Appendix A: Variable

ranges for filter cycle

calculations

The information in this appendix is given as guidance to typical ranges of

values for the variables required in filter cycle calculations and simulations.
These are suitable for most calculation purposes but some values may repre-
sent the extremes of what is reasonable in practice. The reader should also be
aware that some combinations of variables will yield unrealistic results. For
example, on a belt filter cycle comprising filtration and single washing and
deliquoring phases, a total belt length of more than 190 m will occur if the
extremes of all phase lengths are taken. Such a scenario is clearly unrealistic
and ‘additional constraints’ are imposed in these cases.
Variables below are arranged according to basic properties, parameters spe-
cific to potential phases in a cycle and parameters specific to individual types
of filters and presses.

Basic properties of solids, solutes and fluids

Filtrate and wash liquid density: l and w  700
1800 kg m3
Filtrate and wash liquid viscosity:
l and
w  0.0001
100 Pa s
Filtrate and wash liquid surface tension:   0.008
0.1 N m1
Gas viscosity:
a  1 × 105
3 × 105 Pa s
Solute concentration in feed/filtrate:
0  0 kg m–3
Solids density: s  700
5000 kg m3
Solute concentration in wash liquid:
w  0 kg m3
Solute diffusivity: D  1 × 1015
1 × 107 m2 s1
Additional limitations: s  l (usually)
 Appendix A · Variable ranges for filter cycle calculations 411

Miscellaneous
Barometric pressure: pB  70
110 kPa
Filter medium resistance (including any heel of cake): R  1 × 105

1 × 1013 m1

Filtration phase
Specific cake resistance at unit pressure: 0  1 × 107
1 × 1016 m kg1 kPan
Compressibility index: n  0.05
1 (diaphragm and tube presses) and 0
1
(all other filters and presses). Physically n can be 1 but this would represent
an exceptional case.
Solids concentration at unit pressure: C0  0.02
0.9 v/v kPab
Compressibility index: b0 (diaphragm and tube presses) and b0 (all
other filters and presses)
Filtration pressure: Pump pressure  pf  7000 kPa (filter presses),  2000
kPa (diaphragm filter presses) and  1000 kPa (multi-element leaf filters); Gas
or diaphragm pressure – pf  50
1000 kPa (Nutsche filter), 100
14000 kPa
(tube press) and 100
2000 kPa (diaphragm filter presses)
Filtration vacuum: pf  10
15 kPa (rotary drum filter, top fed) and
10
85 kPa (all other vacuum filters)

Compression deliquoring phase

Compression pressure: pc  100
14000 kPa (tube press) and 100
2000
kPa (diaphragm filter presses)
Consolidation index:   0.05
4
Consolidation coefficient at unit pressure: Ce0  1 × 1015
0.01 m2 s1 kPa
Consolidation index:   0.01
2
Additional limitations: pc pf

Washing phase
Washing pressure: pw  50
2000 kPa (diaphragm filter presses),
50
14000 kPa (tube press) and 50
1000 kPa (Nutsche filter, multi-
element leaf filters and filter presses)
412 Solid/Liquid Separation: Equipment Selection and Process Design

Washing vacuum: pw  10
85 kPa

Fractional solute recovery: F  0.05
0.995
Number of wash ratios: W  0.5
6

Gas deliquoring phase

Deliquoring pressure or vacuum: pd  10
1000 or 10
85 kPa
Breakthrough pressure or vacuum: pb  0.1
200 or 0.1
70 kPa
Irreducible cake saturation: S-  0.07
0.98
Cake moisture (at end of phase): M  3
60%

Filter specific parameters

Single leaf (Nutsche) pressure filter (Sections 1.4.2.1 and 6.1.1)
Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  0.5
22500 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  0.1
30 m2

Single leaf (Nutsche) vacuum filter (Sections 1.4.1.1 and 6.1.1)

Feed slurry concentration: s  1
10 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
500
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  0.5
7500 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  0.1
10 m2

Multi (tubular) element leaf pressure filter (Sections 1.4.2.2 and 6.1.3)
Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  0.5
100
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  0.5
15500 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  1 mm
 Appendix A · Variable ranges for filter cycle calculations 413

Number of filter candle elements: nt  1
400

Closest element spacing: He  0.02
0.1 m
Filter element diameter: d  0.025
0.075 m
Filter element length: h  0.3
2 m

Multi (vertical) element leaf pressure filter, horizontal vessel (Sections

1.4.2.2 and 6.1.3)
Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  0.5
100
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  30
75000 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  10
300 m2
Number of filter elements: nt  5
70
Filer element spacing: He  0.03
0.2 m

Multi (horizontal) element leaf pressure filter, vertical vessel (Sections

1.4.2.2 and 6.1.3)
Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
100
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  20
16000 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  5
65 m2
Number of filter elements: nt  5
80
Filter element spacing: He  0.02
0.1 m

Multi (vertical) element leaf pressure filter, vertical vessel (Sections 1.4.2.2
and 6.1.3)
Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  0.5
100
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  15
20000 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  5
80 m2
414 Solid/Liquid Separation: Equipment Selection and Process Design

Number of filter elements: nt  3
20

Filter element spacing: He  0.03
0.2 m

Multi-element vacuum filter (Moore’s filter, Sections 1.4.1.2 and 6.1.2)

Feed slurry concentration: s  5
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
100
m
Mass of solids processed: Ms  45
86000 kg
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Filter area: Af  10
230 m2
Number of filter elements: nt  5
36
Filter element spacing: He  0.05
0.3 m

Plate and frame filter press (Sections 1.4.2.3 and 6.1.4)

Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
100
m
Filter area: Af  5
2000 m2
Number of frames: np  5
300
Frame thickness: T  0.015
0.2 m

Recessed plate filter press (Sections 1.4.2.3 and 6.1.4)

Feed slurry concentration: s 
1
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
100
m
Filter area: Af  5
2000 m2
Number of plates: np  5
300
Depth of recess in plate: Tr  0.01
0.04 m

Horizontal belt filter (Sections 1.4.1.3 and 7.1.1)

Feed slurry concentration: s  5
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  20
80000
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Linear belt velocity: B  0.04
1 m s1
Length of belt devoted to filtration phase: zf  1
65 m
 Appendix A · Variable ranges for filter cycle calculations 415

Length of belt devoted to a washing phase: zw  1
64 m

Length of belt devoted to a gas deliquoring phase: zd  1
64 m
Belt width: hB  0.3
4.2 m
Additional limitations: zT  zf   zw   zd  65 m; 4  zT /hB  15

Rotary disc filter (Sections 1.4.1.6 and 7.1.4)

Feed slurry concentration: s  5
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
700
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  13 mm
Number of discs: nd  1
40
Rotational speed:
 0.01
1.1 rad s1 ( 0.1
10 rpm)
Fraction of filter area devoted to filtration phase:
f  0.35
0.55
Fraction of filter area devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.2
0.5
Disc outside diameter: do  0.5
5 m
Disc inside diameter: di  0.1
2 m
Additional limitations:
f  
d  0.25  1; do  di

Rotary drum filter, bottom fed, knife discharge (Sections 1.4.1.5 and 7.1.2)
Feed slurry concentration: s  1
20% w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  6 mm
Rotational speed:
 0.01
1.1 rad s1 ( 0.1
10 rpm)
Drum submergence:
f  0.15
0.75
Fraction of filter area devoted to a washing phase:
w  0.05
0.29
Fraction of filter area devoted to a gas deliquoring:
d  0.1
0.6
Drum diameter: D  0.5
7 m
Drum width: hD  0.5
15 m
Additional limitations: 0.25  f  200 m2;
f  
w  
d  0.1 1

Rotary drum filter, bottom fed, string discharge (Sections 1.4.1.5 and 7.1.2)
Feed slurry concentration: s  1
10 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
70
m
416 Solid/Liquid Separation: Equipment Selection and Process Design

Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  6 mm

Rotational speed:
 0.01
1.1 rad s–1 ( 0.1
10 rpm)
Drum submergence:
f  0.15
0.4
Fraction of filter area devoted to a washing phase:
w  0.05
0.29
Fraction of filter area devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.1
0.5
Drum diameter: D  0.5
7 m
Drum width: hD  0.5
15 m
Additional limitations: 0.25  f  200 m2;
f  
w  
d  0.25 1

Rotary drum filter, bottom fed, roller discharge (Sections 1.4.1.5 and 7.1.2)
Feed slurry concentration: s  1
10 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
50
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  1 mm
Rotational speed:
 0.01
1.1 rad s1 ( 0.1
10 rpm)
Drum submergence:
f  0.15
0.4
Fraction of filter area devoted to a washing phase:
w  0.05
0.29
Fraction of filter area devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.1
0.6
Drum diameter: D  0.5
7 m
Drum width: hD  0.5
15 m
Additional limitations: 0.25  f  200 m2;
f  
w  
d  0.2 1

Rotary drum filter, bottom fed, belt discharge (Sections 1.4.1.5 and 7.1.2)
Feed slurry concentration: s  1
20 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  5 mm
Rotational speed:
 0.01
1.1 rad s1 ( 0.1
10 rpm)
Drum submergence:
f  0.15
0.4
Fraction of filter area devoted to a washing phase:
w  0.05
0.29
Fraction of filter area devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.1
0.5
Drum diameter: D  0.5
7 m
 Appendix A · Variable ranges for filter cycle calculations 417

Drum width: hD  0.5
15 m

Additional limitations: 0.25  f  200 m2;
f  
w  
d  0.25  1

Rotary drum filter, top fed (Sections 1.4.1.5 and 7.1.2)

Feed slurry concentration: s  10 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
600
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  6 mm
Rotational speed:
 0.05
0.6 rad s–1 ( 0.5
6 rpm)
Fraction of filter area devoted to filtration phase:
f  0.02
0.05
Fraction of filter area devoted to gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.47
0.49
Drum diameter: D  0.5
2 m
Drum width: hD  0.5
2 m
Additional limitations: hD /D  4

Rotary table filter (Sections 1.4.1.4 and 7.1.3)

Feed slurry concentration: s  10
30  % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  20
80000
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  20 mm
Filter area: Af  5
20 m2
Number of segments on filter:
t  10
26
Rotational speed:
 0.01
0.2 rad s1 ( 0.1
2 rpm)
Number of segments devoted to filtration phase:
f  1
5
Number of segments devoted to a washing phase:
w  1
19
Number of segments devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  1
19

f 
w  
d
Additional limitations:   0.2  1

T

Rotary tilting pan filter (Sections 1.4.1.4 and 7.1.3)

Feed slurry concentration: s  5
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  20
80000
m
Minimum cake thickness: Lmin  25 mm
418 Solid/Liquid Separation: Equipment Selection and Process Design

Filter area in a single pan: Ap  0.1
8 m2

Number of pans: np  12
30
Rotational speed:
 0.01
0.16 rad s1 ( 0.1
1.5 rpm)
Fraction of cycle devoted to filtration phase:
f  0.04
0.7
Fraction of cycle devoted to a washing phase:
w  0.04
0.65
Fraction of cycle devoted to a gas deliquoring phase:
d  0.04
0.65
Additional limitations:
f  
w  
d  0.25  1

Horizontal diaphragm filter press (Sections 1.4.2.5 and 6.1.4)

Feed slurry concentration: s  0.3
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Filter area: Af  5
2000 m2
Number of chambers: np  5
300
Fraction of chamber filled by cake formation with the pump: 0.4
1
Chamber thickness: T  0.016
0.08 m

Single-sided, vertical diaphragm filter press (Sections 1.4.2.5 and 6.1.5)

Feed slurry concentration: s  0.2
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Filter area of a single plate: Ap  1.6
6 m2
Number of filter plates: np  1
28
Fraction of chamber filled by cake formation with the pump: 0.4
1
Chamber thickness: T  0.033
0.075 m
Additional limitations: 1.6  Af  168 m2

Double-sided, vertical diaphragm filter press (Sections 1.4.2.5 and 6.1.5)

Feed slurry concentration: s  0.2
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Filter area in a single chamber: Ap  0.9
2.3 m2
Number of chambers: np  2
34
Fraction of chamber filled by cake formation with the pump: 0.4
1
 Appendix A · Variable ranges for filter cycle calculations 419

Chamber thickness: T  0.025
0.05 m

Additional limitations: 1.8  Af  160 m2

Tube press (Sections 1.4.2.5 and 6.1.6)

Feed slurry concentration: s  0.3
30 % w/w
Mean particle size: xav  1
200
m
Fraction of annular space initially filled by suspension: 0.4
1
Filter element length: h  1.5
3 m
Element diameter: d  0.15
0.3 m
Outer tube diameter: do  0.2
0.4 m
Additional limitations: do  d