FILTER PRESS

Prepared by: April Anne S. Tigue

OUTLINE
I. Definition
Filtration
Filter Press
Other Related Terms

II. Filter Press Components and Plate Types

III. Batch Filter Press System and Mechanism
IV. Application
Wastewater Treatment
Other Industries

V. Typical Filter Press Design

VI. Advantages and Disadvantages
References

I. DEFINITION
Filtration

Separation of
solid from a fluid
by means of a
porous medium
that retains the
solid but allows
the fluid to pass

Most widely used

method in the
treatment of
sludge produced
by wastewater
treatment

Drainage though
sand beds or it
can be
mechanical under
vacuum middle or
high pressure
conditions which
require more
sophisticated
equipment

FILTER PRESS
Filter Press is one of the most efficient means of liquid/solid
separation through pressure filtration; either for solution filtration or
sludge volume reduction.
It provides a simple, reliable method of high compaction pressure to
compress and dewater solids into cakes of 25 - 60% total
concentration producing clearer filtrate solutions than systems which
remove only free water.
This pressing technique is the most widespread
intermittent operation and its high investment cost

despite

its

OTHER TERMS
Feed or Slurry
The suspension of solid and liquid to be filtered

Filter Medium
The porous medium use to retain the solids

Filter Cake
The accumulation of solids on the filter

Filtrate
The clear liquid passing through the filter

II. FILTER PRESS COMPONENTS

AND PLATE TYPES
THERE ARE FOURMAINCOMPONENTS TO A FILTER PRESS
A) Frame (Skeleton): The steel filter press frame acts as a
clamping device for the filter plates.
B) Filter Plates: There arethree basic categories of filter
platesall with different functions plate and frame, recessed
chamber, and diaphragm squeeze.
C) Manifold: Our standard manifold consists of piping and
valves which control the slurry inlet and connect the four
corner filtrate discharge ports into a common discharge pipe.
D) Filter Cloth: A cloth filter that is attached to the filter
plate. Solids build up on cloth to form a filter cake, separating
liquids from solids.

FILTER PRESS COMPONENTS

FILTER PLATE TYPES

Plate and Frame

FILTER PLATE TYPES

Recessed Plates

FILTER PLATE TYPES

Membrane Plates (Diaphragm)

BATCH FILTER PRESS

SYSTEM

MECHANISM
The filter press is an intermittent dewatering process.
Each press operation includes the following steps:

1-Closing
of the
Press

2-Filling

3-Filtrati
on

4- Cake
Washing

5- Core
Blowing

6-Filter
Opening
Mechanism (Mechanism.swf)

Slurry is pumped into the filter

press. The solids are
distributed evenly during the
feed (fill) cycle.

Solids begin to build on the filter

cloth. Most of the solid/liquid
separation is done by the filter
cake building on the cloths. At
first some fines may pass through
the cloth (1), but eventually the
solids begin to form a layer on
the filter cloth (2) much like a
pre-coat. That layer traps the fine
particles and forms a filter cake
(3).

As the filter press builds pressure, the solids build within the chambers
until they are completely full of filter cake. When the chambers are full,
the fill cycle is complete. The filtrate (liquid) exits the filter pack
(plates) through the corner ports into the manifold; when the correct
valves in the manifold are open, the filtrate exits the press through one
single point, the filtrate outlet.

FINAL PRODUCT OF SLURRY DEWATERING USING

THE FILTER PRESS FILTRATION CAKE OF SOLID
CONSISTENCE:

IV. APPLICATION IN SLUDGE

TREATMENT
Hydrophilic Organic Sludge
inorganic conditioning is often recommended to enable
satisfactory cake release due to minimal adherence to filter
cloth

Hydrophilic Inorganic Sludge

the filer press generally requires the addition of lime only

Hydrophobic Inorganic Sludge

it is very dense and ideal for the filter press. It is dewatered
without any preliminary conditioning

Oily Sludge
the filter press can be used to treat sludge containing light
oils, the presence of grease can sometimes impair the
smooth running of the filter; clothes have to be degreased at
frequent intervals

OTHER APPLICATIONS
Process Filtration and Plate Washing
Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals
Clarification of Processed Fluids
Municipal Sludge Dewatering
Reduction of Waste Solids
Precious Metal Recovery
Biological Filtration
Food Processing
Saline Filtration

V. TYPICAL FILTER
PRESS
Specifications
Size of plates

400 x 400 mm - 1500 x 2000

mm

Volume of the filter

press chambers

Usually in a range of 20 dm3 9000 dm3

Filtration surface

Usually in a range of 1.8 m2 650 m2

Thickness of the
filtration chamber

Usually 10 50 mm

Filtration pressure

the standard pressure is 16 bar,

we also produce filter presses
for filtration pressures up to a
maximum of 30 bar

Achieved dry solids

content in the
filtration cake

Usually 20 50%, with some

suspensions as much as 80 90%

VI. ADVANTAGES &

DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
Construction of the filter press is simple and variety of materials
can be used.
Cast iron for the handling common substance; Bronze for smaller
units; Stain less steel is used there by contamination can be
avoided; Hard rubber or plastics where metal must be avoided.
Efficient washing of the cake is possible.
Operation and the maintenance is straight forward because there
are no moving parts, filter cloths are easily renewable. Since all
joints are external, a plate can be disconnected if any leaks are
visible. Thus the contamination of the filtrate can be avoided.
It produces dry cake in the form of slab.

VI. ADVANTAGES &

DISADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
It is a batch filter so there is a good deal of down time which is
non productive
The filter press is an expensive filter. The emptying time, the labor
involved and the wear and tear of the cloth resulting in high cost.
Operation is critical as the frames should be full other wise the
washing is inefficient and the cake is difficult to remove.
The filter press is used for the slurries containing less than 5%
solids. So high costs make its imperative that the filter press is
used for expensive materials. Examples include in the collection
of precipitated antitoxins and removal of the precipitated proteins
from the insulin liquors.

REFERENCES:
http://www.lenntech.com/library/sludge/presses/filterpress.htm
http://www.mwwatermark.com/en_US/what-is-a-filterpress/
http://www.envites.cz/en/products/filter_presses/
http://www.pharmainfo.net/book/pharmaceuticalmachines/plate-and-filter-press