The filter press can be used across a variety of industries, to efficiently separate liquid and solids. But how does a filter press work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using one? In this blog post, we take a deeper look into the filter press and whether it’s the right equipment choice for your dewatering project.
.png?width=1688&name=ORC%20(2).png)
What is a Filter Press?
A filter press is a piece of dewatering equipment that is used to separate liquid and solids. Filter presses achieve this by using high-pressure filtration to separate the liquid and solids, as slurry is pumped into the filter press. This allows for the filter press to produce a non-liquid material referred to as a “cake.” This cake allows for the transportation and disposal of materials to be more cost-effective and efficient.
How Does it Work?
Filter presses are designed to hold a specific volume of material and separate the liquids and solids through pressure filtration. A slurry is pushed into the filter press and subjected to high pressure for dewatering. As the pressure builds, solids begin to build within the chambers. Once the chambers are completely full, this forms a cake, and the process is complete. This type of processing is generally used on sludge where the solids are disposed of as a hazardous waste by high-temperature incineration or secure landfill and the highest volume reduction is desired. The filter press can be used in a variety of applications in both industrial and municipal fields.
Filter Press Advantages
The filter press has many advantages that other dewatering methods cannot provide. These include:- Fewer parts for easy maintenance
- Captures a high amount of solids
- In some areas, it is the only device capable of producing a cake that is dry enough to meet landfill requirements
- Large processing capacity
- Long service life
- Low energy consumption
Filter Press Disadvantages
- Large amount of conditioning chemicals are used
- High noise levels
Is a Filter Press Right for My Sludge Dewatering Project?
The filter press is generally used when sludge characteristics are poor and require more than 35% cake dryness. If sludge characteristics are expected to change, or if minimal conditioning is needed, the filter press can also be helpful.
Filter presses are used in a variety of industries such as:- Mining
- Steel mills
- Food and beverage processing
- Chemical manufacturing
- Power Generation
- Municipal Plants
- Cement and Asphalt Production
At Handex we provide our clients support in making these decisions utilizing our highly experienced dewatering professionals and bench-scale treatability capabilities in evaluating a variety of technologies to choose the optimal solution.
About Handex
Handex is a provider of Pumping, Dredging, Sludge Dewatering, and Treatment of industrial and process wastes. Our staff includes experienced Project Managers, Engineers, Operators, Technicians, Fabricators, Scientists, Mechanics, and Health and Safety Professionals. Our objective is to meet and exceed client expectations while providing quality, safe and cost-effective services. In some cases, our clients find that the value of the materials returned to the plant pays partially for the cost of the sludge dewatering service.
For more information about our industrial dewatering services, we can provide for your site request a free quote, or contact us.
