390 (CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 7.4.3. Bag filters Bag filters have now been almost entirely superseded for liquid filtration by other types of filter, although one of the few remaining types isthe Taylor bag filter which has been widely used in the sugar industry. A number of long thin bags are attached to a horizontal feed tray and the liquid flows under the action of gravity so thatthe rate of filtration per unit area is very low. Its possible, however, to arrange a large filtering area in the plant of up to about 700 m2. The filter is usually arranged in two sections so that each may be inspected separately without interrupting the operation. Bag filters are still extensively used for the removal of dust particles from gases and ‘can be operated either as pressure filters or as suction filters. Their use is discussed in Chapter 1 7.4.4. The filter press ‘The filter press is one of two main types, the plate and frame press and the recessed plate or chamber press. The plate and frame press ‘This type of filter consists of plates and frames arranged alternately and supported on a pair of rails as shown in Figure 7.6. The plates have a ribbed surface and the edges stand slightly proud and are carefully machined. The hollow frame is separated from the plate by the filter cloth, and the press is closed either by means of a hand screw or hydraulically, using the minimum pressure in order to reduce wear on the cloths. A chamber is therefore formed between each pair of successive plates as shown in Figure 7.7. The slurry is introduced through a port in each frame and the filtrate passes through the cloth on each side so that two cakes are formed simultaneously in each chamber, and these join when the frame is full. The frames are usually square and may be 100 mm-2.5 m across and 10 mm-~75 mm thick ‘The slurry may be fed to the press through the continuous channel formed by the holes in the comers of the plates and frames, in which case it is necessary to cut comesponding holes in the cloths which themselves act as gaskets. Cutting of the cloth can be avoided by feeding through a channel at the side although rubber bushes must then be fitted so that a leak-tight joint is formed. ‘The filtrate runs down the ribbed surface of the plates and is then discharged through ‘cock into an open launder so that the filtrate from each plate may be inspected and any plate can be isolated if itis not giving a clear filtrate. In some cases the filtrate is removed through a closed channel although it is not then possible to observe the discharge from ‘each plate separately. In many filter presses, provision is made for steam heating so that the viscosity of the filtate is reduced and a higher rate of filtration obtained. Materials, such as waxes, that solidify at normal temperatures may also be filtered in steam-heated presses. Steam heating also facilitates the production of a dry cake. Optimum time eycle. The optimum thickness of cake to be formed in a filter press depends on the resistance offered by the filter cake and on the time taken to dismantleLIQUID FILTRATION 391 ai gr ni Ao Figure 7.6. A large Hlter press with 2 m by 15 m plates and refit the press. Although the production of a thin filter cake results in a high average rate of filtration, it is necessary to dismantle the press more often and a greater time is therefore spent on this operation. For a filtration carried out entirely at constant pressure, fa rearrangement equation 7.19 gives: L £ v VO Tar = BV | Be (7.40. (7.39) where (i and fi are constants. ‘Thus the time of filtration ; is given by: BAY? BV (nal ‘The time of dismantling and assembling the press, say ¢!, is substantially independent of the thickness of cake produced. The total time of a cycle in which a volume \’ of filtrate is collected is then (¢ | ;') and the overall rate of filtration is given by: v ivr W is a maximum when dIV'/dV’ = 0.392 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SSIS S (LLL C—IwWY Figure 17. Plate and fam press. A-inlet passage. feed pots. C-fate ule, D-frames. P—plates Differentiating W’ with respect to V” and equating to zero: BV? | BV 4 -VQBV 4 Bi =0 or: nS BWV 742 or: ves (= 1.43 \(m) Ifthe resistance of the filter medium is neglected, ¢ = 8% V? and the time during which floration is carried out is exactly eguall © the Hine the press 1s oUL of Serviee. In prachee, in onder to obtain the maximum overall rate of Hltrabon, the hltrabon ume must always be somewhat greater in order to allow for the resistance of the cloth, represented by the term #2’. In general, the lower the specie resistance oF the cake, the greater will be the economic thickness of the frame. ‘The application of these equations is illustrated later in Example 7.5 which is based on the work of Harken’