Disc flow channel structure is an important factor affecting the performance of disc filters. To improve the hydraulic property and working performance of the disc filters, a new type of disc filter with a discrete channel structure was designed and its performance was then compared with that of the conventional linear disc filter. The head loss, sediment interception rate, sediment removal rate, sediment particle size distribution of these two types of filters were monitored via laboratory physical model test. The results showed that under the condition of clear water, the maximum head loss of the novel disc filter and conventional disc filter was 2.34 m and 3.46 m respectively, the former was 32.3%~50.0% lower than the latter. Under the condition of sandy water, the performance of sediment interception of these two types of filters were negatively correlated with the flow rater, i.e., the larger the flow rate, the less the sediment interception of the filters; the average sediment removal rate of the novel filter was 18.94%, whereas that of the conventional filter was 15.15%. Furthermore the novel disc filter performed better at fine-grained sediment interception with a longer effective filtering cycle and lower peak water-head loss. Overall, the hydraulic property and filtration performance of the discrete disc filter are better compared with the conventional linear disc filter.