Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

ProcessEngineering, Technical School ProcessEngineering

Prof. T.Schneider, Ph.D.

Cake Filtration
Scopeof Work
- Literature survey
- Investigation of various aspectsof cake forming pressurefiltration
- Improvement of instruction for bachelor courseexperiment
Contents
1. Theoryof CakeFiltration
2. ExperimentalSet-Upand Procedure
3. Scopeof PossibleInvestigations
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page
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2
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4

Nomenclature
a, b
A
cy
h
m
p
r, R
t
tr
tz
u
V, V

constants
areaof filter, m2
volumetric concentration: volume of solids/ volume of suspension,height, m
mass,kg
pressuredifference or loss, N/m2
height specificand absoluteresistance,m-2and m-1,respectively
time, s
cake formation time, s
time lapseuntil air breakthrough,s
superficial velocity, m/s
volume and volumetric flow rate, m3 and m3/s

porosity,-

rl
K
p

dynamicviscosity,Pa.s: kg/1m.s2)
concentrationparameter,density,kg/m'

Indices
F
FM
C
s
sus

filtrate (liquid)
filter medium
filter cake
solid
suspenslon

Offenburg University of Applied Sciences,ProcessEngineering

Technical School ProcessEngineering: Cake Filtration
-z-

1. Theorv of Cake Filtration

Cake forming filtration usually is a batch process for the mechanical removal of liquid from
suspensionsand slurries. In the processthe suspensionis pressedagainsta filter medium (FM), for
example a filter paper or cloth. Ideally the solid matter is completely retained by the filter medium
forming a filter cake (C) on it. The height of the filter cake increaseswith time. Most of the liquid
passesthe filter medium and becomes a clear filtrate (F). Often the filtrate becomescompletely
clear only after a cake has formed which retains small particles which can passthe filter medium.
Alternative: Cross-FlowFiltration. A smallerfraction of liquid passesthe filter medium. The solid
matter does not form a cake of increasing height, but in continually washed away as slurry with
increasedsolids concentration.
Both the filter medium and the filter cake constifute hydraulic resistors,which, being switched in
series,add to the total hydraulic resistanceR. While Rpy is constant,Rs rises with increasingcake
height 16.Usually the superficial filtrate velocity up is so small that laminar flow conditions can be
assumedand Darcy's law applies:
ap=rt.ur..R =q

+Rc)=n

*.vr.(Rpv

+16.h6)
*.Vp.(Rr,rra

(1)

The last term implicates that the cake is homogeneous.That means that its lower layers are not
compressedby the upper ones ("compressible filter cake"), or that small solid particles do not
predominantly settle in the lower layers. Rpy is an apparatusparameter,rc a product parameter.
Both must be known for dimensioning the filtration rig.
The height of the filter cake can be determined from mass balancesfor the liquid and the solid
fractions of the slurry:

dhc
cy
=
dt
l-e6 -cy

Vp
K.

Vp
^

K.Ap

(2)

n ' ( R p r v+r 1 6 . h 6 , )

AA

If the pressureapplied to the system (: pressureloss) is constant,and the filtrate volume Vp(t), as
well as the final cake height h5,,n*are known, integration of the first and the last terms yields:

(3)
the concentrationparameterbeing K =

cy

(4)

l-e6 -cy

By comparison,integrationof the I't with the 3'dtermsof eq.2 givesthe filtrate volume:

(s)
or solvedfor time t:

*^ot^'n.VF=
1= -5-!-Ic-. vi *
u.v? + b.vF
2'Az 'tp

Plottingt/Vp versusVp thereforegivesstraightlineswith gradienta =

and crossingthe Y-axis at

(6)

A'AP

(t

')
=b=

IGJ,=o

Rpu 'rl

A'ap

K.q .IC

2 . A , 2. t p

(7)
(8)

Offenburg Universify of Applied Sciences,ProcessEngineering

Technical School ProcessEngineering: Cake Filtration

-3From a and b the two resistancesRprraand 16 car be computed. The concentration parameter r
contains the cake porosity eg. This can be determined from hs,r* and the mass of solids in the
filter cake, the latter being in good approximation the weight of dry solids in the slurry:
mr/P,
=1t r' - = l - v ,
(e)
VC
A'hc,,11u"
In a simplified manner both resistors can be derived under the condition that at the beginning, at
time t6, there is no cake yet (hs and fu:0). Consequentlythe pressureloss originates exclusively
from the filter medium:

ap(t=0)^,n ur.Rpv
*

-) RFM
=ap'At'=+- I
I dt
n
[dvr

( 1 0 +l1)

)Fo

while after the end of the cake filtration (t>tr) the resistancein the cake is dominant:

A p ( t r )= n

*.Vp

. r r . h c . r u *) =

ap.A

fr=-.1-l

I . h c . m a xI d v e I d t) r ,

(12+13)

The two resistorscan be read either from a chart Ve versust as as gradientsat t:0 and t:tr or from
a chart VF/dt versust directly at t:0 and t:tr.
2. Experimental Set-Up and Procedure
The experimental set-up is illustrated in figure l. Valve Vl and flow meter FI have been removed.
The pressure (maximally 6 bar gauge) is adjusted by means^of the pressure regulator V0. The
pressurecell on the right side has a filter area of 4:0.0020 m' and is suitable for filling volumes
up to 400 ml and for heights of the filter cake of up to 50 mm. Its bottom part is shown in figure 2.

l:1.

.z

Druckfiltration

Figure1: Sketchof the PressureFiltrationRig

Offenburg University of Applied Scienceso

ProcessEngineering
Technical School ProcessEngineering: Cake Filtration
-4-

Experimental Procedure:

( ()-",^1)

l. Wearingprotectiveglassesis compulsory.
2. Adjust measuringdevice for height of filter cake to
zefo.
2. Initial valve settings:V2 (blue) closed (horizontal),
V3 (yellow) closed(vertical).
3. Check filter paper. If too worn, produce a new one.
4. Mixing of the slurry: add CaCO: (p,:27 kg/m3)to
water, while magnetic stirrer is running. Homogenize
slurry for at least three minutes. Standard slurry
concentration:15 g CaCO3in 150 ml water.
5. Assemblethe lower part ofthe filtration cell according
to frg.2. Grid (7) must be mounted with the filtrate
channelsexpanding towards the bottom. Use additional thin gasket between grid (7) and filtrate outlet (9).

',#F,,#fr*il'il','"'l'y".i:
,ffi 19#ffi
-'e(id*i;xtl,rs

handle must be turned to the rear stop. The cell is no

tt
'10
ready for suspensionintake.
7. Prepare compressedair: Open yellow valve (V3,
horizontal). Set required gauge pressureby means of
pressureregulator V0. The pressurecell is still under
ambient pressure.
8. Place high beaker on scalesand under filtrate outlet.
Tare scalesto zero.
Figure 2 Sketchof Filtration Cell
9. Cany out the following stepsas quickly as possible:
Fill suspensioncompletely into hltration cell, seal cell, and when filtrate begins to emerge start
recording the massof filtrate m61s function of time t for example every about 10 g or 5 sec.
10. If required read cake formation time tl when cake surface becomes visible and tr when air
startsbreaking through the cake.
3. Ideasfor PossibleInvestisations
A) Study the dewatering branch of the capillary pressure hysteresis. For this purpose find the
maximum reliable pressurenot resulting in the fracture of the filter cake during the final stageof
filtrate formation. In caseof fracture the air flowing through the cake will causeundesiredthermal
drying.

B) Study the dependencyof the mechanicaldewatering time including tr and t2 on pressureAp, or

volume of slurry or solids concentration of the slurry. Correlate results with the established
equationsfor liquid flow through layersof solids.
C) Improve the standardprocedurefor the determinationof two resistorsRpy and 16by decoupling
their determination.For example use pure water forming no cake at all to find rg first and then use
the result when dewatering slurries.
D) Try new combinations of slurries (from other solids) and filter media.