Filtration

Chapter 4 in Fundamentals
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Professor Richard Holdich Course details:

Particle Technology,
[email protected]
module code: CGB019 and CGB919,
2nd year of study.
Filtration

 Types
 Cake filtration mechanism
 Modification of Darcy's law
 Constant pressure filtration
 Constant rate filtration
 Variable rate & pressure filtration
 Industrial equipment
Types of filtration

Deep bed -
clarification

Normally batch (in duplicate)

but some continuous ones:

Image supplied by DynaSand and Hydro International (Wastewater) Ltd.

Types - membrane

Clarification on filtering membranes

Types - Clarification

Cartridge and candle filtration

Cake filtration mechanism

 Multifilament filter cloth p. 40

Cake filtration mechanism

 Monofilament filter cloth

Cake filtration mechanism

 Monofilament open filter cloth/mesh

Cake filtration mechanism
p.31
Why can’t we simply measure Rm for each medium?
Id e a l
F ilte r c a k e

F ilte r m e d iu m

B r id g in g
F iltr a te o v e r p o re s

s h a r p in te r fa c e m e d iu m /
c a k e - u n ifo r m s p h e r e s
in c a k e e a s y to m o d e l
Cake filtration mechanism
– reality p 41
Why can’t we simply measure Rm for each medium?

Real
F ilte r c a k e

F ilte r m e d iu m

i.e. Rm = f(material to be filtered)

Modification of Darcy's
law
 Porosity or voidage S u p e r fic ia l v e lo c it y : dV 1
U o =
dt A
 and Concentration
P o r o u s m e d ia

U
V o lu m e fr a c tio n s :
v o id + s o lid = u n ity
fr a c tio n fr a c tio n
+ C = 1 U o
Modification of Darcy's
law

Darcy’s law: Flow rate

∆ P µ dV 1
=
L k dt A

Kozeny-Carman equation: Pressure/L

∆P  5(1 − ε ) 2 S v 2  dV 1
= µ  
 dt A
use:
L  ε 3
 Sv = 6 / x
 Modification of Darcy's
law
Flow rate Volume
Darcy’s law/Kozeny: liquid
∆ P µ dV 1  5(1 − ε ) 2 S v 2  Q
= = µ 
L k dt A  ε 3 A
 
Pressure/L Time
What do the graphs tell us about these equations?
How will this vary for filtration?
Think about a given material and filter in these equations –
what is constant, what varies, look at the graph…
What are the independent and dependent variables?
Modification of Darcy's
law – p.29

At constant pressure drop:

Q is constant
- permeation
Darcy’s law:
Filtrate Q decreases
∆ P µ dV 1 volume - filtration
=
L k dt A

Time
Modification of Darcy's
law – p. 32

Build up of incompressible filter cake:

Filter cake
formation

Filter medium
Modification of Darcy's
law
P = dV 1 V = R I
L k dt A
20 kPa 1 .5 V

10 kPa 0 .7 5 V

0 kPa 0 V
Modification of Darcy's
law

Pressure drops are additive:

∆Pcake µL dV 1
=
k dt A

µLm dV 1
∆Pmedium =
km dt A
Modification of Darcy's
law

Pressure drops are additive:

µL dV 1 dV 1
∆P = + µ R m
k dt A dt A

Ratio:
C a k e v o lu m e

cake volume:filtrate = constant = β

G ra d ie n t: dt µ  βCρs  µRm
= LA = 
 kCρ 
V + A∆P
V dV ∆PA2  s 

dt µαc µRm
0 = V +
0 F iltra te v o lu m e dV ∆PA2 A∆P
 Modification of Darcy's
law
Ratio: What does
cake volume:filtrate = constant = β  βCρs 
 
 1 

Represent – in English,
see the graph…
C a k e v o lu m e

G ra d ie n t: What does
= LA
V  1 

 kCρ 

 s 
0
0 F iltra te v o lu m e Represent – in English
Modification of Darcy's
law – p.36

where c is the dry cake mass per unit volume of filtrate:

 sρ 
c = 
 1 − sm 

s is feed slurry mass fraction and m is the moisture ratio of the

cake (mass cake wet/mass cake dry - or sample). In some
instances one can assume m=1; i.e. neglect liquid in cake.

and α is the specific resistance to filtration (m/kg).

Modification of Darcy's law –
p.36
∆P = µ ( Rc + Rm )Q / A

Considering Rc & alpha some more:

w is dry mass/unit area solids:

cV Rc
alpha = Rc/w
w=
A

so:
w
αcV
∆P = µ ( + Rm )Q / A
A
Modification of Darcy's
law – equation (4.11)

General filtration equation:

dt µαc µRm
= V +
dV ∆PA 2
A∆P

 sρ 
c = 
 1 − sm 
Constant pressure
filtration

Constant ∆P filtration - integrate general equation:

dt µαc µRm
= V+
dV ∆PA 2
A∆P
Time over filtrate to give:
volume
t µαc µRm
a = V+
V 2∆PA 2
A∆P
b i.e:
t
= aV + b
V
Filtrate volume
Constant pressure
filtration
summary: Need to know:
t µαc µRm viscosity, pressure,
= V +
V 2∆PA2 A∆P and filter area
Time over filtrate & slurry mass
volume fraction, liquid
density (and cake
a
moisture - if poss.)
b Need to calculate:
c then α

Filtrate volume and Rm

Constant pressure
filtration

 General filtration equation:

dt µαc µRm
= V+
dV ∆PA 2
A∆P

 Constant pressure:
t µαc µRm
= V+
V 2∆PA 2
A∆P

y = m x + c
Constant pressure
filtration
 Filtration Testing in the Laboratory:
High permeability: vacuum leaf Low permeability: pressure bomb

Tests:
 effect of pressure,
 different cloths or media,
 slurry agitation,
 filter aids and flocculants
 effect of slurry pre-concentration
Constant pressure
filtration
 Filtration Testing in the Laboratory:
High permeability: vacuum leaf Low permeability: pressure bomb

To obtain values of:

 specific resistance - possibly as f(pressure),

 medium resistance
 cake concentration - possibly as f(pressure)
or moisture ratio
Constant pressure
filtration
 Filtration Testing in the Laboratory:
High permeability: vacuum leaf Low permeability: pressure bomb

Also required for scale-up or simulation:

 Liquid viscosity  Slurry mass fraction

 filtration pressure  liquid density
 filter area  solid density - if cake
height is required
filtration p. 41 – vacuum
filter leaf
Experimental characterisation
V a lv e - fu lly o p e n in te s t
To vacuum
pum p Vent

M e c h a n ic a l
a g ita tio n L eaf or
B uchner
S lu rr y ta n k fu n n e l
C a lib r a te d
f iltr a te
re c e iv e r
F ilte r in g s id e

D r a in S tir re r
Constant pressure
filtration
Constant rate filtration –
p. 36

 General filtration equation:

dt µαc µRm
= V +
dV ∆PA2 A∆P

Filtration
 Constant rate: pressure
a
dV t
=
dt V b

 µαc V  µRm V
∆P =  2 V +
 A t  A t
Filtrate volume
Variable rate &
pressure filtration

 General filtration equation:

dt µαc µRm
= V +
dV ∆PA2 A∆P

 Variable pressure and rate equation:

∆P  µαc  µRm
=  2 V +
Q  A  A

plot 1 numerical integration of: dV

&V t =∫
Q Q
Industrial equipment – p.
35

Rotary vacuum filter (continuous)

 Stages
• cake formation in slurry
tank (F)
• drying and/or washing
(D and W)
W • discharge - then back to
D D & Di formation (D & Di)
F
Industrial equipment
 Constant pressure:
t µαc µRm
= V+
V 2∆PA 2
A∆P

 Rearrange for a quadratic:

 µαc  2 µRm
 V + V −t = 0
 2∆PA A∆P
2

Industrial equipment – p.
36
 Simulation of Rotary Vacuum Filter:
 µαc  2 µRm
 2 
V + V −t = 0
 2∆PA  A∆P

i.e. aV2 + bV - t = 0

−b + b 2 + 4at
V =
2a

where ‘form’ time t = F/n (submergence/speed)

Industrial equipment
 per cycle of drum:

−b + b 2 + 4at
V =
2a

Calculate volume, hence:

• Mass dry cake deposited = cV (kg)
• Mass wet cake deposited = mcV (kg)
• mass slurry filtered = mcV + Vρ (kg)

All above is per cycle, hence 3600/t for output per hour.
Industrial equipment

Vacuum belt filter (continuous)

Image appears
courtesy of
Polyfilters UK
Limited
www.polyfilters.com
Industrial equipment

Vacuum belt
filter
(continuous)

Image supplied courteousy of BHS-Sonthofen GmbH, Germany www.bhs-sonthofen.de

Industrial equipment

Vacuum disc filter (continuous)

Image courtesy of FLSmidth, Inc.

Industrial equipment

Tube pressure filter (batch)

Image courtesy of Mesto Minerals (Sala) AB

Filtration

 Types
 Cake filtration mechanism
 Modification of Darcy's law
 Constant pressure filtration
 Constant rate filtration
 Variable rate & pressure filtration
 Industrial equipment
This resource was created by Loughborough University and released as an open educational resource through the Open Engineering
Resources project of the HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE
and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER programme.

Slide 3. Image of a DynaSand® is provided courtesy of Hydro International (wastewater) Limited. See http://www.hydro-international.biz/irl/wastewater/dynasand.php for
more details.

Slide 37. The image of a vacuum belt filter (continuous is provided with the permission of Polyfilters (UK) Limited. See http://www.polyfilters.com/process.html for more
details.

Slide 38. Image provided courtesy of BHS-Sonthofen GmbH. See www.bhs-sonthofen.de for more details.

Slide 39. Image provided courtesy of FLSmidth Inc. See

http://www.flsmidthminerals.com/Products/Filtration/Vacuum+Filtration/Vacuum+Disc+Filters/Agidisc+Vacuum+Filters/Agidisc+Vacuum+Filters.htm for more details.

Slide 40. Image of a tube press discharge, provided courtesy of Mesto Minerals (Sala) AB. See
http://www.metso.com/miningandconstruction/MaTobox7.nsf/DocsByID/C44A6B216E52C95142256AF6002D6148/$File/Tube_Press_ES.pdf for more details.

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