SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Filtration

Taken from:

1. Volume of filtrate from a filter press. A filtration test was carried out, with a particular product slurry, on a laboratory filter press under a constant pressure of 340 kPa and volumes of filtrate were collected as follows: Filtrate volume (kg) Time (min) 20 8 40 26 60 54.5 80 93

The area of the laboratory filter was 0.186 m2. In a plant scale filter, it is desired to filter a slurry containing the same material, but at 50% greater concentration than that used for the test, and under a pressure of 270 kPa. Estimate the quantity of filtrate that would pass through in 1 hour if the area of the filter is 9.3 m2. From the experimental data: 20 40 480
2

V (kg) t (s) V/A (kg/m ) t/(V/A) (s m kg )

2 -1

60 3270 323 10.12

80 5580 430 12.98

1560 215 7.26

107.5 4.47

These values of t/(V/A) are plotted against the corresponding values of V/A in Fig. 10.7. From the graph, we find that the slope of the line is 0.0265, and the intercept 1.6.

FIG. 10.7 Filtration Graph

Then substituting in eqn. (10.14) we have t/(V/A) = 0.0265(V/A) + 1.6. To fit the desired conditions for the plant filter, the constants in this equation will have to be modified. If all of the factors in eqn. (10.14) except those which are varied in the problem are combined into constants, K and K', we can write t/(V/A) = (w/P)Kx(V/A) + K'/P In the laboratory experiment w = w1, and P = P1 K = (0.0265P1 /w1) and K' = 1.6P1 For the new plant condition, w = w2 and P = P2, so that, substituting in the eqn.(a) above, we then have for the plant filter, under the given conditions: t/(V/A) = (0.0265 P1/w1)(w2/P2)(V/A) + (1.6P1)(1/P2) and since from these conditions (a)

and

P1/P2 = 340/270

w2/w1 = 150/100, t/(V/A) = 0.0265(340/270)(150/100)(V/A) + 1.6(340/270) = 0.05(V/A) + 2.0 t = 0.5(V/A)2 + 2.0(V/A).

To find the volume that passes the filter in 1 h which is 3600 s, that is to find V for t = 3600.

3600 = 0.05(V/A)2 + 2.0(V/A) and solving this quadratic equation, we find that V/A = 250 kg m-2 and so the slurry passing through 9.3 m2 in 1 h would be: = 250 x 9.3 = 2325 kg.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Filtration

Taken From: Rhodes, Martin, INTRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY, Edited Edition 2007, Wiley Publishing, Inc. TO PARTICLE