PLATE AND FRAME FILTER PRESS

LISSA HANNAH B. ETOR

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cebu Institute of Technology - University
N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City,6000 Philippines

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Abstract
Filter press operates under pressure using the process of cake filtration. This involves sending a slurry
through the press, which is equipped with filter cloths. The cloths pick up the particles in the slurry
and allow the solvent (water) to pass through. As more slurry moves through the press, the cake builds
up and assists the filtration process. The rate at which the slurry moves through the press depends on
the viscosity of the liquid, the thickness and resistance of the cake, and the pressure drop across each
plate. A positive displacement pump permits the plate-and-frame filter to be fed with a suspension at
either a uniform rate or, by adjusting a bypass valve, with a constant pressure. As filtration proceeds,
layers of solids build up in the frame while the filtrate passes through the press. However, as more and
more solid builds up in the frame, filtration becomes slower and slower. When a sufficient thickness
of solids or cake has built up in the frames, filtration is stopped, the press is dismantled and the cake is
removed from the frames. The resistance of the cake increases with time as the cake builds up in the
frame (i.e. it becomes harder to force the filtrate through the cake, as the cake becomes thicker). At
any time, this resistance to the flow of filtrate is proportional to the volume of filtrate that has passed
through the cake.

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1. Introduction
1.1 Objectives
To determine how concentration is related to the weight and volume of cake obtained.
To determine how concentration affects the length of time a certain volume of filtrate
is obtained.
To plot the volume of filtrate versus time per volume of filtrate.
1.2 Theory
Plate and frame filter press is the most fundamental design among all the other filter presses,
and majority nowadays refer it as "membrane filter plate". This type of filter press consists of
many plates and frames assembled alternately with the supports of a pair of rails. Presence of
a centrifuge pump would ensure the remaining suspended solids do not settle in the system
and its main function is to deliver the suspension into each of the separating chambers in the
plate and frame filter. For each of the individual separating chambers, there is one hollow
filter frame separated from two filter plates by filter cloths. The introduced slurry flows
through a port in each individual frame, and the filter cakes are accumulated in each the
hollow frame. As the filter cake becoming thicker, the filter resistance increases as well. So
when the separating chamber is full, the filtration process is stopped as the optimum pressure
difference had reached. The filtrate that passes through filter cloth are collected through
collection pipes and stored in the filter tank. Whereas filter cakes (suspended solids)
accumulation occurs at the hollow plate frame, then being separated at the filter plates by
pulling the plate and frame filter press apart. The cakes would just fall off from those plates
and being discharge to the final collection point .
Cake discharge can be done in many ways. For example: Shaking the plates while they are
being opened or shaking the cloths. Scraper can also be used, by moving from one chamber
to another and scrape the cake off the cloth. At the end of each run, the cloth are cleaned
using wash liquid and ready to start the next cycle.

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2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Materials and Equipment
Plate & Frame Filter Press Equipment
water (H2O)
calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
2.2 Sketch of the Set-Up

2.3 Procedure
About 18 liters of slurry was prepared containing 10% by weight of CaCO3 & 90%
by weight water. The feed tank was filled with predetermined amount of slurry. The
removable head was tightened to lock. The necessary valves (pressure and control
valves) were opened. The agitator and the pump were switch on simultaneously. The
switch of both the agitator and the pump were turn off when the slurry from the feed
tank was already consumed. The procedure was repeated using 20% by weight
CaCO3.

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3. Results

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4. Discussion
This experiment consists of a plate & frame filter to separate slurry of calcium carbonate
from water at determined feed pressure of; 0.55 kgf/cm2 using 10% CaCO3 & 0.60 kgf/cm2
using 20% CaCO3. The performance of the filter is characterized by analyzing the filtrate
volume versus time per volume of filtrate (see graph above) to determine the specific cake
resistance and the degree of compressibility. Based on the graph obtained, the pressure
affects the rate of filtration for which an increased pressure would maximize the rate of
filtration & produce a final filter cake with a low water content (see red graph). The cloth
resistance is generally negligible compared to the cake resistance since the latter increases as
the cake gets thicker. Also, decreasing the number of plate/frame would decrease its
efficiency as more slurry will produce as filtrate instead of pure water liquid.

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5. Conclusions
As the thickness of the cake increases, resistance to flow of filtrate increases ; rate of
filtration gradually decreases. If the rate is maintained to be constant then pressure difference
driving force (-P) will increase. Therefore, a batch filter is operated either at constant
pressure or at constant rate. When the separating chamber is full, the filtration process is
stopped at the optimum pressure difference had reached.

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References:
1. e.g. Microsoft Corporation (January 2011). What is a Filter Press?. [ONLINE]
Available
at:
http://www.evoqua.com/en/products/sludge_biosolids_processing/filter_press/Pages/d
ewatering_systems_generic_what_is_a_filter_press.aspx. [Last Accessed March 21,
2014].
2. (1999). ANDRITZ Filter press, side-bar and overhead design. [ONLINE] Available
at:
http://www.andritz.com/products-and-services/pf-detail.htm?productid=5439.
[Last Accessed March 19, 2014]
3. Barry A. Perlmutter, President & Managing Director (2000). A REVIEW OF FILTER
PRESS BASICS AND ISSUES VERSUS ALTERNATIVE BATCH OR
CONTINUOUS REPLACEMENT TECHNOLOGIES . [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.bhsfiltration.com/documents/A_Review_of_Filter_Press_Basics_Versus_Alternative_Re
place%20Final.pdf. [Last Accessed January 13, 2015].