passageway of the filter cartridge. 17. The filter system of claim 15 wherein each filter cartridge includes a coupling at one end and a non-porous cap at the other end, said coupling preventing cross-contamination between permeate and concentrate. 18. The filter system of claim 17 wherein the filter cartridges are connected to an apertured cap allowing feed water to pass therethrough and into the spiral fluid passageway. 19. The filter system of claim 17 wherein the apertured cap is secured at an end of the filter housing. 20. The filter system of claim 17 wherein the filter cartridges include a plurality of fluid flow resistors for modifying a pressure differential across a filter media of the filter cartridge. 21. The filter system of claim 15 wherein the spiral fluid passageway is of a dimension so as to impart Dean-Flow currents to fluid flowing therethrough, the Dean-Flow currents providing a secondary flow across an outer surface of the filter cartridge. 22. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter cartridges inserted into a plurality of filter housings, each of said filter housings being in fluid communication with a feed fluid, and said filter cartridge includes an interior passageway in fluid communication with a permeate manifold, and a spiral passageway extends within the filter housing between an opening to the feed fluid and a passageway in fluid communication with a concentrate manifold, and wherein the filter cartridge includes an elongated filter media and having a plurality of fluid flow resistors within the interior passageway, said flow resistors equalizing a flow of fluid within the spiral passageway through the filter media. 23. The filter system of claim 22 further comprising an apertured cap secured at one end of the filter housing, with said feed fluid passing through and being filtered by the aperture cap. 24. The filter system of claim 23 wherein the apertured cap is secured to one end of the filter cartridge. 25. The filter system of claim 22 wherein the spiral passageway is defined by a spiral wall within the filter housing. 26. The filter system of claim 22 wherein the spiral passageway is defined by a spiral grove upon an exterior surface of the filter cartridge. 27. A filter system comprising: a plurality of filter cartridges inserted into a plurality of filter housings, each of said filter housings being in fluid communication with a feed fluid, and said filter cartridge includes an interior passageway in fluid communication with a permeate manifold, and a spiral passageway extends within the filter housing between an opening to the feed fluid and a passageway in fluid communication with a concentrate manifold, and wherein the filter cartridge includes an elongated filter media and having an apertured cap at one end and an adapter on an opposed end, said adapter providing a fluid passageway between an interior of the filter cartridge and a permeate manifold. 28. The filter system of claim 27 wherein said adapter further includes a sealing means for minimizing cross-contamination between a concentrate manifold and the permeate manifold.