EQUIPMENT: ROTARY DRUM FILTER (C-2)

Specification Sheet

Name of Equipment Rotary Filter

Equipment Code C-2
Type Rotary Drum Filter
To remove the rice hull cake from the alkaline
Function metal complex to obtain a homogeneous
cellulose solution
Number of Units 1 unit
Operation continuous
Design Capacity (m3/hr) 320.9220
Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Lignin, Mineral Ash,
Extractives, Water, Sodium Hydroxide,
Materials Handled
Ethylenediamine, Cadium Oxide and Sodium
Carbonate
VESSEL DESIGN
Drum ANSI 316
Vat/Trough ANSI 316
Filter Medium Polypropylene
Fraction Submerged 0.3
Total Filtering Area 5.76 m2
Drum Diameter 1.5 m
Drum Length 1.6 m
Rotational Speed 0.1058 rev/min
Power Requirement 30 hp
MATERIALS PROPERTY
Specific Cake Resistance 4.3232 × 108 m/kg
Volume of Filtrate Collected 15.1723 m3
Viscocity of Filtrate 8.5 x 10-4 Pa-s
OPERATING CONDITION
o
Temperature ( C) 30
Maximum Pressure Drop (Pa) 198,675
 ILLUSTRATION:

Length= 1.6m

Diameter= 1.5 m
Assumptions

1. Four batches per day

2. Filter medium resistance is negligible
3. Efficiency of vacuum pump is 80%
4. Scraper discharge is used

Design Equations

For Constant Pressure

Filtration Time:

𝐂𝐕 𝐕𝐅 𝟐
𝐭𝐅 = Where:
𝐀𝟐 (−∆𝐏𝐂 )

𝐕𝐅 = Volume of Filtrate, m3

𝐀 = Area, m2
Pa−s
𝐂𝐕 = Cake constant, m2

∆𝐏𝐂 = Pressure drop, Pa

Cake Constant:
𝜶𝒓𝝆𝝁
𝑪𝑽 = Where:
𝟐

𝛂 = Specific cake resistance

𝛍 = Viscosity of Filtrate, Pa − s
kg
𝛒 = density of filtrate, m3

𝐫 = mass ratio of dry cake to filtrate

Reference: Unit Operation of Chemical Engineering, McCabe and Smith

Rotational Speed:

𝐟
𝐭= Where:
𝐧

𝐭 𝐅 = Filtration time

𝐟 = fraction submenrge

𝐧 = rotational speed

Mass Ratio of dry cake to filtrate

𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞
𝐫=
𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞

Reference: Unit Operation of Chemical Engineering, McCabe and Smith

Volume Specific Surface, So

𝟔
𝐒𝐨 = Where:
𝐱𝐯

𝐱𝐯 = volume mean diameter

Permeability, K

𝛆𝟑
𝐤= Where:
𝟓(𝟏−𝛆)𝟐 𝐒𝐨 𝟐

𝐒𝐨 = volume specific curface

𝛆 = Porosity

Reference: Filtration: Equipment Selection, Modeling and Process Simulation

Porosity, 𝛆
 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞
𝛆=
𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞

Specific Cake Resistance

𝟏
𝛂= Where:
𝐊𝛒𝐬 (𝟏−𝛆)
𝛂 = specific cake resistance
𝐊 = Permeability, m2
kg
𝛒𝐬 = Density,
m3
𝛆 = Porosity

Reference: Unit Operation of Chemical Engineering, Brown

Power Requirement
𝐇𝐐
𝐤𝐖 = Where:
𝟑.𝟓𝟗𝟗×𝟏𝟎𝟔

𝐤𝐖 = power output in kilo watts

𝐇 = total dynamic head, Pa
m3
𝐐 = capacity, hr

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐎𝐔𝐓
𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐈𝐍 =
𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

Reference: Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 8th Ed.

Detailed Design Calculations

From Material Balance

Table 1: Input to the Rotary Filter

Component Mass (kg/day) Density (kg/m3) Volume (m3)

Cellulose 1,416.14 1,500.00 0.9441
Hemicellulose 332.71 1,520.00 0.2189
Lignin 61.49 330.00 0.1863
Mineral Ash 29.50 3,000.00 0.0098
Extractives 0.82 800.00 0.0010
Water 10,325.79 1,000.00 10.3258
NaOH 16.39 2,130.00 0.0077
Ethylenediamine 3,540.35 899.00 3.9381
CdO 708.07 8,150.00 0.0869
Na2CO3 0.17 2,540.00 0.0001
Total 16,431.43 15.7187

Table 2: Filtrate

Component Mass (kg/day) Density (kg/m3) Volume (m3)

Cellulose 1,400.90 1,500.00 0.9339
Hemicellulose 6.60 1,520.00 0.0043
Lignin 8.95 330.00 0.0271
Mineral Ash 5.50 3,000.00 0.0018
Extractives 0.81 800.00 0.0010
Water 10,214.69 1,000.00 10.2147
NaOH 16.21 2,130.00 0.0076
Ethylenediamine 3,502.26 899.00 3.8957
CdO 700.45 8,150.00 0.0859
Na2CO3 0.17 2,540.00 0.0001
Total 15,856.54 15.1723
Table 3: Cake Discharge

Component Mass (kg/day) Density (kg/m3) Volume (m3)

Cellulose 15.24 1,500.00 0.01016
Hemicellulose 326.11 1,520.00 0.2145
Lignin 52.54 330.00 0.1592
Mineral Ash 24.00 3,000.00 0.008
Extractives 0.01 800.00 0.0000125
Water 111.10 1,000.00 0.1111
NaOH 0.18 2,130.00 8.4507E-05
Ethylenediamine 38.09 899.00 0.04237
CdO 7.62 8,150.00 0.0009350
Na2CO3 0.001 2,540.00 3.9370E-07
Total 574.89 0.5464

Density of the filtrate:

massFiltrate
ρFiltrate =
volumeFiltrate

15,856.54 kg
ρFiltrate = = 1,045.10 3
15.1723 m

Pressure Drop(−∆𝐏):

From BHS-Sonthofen Rotary Drum Filter Brochure, the standard operating pressure is
3bar.

PStandard = 3 bar ≈ 3 × 105 Pa

The inlet pressure from the batch rotary drum filter is 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚 ≈ 101,325 𝑃𝑎

−∆P = PStandard − PInlet

−∆P = 3 × 105 Pa − 101,325 Pa

−∆P = 198,675 Pa
Viscosity of the Filtrate:

Viscosity of the filtrate used is from viscosity of water at 30oC since the filtrate is mostly
composed of water

𝜇𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 0.85𝑐𝑃 ≈ 8.5 × 10−4 𝑃𝑎 − 𝑠

Reference: Figure 2-32, Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 8th Ed.

Submergence of the Rotary Drum Filter:

Assumption: Scraper Discharge is used

The maximum effective submergence for Rotary Drum Filter:

% Submergence = 30 %

Fractional Submergence = 0.30

Reference: Table 11-14a, Chemical Process Equipment by Couper, Penny, Fair and Walas, 3rd
Ed.

Specific Cake Resistance(𝜶):

1
𝛼=
𝐾𝜌𝑠 (1 − 𝜀)

Porosity, 𝛆

Wet Cake:

volume of void space

ε=
volume of cake

(volumeLiquid )
Wet Cake
ε=
volume of cake
Table 4: Liquid in Cake

Component Mass (kg/day) Density (kg/m3) Volume (m3/day)

Cellulose 15.24 1,500.00 0.01016
Hemicellulose 0.072 1,520.00 4.7368E-05
Lignin 0.097 330.00 0.0002939
Mineral Ash 0.060 3,000.00 0.00002
Extractives 7.62 800.00 0.00001125
Water 111.10 1,000.00 0.1111
NaOH 0.176 2,130.00 8.4507E-05
Ethylenediamine 38.09 899.00 0.04237
CdO 8,150.00 0.0009350
Na2CO3 0.002 2,540.00 7.8740E-07
Total 172.47 0.1650

From Table 3: Cake Discharge,

Component Volume (m3)

Cellulose 0.01016
Hemicellulose 0.2145
Lignin 0.1592
Mineral Ash 0.008
Extractives 0.0000125
Water 0.1111
NaOH 8.4507E-05
Ethylenediamine 0.04237
CdO 0.0009350
Na2CO3 3.9370E-07
Total 0.5464

0.1650 m3
ε=
0.5464 m3
ε = 0.3020

Density of solids:

total mass of solids

ρs =
total volume of solids
Table 5: Solid in Cake

Component Mass (kg/day) Density (kg/m3) Volume (m3/day)

Hemicellulose 326.04 1,520.00 0.2145
Lignin 52.44 330.00 0.1589
Mineral Ash 23.94 3,000.00 0.00798
Total 402.42 0.3814

kg
402.42
day
ρs =
m3
0.3814
day
kg
ρs = 1,055.11
m3

Volume Specific Surface, So

6
So =
xv

From Filtration: Equipment Selection, Modeling and Process Simulation, the typical
particle size diameter of rotary drum filter is up to 100 micrometers which fits the
particle size range of 10 to 500 micrometers in BHS-Sonthofen Rotary Drum Filter
Brochure.
6
So =
100 x10−6 m
So = 60,000/m

Solving for Permeability, K

ε3
k=
5(1 − ε)2 So 2

(0.3020)3
k=
60,000 2
5(1 − 0.3020)2 ( m )

k = 3.1408x10−12 m2
Substituting the given values for Specific Cake Resistance,

1
α=
kg
(3.1408x10−12 m2 ) (1,055.11 ) (1 − 0.3020)
m3

m
α = 4.3232 × 108
kg

Mass Ratio of Dry Cake to Filtrate

dry cake
r= filtrate

402.42 kg
r=
15,856.54 kg

r = 0.02538

𝐂𝐯 Calculation

αrρμ
Cv =
2

8 m kg −4
(4.3232 × 10 ) (0.02538) (1,045.10 3 ) (8.5 × 10 Pa − s)
kg m
Cv =
2

6 Pa − s
Cv = 4.8735 × 10
m2

Constant Pressure Filtration (CPF) with negligible filter media resistance for Rotary
Drum Filter,

𝐂𝐕 𝐕𝐅 𝟐
𝐭𝐅 =
𝐀𝟐 (−∆𝐏𝐂 )

V = 15.1723 m3

6 Pa − s
Cv = 4.8735 × 10
m2
 −∆P = 198,675 Pa

First Assumption:

Using type RPF B09 from BHS-Sonthofen Rotary Drum Filter Brochure with active
filtering area of 3.2 m2,

𝐂𝐕 𝐕𝐅 𝟐
𝐭𝐅 =
𝐀𝟐 (−∆𝐏𝐂 )

Pa − s
(4.8735 × 106 ) (15.1723 m3 )
𝐭𝐅 = m2
(3.2 m2 ) (198,675 Pa)

𝐭 𝐅 = 551.4430 s = 9.1970 mins

Second Assumption:

Using type RPF B12 from BHS-Sonthofen Rotary Drum Filter Brochure with active
filtering area of 4.32 m2,

𝐂𝐕 𝐕𝐅 𝟐
𝐭𝐅 = 𝟐
𝐀 (−∆𝐏𝐂 )

Pa − s
(4.8735 × 106 ) (15.1723 m3 )
𝐭𝐅 = m2
(4.32 m2 ) (198,675 Pa)

𝐭 𝐅 = 302.5750 s = 5.0429 mins

Third Assumption:

Using type RPF B16 from BHS-Sonthofen Rotary Drum Filter Brochure with active
filtering area of 5.76 m2,

𝐂𝐕 𝐕𝐅 𝟐
𝐭𝐅 = 𝟐
𝐀 (−∆𝐏𝐂 )

Pa − s
(4.8735 × 106 ) (15.1723 m3 )
𝐭𝐅 = m2
(5.76 m2 ) (198,675 Pa)
 𝐭 𝐅 = 170.1985 s = 2.8366 mins

Rotational Speed, n

f
t=
n

f
n=
t

First Assumption:

0.3
n=
9.1907 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠

rev
n = 0.0326
min

Second Assumption:

0.3
n=
5.0429 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠

rev
n = 0.05949
min

Third Assumption:

0.3
n=
2.8366 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠

𝐫𝐞𝐯
𝐧 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟖
𝐦𝐢𝐧

From BHS-Sonthofen rotary drum filter brochure, the drive speed ranges from 0.1 to 1.0
rpm thus, the third assumption in calculation of rotational speed fits the said range.
Furthermore, the calculated filtration time in approximately 3 minutes gives the best
result between the three assumptions made.
 From BHS-Sonthofen rotary drum filter brochure type RFP AO9 the dimensions for a
filtration area of 5.76 m2 are:

Diameter of the drum= 1.5 m

Effective Drum Length= 1.6 m

Dimensions of the Rotary Drum:

Length= 4 m

Width= 3 m

Height= 3.2 m

Power Requirement, kW

HQ
kW =
3.599 × 106

Capacity, Q

Based on per batch operation:

VF
Q=
tF

VF 15.1723 m3
Q= =
t F 2.8366 min

m3
Q = 5.3487
min

m3
Q = 320.9220
hr

Total Dynamic Head, H

H = PDischarge − PInlet
 Pressure inlet to the rotary drum filter is 1 atm= 101,325 Pa

H = 3 × 105 Pa − 101,325 Pa

H = 198,675 Pa

Power in Discharge, PowerOut

m3
(320.9220 ) (198,675 Pa)
hr
PowerOut =
3.599 × 106

PowerOut = 17.7158 kW

Table 7: Typical performances of Pump

Max head Max P Max T Efficiency

Type Style Capacity
(ft) (psi) (oF) (%)
(gpm)
Centrifugal
Slurry 1000 394 600 852 20-80
Pump
Reference: Table 7.2, Chemical Process Equipment by Couper, Penny, Walas and Fair, 3rd Ed.

Assumption: Efficiency of the pump is 80 % (using the maximum efficiency of the pump)

PowerOut
PIn =
efficiency

17.7158 kW
PIn =
0.8

PIn = 22.1448 kW

PIn = 29.6967 hp
Table 8: Standard Electric Motor Sizes

HORSEPOWER
1/20, 1/12, 1/8, 1/6, ¼, 1/3, ½, 1, 1-1/2, 2, 3, 5, 7-1/2, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60,
75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000,
1250, 1500, 1750, 2250, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, and up to 30,000
Reference: Chemical Process Engineering Design and Economics by Silla

The calculated power requirement is 29.6967 hp hence, the standard electric motor size
of 30 hp will be used.
Material of Construction

Drum and Vat/ Trough

Among three types of wrought material of ferrous metals and alloys, Stainless
Steels are the most popular in the process industries because they are heat and corrosion
resistant, noncontaminating and easily fabricated. Hence, stainless steel will be used for
material of construction since the slurry contains organic, base and water. With the four
types of stainless steel, austenitic steel is the most corrosion-resistant, ductile and tough.
Therefore, Standard Wrought Austenitic Stainless Steel AISI type 316 will be used in the
rotary drum filter.

Reference: Section 25, Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 8th Ed.

Filter Medium

Table 9: Comparative Properties of Filter Media Fabrics

Maximum
Strong Weak Elongation Resistance to
Type Temperature
Alkalis Alkalis break % Moist Heat
(oC)
Polypropylene G E 90-100 35 F
E=Excellent G=Good F=Fair

Reference: Table 2.4, Chemical Process Equipment by Couper, Penny, Walas and Fair, 3rd Ed.
Table 10: Typical Application for Filter Fabrics

Maximum
Material Suitable for Principal Advantage
Temperature (oC)
Acids, alkalis,
solvents (except
Low Moisture
Polypropylene chlorinated 130
Adsorption
hydrocarbons and
aromatics)
Reference: Table 2.5, Chemical Process Equipment by Couper, Penny, Walas and Fair, 3rd Ed.

The Filtrate contains base, organic and water therefore, Polypropylene will be
used as the material for filter medium in rotary drum filter since it is suitable in alkalis
and solvents except chlorinated hydrocarbons and aromatics and the maximum
temperature fits the equipment’s operating temperature of 30 degree Celsius.