Filter Press Frequently Asked Questions

PROCESS
How long will it take to fill my filter press/how long should the cycle time be on
my filter press?
This can vary greatly depending on your process and application. It can be anywhere
from 10 minutes to 10 hours or more.

What micron size are my filter cloths?

There is no micron rating on filter cloths. They are rated by air permeability. What size
feed pump do I need for my press?
It depends on your process, but general guidelines are as follows:

 Up to 5 cu. ft. 1” air operated diaphragm pump

 5 to 15 cu. ft. 1½“ air operated diaphragm pump
 15 to 25 cu. ft. 2” air operated diaphragm pump
 25 to 50 cu. ft. 3” air operated diaphragm pump
 50 cu. ft. and above multiple pumps

How do I size my compressor for my press feed pump and air blow?
It depends on your process, but general guidelines are as follows:

 A 1” pump should have a 5 hp compressor.

 A 1½” pump should have a 10 hp compressor.
 A 2” pump should have a 12-15 hp compressor.
 A 3” pump should have a 20 hp compressor.
My press is dropping sloppy cakes and I think that my cloths are blinding. What
do I do?
This usually means it is time to clean your filter cloths.
Why won’t my press build a good filter cake?
Possible causes are:

1. Dirty filter cloths. What to do: Clean or replace filter cloths.

2. Malfunctioning (low) feed pump. What to do: Clean and adjust as needed.
3. Incorrect treatment or treatment change.
 I have an old filter press. Is there anything I can do to improve its performance?
Yes, there are many things we can do that will improve the performance of your filter
press. Some examples are:

 Install new filter cloths.

 Solve problems that may be keeping your filter press from top performance.
 Make adjustments for changes in your process or treatment chemicals.
 Expand your filter press.
 Rebuild or refurbish your filter press.

How many plates can I take out of my press?

Safely, none. We can provide you with a back-up plate if you need to reduce the
capacity of your press.

Can I feed at 125 psi on my 100 psi press?

NO! If you have a 100 psi press, it is designed for 100 psi only. Over-pressurization
could cause leakage or catastrophic damage to filter plates and the hydraulic system.

What is the flow rate I can get through my press?

It depends on your process but averages between 0.02 and 0.1 gallons per minute per
square foot of filtration area. The flow rate is not constant.

What flow rate do I need to precoat my filter press?

A general rule of thumb is 0.25 gallons per minute per square foot of filtration area.

How do I precoat my press?

Precoat and bodyfeed are two related applications. Both of these special applications
use diatomaceous earth (commonly known as D.E.), cellulose, perlite or fly ash, as a
filtering aid when the solids in a slurry are extremely fine and free-filtering. The filtering
aid helps to trap the fine solids that otherwise might flow through the filter cloths. The
processes of precoat and bodyfeed increase the clarity of the filtrate, provide for higher
flow rates, more consistent runs, shorter cycles, dryer cakes, better cake release, and
also help to protect and increase the life of the filter cloths.
The precoat process is performed before the slurry is pumped to the press. The filter
aid, mixed with water and held in a separate tank, is pumped into the press where it
coats the filter cloths. The filter aid rather than the filter cloths becomes your initial filter
media.

Requirements: The filter aid requirements for the precoat process are as follows:

Dosage rate of 0.1 lbs/square ft. filtration area.

Why is my press squirting out from between the plates during feed?
Have you made any recent changes to the plate stack that could be causing this? If not,
possible causes are:

1. Solids build-up on sealing surfaces.

What to do: Use nylon cleaning spatula to remove cake from sealing surface.
2. The hydraulic pressure is not to recommended specifications.
What to do: Adjust to required pressure.
3. The feed pressure is too high.
What to do: Adjust to required pressure.
4. There is a wrinkle or hole in the filter cloth.
What to do: Replace the filter cloth.
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MAINTENANCE
How can I tell when my filter cloths are dirty?
Usually you will need a longer cycle time to achieve the same cake dryness. You may
also notice sloppy cake or discharge flow is less.
How do I clean my filter cloths?
Use a spatula to scrape cake off the surface. Cake buildup can cause bending of the
press frame. Excessive bending can lead to equipment failure! Keep the cloths and
plates as clean as possible, especially along the sealing surface. Keep the following in
mind when scraping cloths:
 Use care not to cut or rip the cloth.
 Cloths deteriorate over time and become more fragile and susceptible to tearing.
 Make sure the edge of the spatula is smooth.
 Do not tap the spatula on hard objects to remove cake from the spatula surface. This
may form dents or tears in the spatula surface that can tear cloths.
Lodged particles must be removed periodically to maintain high filtration rates and dry
cakes. A high-pressure, cold water, spray unit with a capacity of 800-1200 psi (55-80
bar) and 2-10 gpm (8-38 lpm) should have sufficient capacity. A broad spray nozzle
should be used at a safe distance. If the pattern is too intense at a close distance, the
cloth weave may be forced apart, leaving openings that allow sludge. Call our customer
service at 800.245.3006 for information on availability of these units if you do not have
one.

If high-pressure washing does not improve performance, carefully pull back a corner of
the filter cloth and check the drainage area and discharge parts of the plate for solids
buildup. If there is any buildup, the cloths must be removed, and the plates and cloth
backs cleaned. Excessive buildup causes slow filtration cycles and can lead to plate
breakage.

If more thorough cleaning is required, you can use a chemical process to dissolve the
entrapped particulate.

A recirculation cleaning method using a particulate dissolving solution is the most

effective cloth cleaning method. This method circulates an acid, caustic, or cleaning
solution through the press to dissolve built up particulate. The type of solution depends
on the slurryBe extremely careful when handling acids or caustics! Eye protection and
protective clothing is required.

Do not acid or caustic wash non-gasketed filter plates unless extra precautions are
taken to contain the leakage between plates.

Setup & Requirements (For cleaning Filter Cloth)

 Storage tank of sufficient capacity to fill the press and allow for recirculation-
approximately 1.5 times the holding capacity of the press.
 A low-pressure (20-30 psi [1.4-2.1 bar]) pump.
 Necessary plumbing (hoses or rigid PVC pipe) to isolate the press from the sludge
stream and allow for both recirculation to the storage tank and final draining of the spent
solution. A throttling valve installed in the return line to the tank may be necessary to
ensure complete top to bottom press filling and washing of the cloths.
Procedure

1. Clean filter cloths of all external material with a nylon cleaning spatulas.
2. Close the press.
3. Disconnect the center feed line from the sludge pump.
4. Connect the outlet of the acid pump to the center feed line of the press.
5. Connect the filtrate discharge outlet of the press to the recirculation tank.
6. Open the feed line to the press.
7. Start the feed pump. It may take considerable time to fill all the chambers of the
press before the solution returns to the storage tank. Continually inspect the
press for leakage during filling and circulation.
8. Allow the solution to circulate for one to two hours.
9. Turn off the feed pump.
10. Perform an air blowdown to purge any remaining solution from the press.
11. Disconnect the wash system and reinstall the sludge pump and outlet lines.
12. Normal filtration cycles can now be performed.
The plates can also be "dip washed" by immersing them in a tank of solution. The
immersion method is less efficient than through-washing in the press and will require a
longer soak time. The plates will also float and require some method to keep them
submerged.

How long do cloths last?

They could last as little as six months or as long as five years. It depends on many
things:

 Your process.
 How often you run your filter press.
 What you run through your filter press.
 How well you maintain your filter cloths.
It’s probably time to change your cloths when you see abrasion, stretchiness, folding,
holes, poor cake, dirty filtrate or when conventional cleaning techniques don’t restore
the performance of your filter press.
 How do I change my center feed pipe assembly?
If the press is leaking (around the locknut on the 470mm size or from the bottom leg
drain holes on 630mm and larger size presses) during the start-up of the feed process,
the problem is usually leakage past the center feed quad ring seal. The quad ring may
not seal for several reasons.

First check for the cause:

Did the locknut on the outside of the press head loosen during shipment? If so, tighten
the locknut using a spanner wrench, pliers, or pipe wrench.

 Was extra field piping and/or manifolding added to the center feed pipe without proper
support? Unsupported loads on the center feed pipe can cause the pipe to move off
axis and unload the quad seal on one side. If this is the case, properly support all
external piping. Loosen the piping from the factory-supplied piping and/or valve and
realign the feed pipe so that it is perpendicular to the plate surface. Tighten the locknut
and reinstall the supported piping.
 Was the center feed pipe rotated during the field installation of extra piping/
manifolding? This could unseat the quad seal causing leakage around the seal. No feed
pipe movement will reseat it.
To fix it, follow these steps:

1. Open the press and shift all of the plates to the open position (toward the cylinder
head). The inside surface of the head plate will have a centrally located clip nut
approximately 0.5" (13mm) thick that retains the filter cloth on the clip nut seat.
This clip nut should be removed with a spanner wrench or pliers.
2. If the press has non-gasketed plates, lift the cloth off the top cloth pins. If the
press has gasketed plates, the cloth must be removed from the caulking groove
so that the top 2/3 can be peeled down to expose the center feed and allow the
movement of the center feed pipe.
3. Loosen the locknut and back it off 2 to 3 inches (50 mm to 75 mm). Carefully
push the center feed pipe out of its counterbore in the head plate. This allows
access to the quad seal and its mounting land. Reinstall the seal onto the land. A
few small drops of super glue may be applied to help retain the seal.
4. Reinstall the liner pipe into its counterbore and tighten the locknut making sure
that the pipe remains perpendicular to the plate.
5. Reinstall the filter cloth