1| FILTRATION

I. In the filtration of certain sludge, the initial period is

effected at a constant rate with the feed pump at full
capacity until the pressure differential reaches 400 kPa. The
pressure is then maintained at this value for the remainder of
the filtration. The constant rate operation requires 900
seconds, and one-third of the total filtrate is obtained
during this period. The cake is not washed. Neglecting the
resistance of the filter medium and if the time for removing
the cake and the reassembling of the press is 1200 seconds,
determine the total filtration cycle and the filtration cycle
that will give the maximum daily capacity.

II. Filtration is carried out in a plate and frame filter press,

with 20 frames. Filtering area per frame is 0.18 m 2 and 50 mm
thick, and the rate is maintained constant for the first 300
seconds. During this period, the pressure differential is
raised to 248.7 kPa, and one quarter of the total filtrate per
cycle is obtained. At the end of the constant rate period,
filtration is continued at a constant pressure of 248.7 kPa
for further 1,500 seconds, after which the frames are full.
The total volume of filtrate per cycle is 0.7 m3.

It is decided to use a rotary drum filter, 1.5 m long and 2.2

m in diameter, in place of the filter press. The filtration
will be conducted at a pressure differential of 70 kPa. The
filter operates with 25% of the drum submerged in the slurry
at any instant. Assuming that the resistance of the filter
medium is the same for the two filters, and that the filter
cake is incompressible, calculate the speed of rotation of the
drum which will result in the same overall rate of filtration
as what was obtained with the filter press.

By: JACY
July 2010
CODE: FIL-001