WATER TREATMENT

Filtration

Abstract
Introduction of filtration and brief note on its type

Shumaila Mushtaq Amina Andleeb

Filtration
Water filtering is a method used to filter out undesired chemical
compounds, organic and inorganic materials, and biological contaminants
from water. The purpose of water filtration is to provide clean drinking
water. The porous material used is called the filtering medium and the
equipment used is known as a filter.
Water filtration occurs due to the difference between the pressures at the
bed of the filtering medium and underneath it. The difference in pressures
Δh is called pressure drop through the filtering medium. Pressure drop
depends on the filtration rate, the filtering bed's height, the diameter of the
filtering material's grains, and the extent of its contamination by trapped
impurities. The common materials used for the filtering medium are quartz
sand, crushed anthracite, and porous clay
Slow Sand Filtration
Slow sand filtration is a simple and reliable process. They are relatively
inexpensive to build but do require highly skilled operators. The
process percolates untreated water slowly through a bed of porous sand,
with the influent water introduced over the surface of the filter, and then
drained from the bottom. Slow gravity filters are not capable of removing
colloidal impurities. These can be removed only by treating water with
chemicals,
Rapid-gravity filtration
Gravity filtration is an effective method for removing solid impurities from
organic liquids. The process involves passing water downwards through a
filter bed, where the solids are trapped by the filter media. The clean water
is then released through the base of the filter. This method is ideal for
removing impurities that may be present in the liquid.
In order to maintain the filter efficiency, backwashing needs to be done
routinely.
Advantages:
• The filter bed and the quality of the filtrate can be easily inspected.
• Filter is unaffected by pressure variations on either the inflow or draw-
off sides
• Large reinforced concrete filters can be constructed at a relatively low
cost.
Rapid pressure Filtration
Pressure filters are just like small rapid gravity filters placed in closed
vessels, and through which water to be treated is passing under
pressure.
Since water is forced through such filters at a pressure greater than
atomic pressure, it is necessary that these filters are located in air-tight
vessel filters.
Construction:
The filter vessel may be installed either in a horizontal or in a vertical
position. Based on their installation they are classified as
Horizontal pressure filters
Vertical pressure filters
Steel cylinders are used as pressure vessels and may be riveted or
welded. These vessels have their diameter generally varying between
1.5 to 3 meters for vertical pressure and length or height may very from
3.5 to 8 meters
Operation and working principle:
A pressure filter is operated like an ordinary rapid gravity filter. Except
that raw coagulated water is neither flocculated nor sedimented before it
enters the filter.
The working principle of the filter process is that slurry is pumped into
the machine such that solids are distributed evenly during the fill cycle.
Solids baild up on the filter cloth, forming the filter cake, The filtrate
exists the filter plates through the corner pots into the manifold, yielding
clean filtered water.
Rate of pressure filter:
• The pressure can yield filtered water at rates much higher i.e. 2 to
5 times than rapid gravity filter.
• The filtration rate for pressure filters ranges from 6000 to 15000
per hour per Sq. m of filter area.
1. Lower rates are used for domestic supplies.
2. Medium rates for industrial supplies.
3. Higher rate for recirculating swimming pool supplies.