Filter Press Plants

Filter Press Plants
Filter presses are used in a variety of industries for solid-liquid separation and consist of a series of stacked filter plates or frames, alternating with filter cloths, which when screwed together form a series of chambers. Under pressure, the liquid is forced through the filter cloth, leaving a solid residue or cake on the surface of the cloth. The process efficiently dewater slurries, clarify liquids and recover valuable solids from the process stream. Filter presses are known for handling large quantities of material, high levels of solids recovery and minimal operating costs, making them indispensable tools in mining, chemical processing, food and beverage production, wastewater treatment and many other industrial applications.

Principle of operation of a filter press

The filter press is composed of a sturdy support frame that holds a series of concave plates lined with filter cloth. These plates are tightly compressed together using hydraulic pressure, forming a sealed perimeter and an enclosed cavity between them. A high-pressure slurry pump feeds the slurry into this cavity, enabling the dewatering process. Solid particles are trapped between the plates, while clean filtrate water passes through the filter cloth and exits through ports in the plates. Once the cavity is filled with dewatered solids, the slurry feed pump stops automatically. The hydraulic pressure is then released, allowing the plates to separate individually so the dewatered solid cakes can fall out of the filter press by gravity.

The hydraulic system ensures a secure seal between the plates, while the feed pump provides the necessary pressure to remove water from the fine solids efficiently.