MODIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC FILTER PRESS FOR

SLUDGE TREATMENT
A PROJET REPORT

Submitted by

R.SARAVANAN
S.SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE
V.THIRUMALAI NAMBI SAMY
P. WILLIAM
In partial fulfillment for the award of the degree

Of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

IN

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

FRANCIS XAVIER ENGINEERING COLLEGE,

TIRUNELVELI-627003

ANNA UNIVERSITY:: CHENNAI- 600 025

APRIL:: 2019
MODIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC FILTER PRESS FOR
SLUDGE TREATMENT
A PROJET REPORT

Submitted by
R.SARAVANAN 950715114135

S.SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE 950715114153

V.THIRUMALAI NAMBI SAMY 950715114162

P. WILLIAM 950715114345

In partial fulfillment for the award of the degree

Of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
FRANCIS XAVIER ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
TIRUNELVELI-627003
ANNA UNIVERSITY:: CHENNAI- 600 025
APRIL:: 2019
i
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this report ‘‘MODIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC

FILTER PRESS FOR SLUDGE TREATMENT’’ is the bonafide
workofR.SARAVANAN,S.SUBHASHCHANDRABOSE,V.THIRU
MALAI NAMBI SAMY, P.WILLIAM who carried out the project under
my supervision.

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE
Dr.ZEENATHULFARIDAABDULKANI M.Tech.,PH.
Mr.N.THANUMOORTHY

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of MechanicalEngineering

Francis Xavier Engineering college Francis Xavier Engineering college

Tirunelveli – 627 003 Tirunelveli – 627 003

Submitted for the university examination held on _______________

Internal Examiner External Examiner

ii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all we would like thank the almighty for giving us sound
health thought our project work .we would like express our thanks to our
beloved parents for their constant support and advice during the during
thecourseoftheprojectwork.Wethank“Dr.S.CLETUSBAU.Ph.D.,Chair
man”and“Dr.D.C.JOYWINNIEWISEPrincipal”andMR.S.“KRISHN
AKUMAR Administrative officer” for giving us the opportunity to do
this project. We express our profound sense of gratitude to
‘‘Dr.ZEENATHULFARIDAABDULGANI..,Ph.D., Head of the
department” who guided us with his precious ideas and valuable
suggestions.

We take this opportunity to express our respectful regards to our

project coordinator “Mr.ARIYANAYAGAM ME.,(Ph.D.) Assistant
Professor, Mechanical Department” for his Full-Hearted support and
encouragement for the successful completion of this project.

Our project coordinator and the other faculty members of our

department guided through the whole process never accepting less then
our best efforts. We thank them all.

We also express our sincere thanks to our beloved

guideMr.N.THANUMOORTHYM.E.,AssistantProfessor,Mechanical
Department” for his support to complete this project successfully.
Finally we would like to thank our friends and the nan-teaching staffs
who indirectly contributed to the successful completion.

iii
 ABSTRACT

Now a days demanding waste water treatment regulatory landscape the

proper handling of sludge is a very Important component of the design
and operation of any size of waste water treatment plant(WWTP). The
ultimate mission of any such plant is to separate solids from water, and
to disinfect both to different degrees by removing organic and inorganic
contaminants which may be hazardous or toxic to human or have
detrimental effects on the environment.

One of the advantages of the filter press is that it can accept sludge with
average filterability. It is always advantages to optimally thicken sludge
before filter press operation in our project is single control panel is used
for all this equipment and the belt press system electric actuation. the
production capacity of a filter press is between 1.5and10kg of solids per
m2 of filtering surface.

Key words: sludge, waste water treatment plant(WWTP), closing of the

press.

iv
 OBJECTIVES

 To run the operation of filter press for filtration of calcium

carbonate slurry.
 To record the data of filtrate volume against time.
 To find the time when the filtrate volume is the lowest.
 To determine the density and viscosity of the filtrate.
 To determine filtration time to completion.
 To determine the lost quantity of calcium carbonate after filtration
process.

v
 MOTIVATION
A hydraulic filter helps to remove these particles and clean the oil on a
continuous basis. The performance for every hydraulic filter is measured
by its contamination removal efficiency, i.e. high dirt- holding
capacities. Almost every hydraulic system contains more than one
hydraulic filter.

vi
 TABLE OF CANTENTS
CHAPTER NO TITLE PAGE NO
AKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES
MOTIVATION
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Dharangadhara chemical works

1.2 History
1.3 DCW Mission
1.4 DCW Vision
2. 5MLD RO PLANT
2.1 Description
2.2 Osmosis &Reverse osmosis
2.3 Components of Rob
2.4 Treatment of Ro plant
2.5 Process description of Ro plant
3. FILTER PRESS
3.1 Definition
3.2 Filter press
3.3 Types of filter press
3.3.1 Plate and frame filter press
3.3.2 Automatic filter press
 3.3.3 Recessed plate filter press

3.3.4 Components of sludge treatment

4. COMPONENTS OF FILTER PRESS

4.1 Plates
4.2 Filter clothes
4.3 Hydraulic system
4.4 Stationary head
4.5 Follower head
5. WORKING OF FILTER PRESS
5.1 Principal of operation
5.2 Concept behind filter press technology
5.3 Construction
5.4 Process
5.5 Filtration cycle
5.6 Filtration capacity
5.7 Performance
6. CALCULATION
7. APPLICATION
7.1 Advantages
7.2 Application
8. CONCLUSION
9. FUTURE SCOPE
10. BIBLOIGRAPHY

1
 INTRODUCTION

1.1 DHARANGAGHARA CHEMICAL WORKES

DCW Limited here in called as DCW operates a chemical complex at

Sahupuram ,Tiruchendur Taluk, Thuthookudi District with multi

location and multi products facilities.The products from this complex
range are industrial.GradeSalt,Caustic Sda,Liquid Chlorine,Hydrochloric
Acid,Yellow iron oxide,PVC resin.

As this process plant, it has both power and steam requirements and this
is meat through Coal based Co gen power plant & Captive Power plant.

DCW established their caustic soda plant in the year 1958 and the
present capacity of caustic soda is 100,000 TPA using membrance cell
process.DCW established plants for the production of liquid chlorine,
Trichloro ethylene, hydrochloric acid, PVC resins, captive power
plant,at sahupuram.

DCW is strategically located in an industrially backward area with a

vision to make use of the available resources (like sea water)for the
production of chlorine and its further effective utilization.

The proposed expansion is by enchancing the production capacity of

Trichloroethyiene from the existing level of 7200TPA to 15,480TPA,

2
Polyvinyl chloride from existing level of 90,000TPA to 150,000TPA, a
new product of chlorinate poly vinyl chloride with 14,400TPA,
production capacity and cogen power plant from 58.27MW

To108.27MW(by adding 2 25MW) in the existing with industrial

complex at DCW Limited, Sahupuram, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi
District, Tamil nadu.

DCW has two manufacturing units. At Dharangadhara, Gujarat, it

produces sada ash, sodium Bicarbonate & Ammonium bicarbonate. At
sahupuram, Tamil nadu, it produces caustic soda, Liquid chlorine acid,
Beneficiated ilmenite, Tri chloro ethylene, yellow Iron oxide, Ferric
chloride, utox & PVC.

The project planned with an environmentally friendly pollution

abatement system that certainly prove way for sustainable improvements
to the original status of the environmental components pertaining to air,
water, soil, noise, socio economic factors, flora & fauna etc.

In order to assess the environment quality of the core and buffer zones,
field data are collected and described with impact and mitigative
measures adopted. Management plan has been presented in the report for
the approval of the statutory authority.

3
1.2 HISTORY

The DCW story goes back to1925 When the foundational stone of indias
first soda ash factory at Dharangathara a small principality in the state of
Gujarat in West India, was Laid. The plant was taken over in 1939 and
run under the name of Dharangathara Chemical Workes.

The process of growth at DCW recived a major impetus in 1959 With

the commissioning of the choir alkali plant at sahupuram in the souther
state of thamil nadu. Growth at the chlor alkali complex was rabid as
between 1965 and 1970 three plants were erected that turned the co
product chlorine into a money spinner;

DCW has certainly come a long way since its small beginnings and is
now one of india formidable and most respected chemical companies.

4
1.3 DCW MISSION

“It is our endeavor to become a chemical power house by growing in a

globally competitive market with a focus on the environment and
community by optimizing use of all available resources”

1.4 DCW VISSION

 To innovate & to integrate

 Emphasis on the 4R’s –Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Recover
 Enhance stakeholder value
 Diversify in synergistic businesses
 To be a responsible social citizen

5.
 CHAPTER 2

5 MLD RO PLANT

2.1 DESCRIPTION

Water is being used as one of the main raw material for process power
plant and cooling towers. In DCW complex consumes around 12000m3
of raw water clay.

Due to uncertain monsoon and the industrial growth in the district the
availability of good quality raw water throughout the river is not
ensured.

So to overcome the situation and to ensure un interrupted production in

the complex DCW Ltd. Has setup a 5MLD RO plant to scatter the need
quality water during scarcity period.

2.2 OSMOSIS AND REVERSE OSMOSIS

2.2.1 OSMOSIS

When a concentration solution and pure water are separated by

semipermeable membrane naturally occurring osmosis pressure forces
pure water membrane through the membrane diluting the salt solution
called osmosis.

6
2.2.2 REVESRSE OSMOSIS

When a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure is applied to the salt
solution the membrane allows water from the salt solution to pass in to
the pure solution while rejecting reinforce, hence the process is called
reverse osmosis.

7
2.3. COMPONENTS OF ROP

2.3.1 CLARIFIERS

Clarifiers are settling tanks built with mechanical means for continuous
removal of solids being deposited by sedimentation. A clarifier is
generally used to remove solid particulates or suspended solids from
liquid for clarification and thickening. Concentrated impurities,
discharged from the bottom of the tank are known as Sludge, while the
particles that float to the surfaces of the liquid are called scum.

The clarifier tank settles the sludge at the bottom of the tank and finally
removed at a regular interval.

2.3.2 PRESSURE SAND FILTER

Pressure sand water filter sand filtration is frequently used and very
robust method to remove suspended solid from water. The filtration
medium consists of a multiple layer of sand with a variety in size and
specific gravity.

Raw water is passed through multi grade sand filter at a pressure of 3.5
kg/cm2 to reduce the raw water. The filter will effectively remove up to
30-50 microns of the suspended solids to less than 5ppm. The filter will
have to be washed with raw water for 20 to 30 minutes daily. To filter
the partials below 30-50 micron cartridge filter is used.

8
2.3.3 DUAL MEDIA FILTER

Dual media filter contain anthracite along with fine sand reinforced by
marbled and gravels. These filter consist of a coating of anthracite
resting on a 4% coating of fine sand. These filters use layers of
anthracite and garnet contaminants as the filter medium, with filtering
system amount of 98% down to 2 microns. The dual media filters
employ an automatic backwashing feature, which employs a variety of
air and water to maintain unit efficiency.

The media in a dual or multi-media filter are arranged that the water
moves through media with progressively smaller pores. The largest
particles are strained out by anthracite. Then the sand and garnet trap the
rest of the particulate matter through a combination of adhesion and
straining. Since the multi-media filter, the filter does not clog as quickly
as if all the particles were caught by the top layer.

9
2.3.4 ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER

Activated carbon filtering is a method of filtering that uses a bed of

activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities using chemical
absorption. each particle/granule of carbon provides a large surface
area/pore structure, allowing contaminants the maximum possible
exposure to the actives sites with in the media.

Carbon filtering is commonly used foil-water purification, in air purifier

sand industrial gas processing. Active charcoal carbon filters are most
effective at removing chlorine, sediment, volatile organic
compounds(VOCs), taste and odor from water. They are not effective at
removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds.

Typical particle sizes that can be removed by carbon filters range from
0.5 to 50micrometers.

2.3.5 DECHLORINATION SYSTEM

To remove the residual chlorine, before feeding into the membrane.

Sodium Meta Bi Sulphate dosing is being done. SMBS concentration is
to be 3” times of the free chlorine.

2.3.6 FILTER CARTRIDGE

Filtering cartridge will prevent suspended solids up to 10microns before

entering the membrane. If the pressure difference before and after 1bar

10
The filter cartridge are to the replaced. The life of the cartridge purely

depends upon the total suspended solids after DMF hence, care should
be taken.

2.3.7 HP PUMP

The high pressure pump is used to increase the pressure of the feed
water for the cartridge filter. At last the pressurized water is sent in to
the RO membrane.

2.3.8 RO MEMBRANCE

Finally, the pressurized water from the hp pump enters into the RO
membrane. the RO membrane consist a material of polyamide having a
length of Imam and diameter of 8’’. The product rate comes from the
RO membrane is about a ph of 5.5.

2.4 TREATMENT SCHME OF ROP

The raw water will be treated through the followings stages.

1. COAGULATION

FeCl3 & Poly Electrolyte is dosed in the raw water to coagulate all the
suspended matters.

2. FILRATION

The raw water then will pass through multi grade sand filter,

11
where suspended solids will be trapped on the sand bed. The filter is the
MS Rubber lined construction so as to prevent carry of iron to the
membrane. The filter is design to produce 1b.3 m3/hr and is
backwashed once in a day. For affective coagulation of suspended
matters, FeCl3 is dosed prior to filtration.

3. SOFTENING

Part of filtered water is passed on the softener for removal of the Ca &
Mg. A flow rate of filtered water will be directly blended with RO
treated water.

4. SODIUM META Bi SULPHATE

SMBS shall be dosed in the RO feed water by means of a dosing pump.

SMBS is dosed for controlling Calcium Sulphate scaling.

5. FINE FILTERATION

Micron filtration by cartridge filters is in corporate prior to RO plant for

removal of fine particulate matter, which will otherwise clog the
membrane elements.

6. STERILIZATION

Ultra violet rays are used to sterilized the water. This is taken as a
precaution step for the membranes.

12
7. DESALINATION BY REVERSE OSMOSIS

The feed water will be pumped by means of a high pressure pump

through the membrane assembly, which will be the effluent from RO
plant.

2.5 PROCESS DESCRIPTION OF ROP

2.5.1 PRETRTEATMENT

The feed water is made available to the inlet of our dual media filter at
the required flow rate and head. The suspended impurities in the feed
water are removed in the dual media filter comprising the layers of
graded sand and anthracite. The filter water is continuously dosed with
acid for PH adjustment to around 6 in order to inhabit any Calcium
Carbonate scaling on the membranes.

The chemically conditioned water is passed through the cartridge filters

where the suspended impurities below 10 micron level are removed.

13
2.5.2 DESALINATION BY REVERSE OSMOSIS

The feed water is passed through the high pressure pump which boost
the feed pressure to the required level necessary for carrying out the
reverse osmosis process to get the designed parameters.

We have incorporated thin film composite membrane elements which

are housed in the pressure tubes arranged in 1.1 array.

2.5.3 POST TREATMENT

The permeate water from the reverse osmosis block is then passed
through a de Gasifier where the free CO, is removed by mechanical
stripping of the permeate water.

14
 CHAPTER 3

FILTER PRESS

3.1 DEFINITION

Filter press is defined as a separation, specially employed by solid/liquid

separation using the principle of pressure drive, provided by a slurry
pump.

3.2 FILTER PRESS

The primary usage of a filter preys is a “fixed volume batch pressure

filter.” The last most common usage of the filter press is as a “variable
volume” filter through the use of a filter plate known as a diaphragm or
membrane plate. This type of plate has a flexible drain filed which when
sealed around the edges forms an integral bladder or diaphragm that may
be inflated to physically press additional liquid from the filter cake.

This process cycle and produce a dryer cake product or more uniform
cake dryness from cycle to cycle.

15
3.3 TYPES OF FILTER PRESSES

There are three main basic types of filter presses:

 Plate and frame filter press.

 Automatic filter press.
 Recessed plate filter press.

3..3.1 PLATE AND FRAME FILTER PRESS

Plate and frame filter press is the most fundamental design among all the
other filter presses, and mostly it is referred as membrane filter plate.
This type of filter press consists of many plates and frames assembled
alternately with the supports of a pair of rails.
Presence of a centrifuge pump would ensure the remaining suspended
solids do not settle in the system and its. Main function is to deliver the
suspension into the each of the separating champers in the plate and
frame filter. For each of the individual separating champers there is one
hollow filter frame separated from two filter plates by filter cloths.
The filtrate that passes through cloth are collected through collection
pipes and stored in the filter tank. cake discharge can be done in many
ways. For example: shaking plates while they are being opened or
shaking the clothes. Scraper can all so be used, by moving from one
chamber to another and scrape the cake off the cloth. At the end of each
run, the cloth arc cleaned using wash liquid and ready to start the next
cycle.

16
3.3.2 AUTOMATIC FILTER PRESS
Automatic filter oppress has the same concept as the manual filter and
frame filter just that the whole process is fully automated. It consists of
larger plates and frames filter presses with the mechanical plate shifter.
It also consists of the diaphragm compressor in the filter plates which
consists of acids in optimizing the operating condition by further drying
the filter cakes.
3.3.3 RECESSED PLATE FILTER PRESS
For recessed plate filter press, it is made up of polypropylene squares at
about 2 to 4 feet across with concave depression and a hole in the centre.
Tow plate join together to from a chamber to pressurize the slurry and
squeeze the filtrate out6 through the filter cloth lining in the chamber.
It is capable of holding 12 to 80 plates adjacent to each other depending
on the required capacity. The cake thickness is restricted to 32mm
unless extra frames are used which acts as spacers.
3.3.3.1 COMPONENTS OF SLUDGE TRAETMENT
1. CLARIFIER TANK
Clarifiers are settlings built with mechanical; means fioe3 continuous
removal of solids being deposited by sedimentation. a clarifiers is
generally used to removal solid particulates or suspend solids from
liquid for clarification and thickening. after the few interval of time
deposited sludge sent in to the filter press collection tank.

17
2. FILTER PRESS TANK
The filter press tank is other wise called the sludge collection tank. The
sludge comes from the clarifier is stored in the filter press tank. the filter
press tank is made up of mild steel with rubber lined to avoid erosion.
The capacity of the filter is about 25m3.
3. FEEDING PUMP
The feeding pump must regulate its flow rate according to the pressure
increase produced by the formation of cakes in the chamber positive
displacement pumps fitting with an automatic regulating device are
usually used to do so.
The positive displacement pumps are piston membrane, peristaltic or
moineaux pump the regulation can be hydro pneumatic, hydraulic or
electronic, impeller pumps can be used with minerals the feed pump is
used in the filter press is a progressive cavity pump with a capacity of 3-
4cu.m/hr. the head consist of a pressure of about 7-8 bar.
4. VALVE
There are three valves used in this system they are gate way valve, ball
valve and check valve.
Gate way valve :
The gate way valve is used between the clarifier to filter tank. To avoid
the choking there are two valve should use in this system.
Ball valve :
The ball valve is used in between the filter press tank and filter press.
There are three ball valve is used in this system.
18
Check valve :
The check valve is used to control the non return of the flow.

19
FILTER PRESS
Finally the sludge is sent in to the filter press and disposed the waste in
the from of cake and this cake is used as a fertilizer or as land fill the
waste.

20
 CHAPTER 4
COMPONENTS OF FILTER PRESS
4.1 PLATES
The plates consist of chamber or membrane plates made of virgin of
polypropylene which can be used between of
thickness .The plate size of 800mm*800mm can be used .The surface of
filter plate is piped button with smooth finish.
It consist of centre feed port and four corner port and two
drain port and two drain hole.
The sledge comes from the pump is sent into the centre feed port and
sledge is filled in between two filter plates the water without sledge is
passed into two drain port through drain hole and finally water is
recycled.

ADVANTAGES OF POLY PROPYLENE

 Long work life
 Light weight
 Easy cleaning
 Excellent sealing
 Improve product quality

4.2 FILTER CLOTHES

The choice of filter cloth is another determining factor. It

depends on the sledge to be filter (grinding, degree, concentration,
presence of collides, etc) and the conditioning.

21
 The filter clothes can be multi fibre are single fibre, with more or
less water tight and made of different Materials
(polypropylene, polyamide, polyester...)and joined surface lined
are not.
Filter clothes manufactures have carried out a lot of
improvements especially in the cake discharge during the plate
shifting process.

4.3HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
The hydraulic system is placed at the tail of the filter
press and this system is fixed with a movable head. The hydraulic
system is kept at a pressure of 250-300kpa for creating a pressure
inside the chamber of filter press plate.
A hydraulic drive system is a drive or transmission system that
uses pressurised hydraulic fluid to power hydraulic machinery. The
term hydrostatic refers to the transfer of energy from flow and
pressure, not from the kinetic energy of flow.

22
 A hydraulic drive system consists of three parts: The generator
(e.g. a hydraulic pump), driven by an electric motor, a combustion
engine or a windmill; valves, filters, piping etc. (to guide and
control the system); and the actuator.

Mechanical energy

PRINCIPLE OF A HYDRAULIC DRIVE

Pascal’s law is the basis of hydraulic drive
systems. As the pressure in the system is same , the force that the
fluid gives to the surroundings is therefore equal to pressure x area
.In such a way a small piston feels a small force and a large piston
feels a large force.

23
 The same principle applies for a hydraulic pump with a small
swept volume that asks for a small torque, combined with a
hydraulic motor with a large swept volume that gives a large
torque. In such a way a transmission with a certain ratio can be
built.
Most hydraulic systems make use of hydraulic cylinders. Here the
same principle is used a small torque can be transmitted into a
large force.
By throttling the fluid between the generator part and the motor
part, or by using hydraulic pumps and motors with adjustable
swept volume, the ratio of the transmitted can be changed easily.
In case adjustable pumps and motors are used to increase the
efficiency. In fact, up to around 1980,a hydraulic drive system had
hardly any competition from other adjustable drive systems.

4.4 STATIONARY HEAD

The stationary head is fixed at the one end of the filter
press medium. The stationary gives support to the follower head.

4.5 FOLLOWER HEAD

The follower head is a movable head and its attached
with the hydraulic cylinder for creating a pressure to form a cake.

24
 CHAPTER5
WORKING OF FILTER
5.1 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The pressure behind the slurry is provided by a
feed pump, sometimes a positive displacement or centrifugal pump.
With a gravity drain on the filtrate side of the press, a pressure
differential between the feed pressure and the gravity discharge is
created across the media and the filter cake solids as they build in
thickness.
It is the existence of this pressure differential, not
just the feed pump pressure that causes the filtering action to occur.
Solids within the slurry will flow to the area of cake development
with the lowest pressure differential, resulting in a, filter cake that
builds uniformly over the drain-field on either side of the chamber
walls.
This fill cycle continues until the filter cakes
forming on the chamber walls bridge at the center, completely filling
the press with solids. It is at this point that the filtration process is
complete.
Once this is achieved, the hydraulic closure of the
press is retracted, the individual filter elements are separated and the
filter cakes are discharged, usually by gravity, to an appropriate
receptacle.

25
 5.2 CONCEPT BEHIND FILTER PRESS TECHNOLOGY
Generally, the slurry needed to be de-watered is
injected into the center of the press and fill up each chamber. The
filling time should be as possible in order to avoid cake formation in
the first chamber before tilling up the last chamber. While the
chambers are being tilled up, the pressure inside the system will
increase due to the formation of thick sludge. Then, the liquid is
filtered out through the filter cloths by adding streams of compressed
air of water. The use of pressurized water requires more time to pass
into the chamber compared to pressurized air, however this method is
much more cost efficient.
5.3 CONSTRUCTION
The skeleton has one chief function __that is to hold the
filter pack together against the pressure developed internally during
the filtration process. The terms used to describe the skeleton may
vary slightly from manufacture, but the sub-components remain
essentially the same:
-stationary head
-follower head
-Hydraulics
-Manifold
These components will be tied together either by the use of
sidebars or overhead beams.

26
 The filter pack is where actual liquid/solid separation process takes
place. The packs consist of a series of filter elements that form a
series of chamber when held together in the press skeleton. Each
chamber wall has a series of raised cylinders or ” pips, ” which are
then covered with a porous cloth medium. these pipes from a flow
path for the liquid draining from the press. At corners of the drain-
field, inter connecting holes join the drain-field to the four corner
discharge ports. When the plates are held together in a plate pack, the
corner discharge eyes form individual manifolds connecting the drain-
fields of the plates with the external piping of the press. The center
feed slurry inlet port also forms a manifolds that connects with the
individual chambers of the plate pack.
5.4 PROCESS
In operation, slurry is pumped under pressure into. The press
chambers through the manifold at the stationary head of the filter
press. As each chamber fills with slurry, the liquid passes through the
cloth medium, across the drain-field, through the drain ports and exist
via gravity out of the corner discharge eyes.
The prime function of the filter media is to provide a porous
support structure for the filter take as it develops and builds. Initially,
some solids may pass through the cloth media causing a slight
turbidity in the filtrate, but gradually the larger particles within the
slurry begin to bridge the openings in the media reducing the effective
opening size.

27
 This allows smaller particles these reduced openings initiating the
cake filtration process. Once a layer of solid particles achieves 1 to 2
mm in thickness, this “pre coat” layer serves to separate out finer and
finer particles as the cake builds in thickness, yielding a filtrate that
is very low in turbidity.
5.5 FILTRATION CYCLE
The filter press is an intermittent dewatering process. Each
press operation includes the following steps:
1-Closing of the press: as the filter is completely empty, the moving
head activated by the jack clamps the plates. Closing pressure is self
regulated through filtration.
2-Filling: During this short phase chamber are filled with sludge for
filtration. Filling time depends on the flow of the feed pump. For
sludge having good filterability it is best to fill the filter very quickly
so as to avoid the formation of a cake in the first chamber before the
last ones have been filled.
3-Filtration: once the chamber have been filled continuous arrival of
sludge to be dewatered provokes a rise in pressure due to the
foundation of an increasingly thick layer of filter sludge on the cloths.
This filtration phase can be stopped manually, by a timer or more
conveniently by a filtrate flow indicator which issues a stop alarm
when the end of filtration rate has been reached. When the filtration
pump has stopped, the filtrate circuits and central duct, which is still
filled with liquid sludge, are purged by compressed air.

28
4-Filter opening: The moving head is drawn back to disengage the
first filtration chamber. The cake falls has a results of its own weight.
A mechanized system pulled out the plates one by one. The speed of
plate separation can be adjusted to account to the cake texture. .15-30
processing operations. For mid-or large units this take place on press
using water sprayers at very high pressure (80-100bar). Washing is
synchronized with separation of plates.
5.6 FILTRATION CAPACITY
The production capacity of a filter press is
somewhere between 1.5 and 10kg of solid per m2 of filtering surface.
For every the filter press model the chamber volume and the. Filtering
surface depend on the number of plates in the filter.
In practical terms pressing times are less than four hours. Filtration
time depends on:
-cake thickness
-sludge concentration
-specific resistance
-compressibility coefficient
One of the advantages of the filter press is that it can be
accept sludge before filter press operations. Although sludge
presenting a high filterability enables better production capacities, a
filter press still accepts sludge with low conditioning precision. This
tolerance means that the device offers greater overall operational
safety.

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5.7PERFORMANCE
The filter press is suitable for almost all types of sludge
Hydrophilic organic sludge: Inorganic conditioning is often
recommended to enable satisfactory cake release due to minimal
adherence to filter cloth.
Hydrophilic inorganic sludge: the filter press generally requires the
addition of lime only.
Hydrophobic inorganic sludge: It is very dense and ideal for the
filter press. It is dewatered without any preliminary conditioning.
Oily sludge: the filter can be used to treat sludge containing light
oils, the presence of grease can sometime impair the smooth running
of the filter ; clothes have to be degreased at frequent intervals.

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 CHAPTER 6
CALCULATION
At Clarifier
Raw water from mukkani river is allowed to RO plant’s clarifier in
the DCW, where a sedimentation process is conducted for removing
suspended solids from raw water by addition of chemical additives.
Quantity of raw water =500m3/hr(500000 liters)
Quantity of raw water =12000m3/day
Density of water =1000kg/m3
Maximum density of sludge water can be filter in RO plant
=1400kg/m3
We consider 5% suspended solids for calculation are
Quantity of raw water =500m3/hr
Quantity of raw water =500000L
For 5% suspended solids
Mass of dry solids =25m3/hr
=25/1.4
Volume occupied with 500ml of dry solids
=17.858m3/hr
Quantity of sludge =500-(475+17.858)
=7.142m3/hr
Quantity of sludge =8 m3/hr(8000 L)
31
AT FILTER PRESS TANK
After, sedimentation process; some quality of sludge i.e settled water
in clarifier in filter press tank. Since the reliving process is handied
for 15 minutes per day.
Capacity of filter
Press tank =25 m3(25000L)
Quality of sludge tank =112 m3/day (112000L)
At Filter press arrangement
Finally Quantity of sludge from tank is pumped and allowed to gap
between each couple of plates together. Meanwhile an electro-
hydraulic closing system provides required amount of load to plates.
Capacity of pump =40m3/hr
Plate dimensions =0.8m*0.8m*0.06 in
Gap between the plates =0.03m
Number of plates =25
Quality of sludge taken by filter press =32m3/hr
Dispatching of sludge/hr =15min
For 24hr =15*24=300min =6hr
Operating time for filter press/batch =2hr
Operating time for filter press/day =6hr=3batch/day

32
From above information
Quantity of sludge =8m3/hr
From filter testing in chemical lab shows that, for 500 ml sludge,
10kg of cake formed.
BY FILTER PRESS
Quantity of sludge pressed/hr =80kg(i.e,40m3) operation
Quantity of sludge pressed/batch=160kg cake
Quantity of sludge pressed/day =160*3 batch operation
=480kg cake formed by filter
press
The estimation of filter press operation implies sludge from
sedimentation process in clarifier is pressed /converted in to
cake(about 480kg/day) form by application of electro hydraulic
mechanism
For recycling
In 480kg of cake having 11%of moisture content, so this is capture in
cake, then allowed to land fill area
Apart from that 89%of water is again pumped to the clarifier in the
RO plant by recycling pumping system.

33
TABLE

Percentage of sludge Quantity of sludge pressed in

considered (%) filter press(m3/hr)

1 2
2 3
3 5
4 6
5 8
6 9
7 10
8 12
9 13
10 15

34
 CHAPTER7

7.1 ADVANTAGES
Recessed-plate filter presses offer several advantages
compared to other mechanical dewatering methods, as follows.
 High cake solid concentration with associated low bio solids
storage hauling, and disposal costs.
 Little or no operator attention during dewatering phase of cycle.
 Cake solids concentration is relativity independent of feed solids
concentration.
 Use of lime as a conditioner stabilizes and disinfects the final
product.
 Manufacturing of this cake is used to prevent the sea shore from
the water pollution.
 The use of high pressure without having to introduce more
liquid reduces the tendency to squeeze bio solids into the filter
cloths because substantial quantities of water are eliminated
before starting the pressing operation.
 Removes water uniformly because the pumping cycle is only the
first part of overall cycle.

7.2 APPLICATION
 filter press are used in high variety of different applications,
from dewatering of mineral mining slurries to blood plasma
purification.

35
 press technology is widely established for ultrafine coal de-
watering as well as filtrate recovery in coal preparation plant.
 Many specialized application are associated with different types
of filter press that are currently used in various industries.
 Plate filter press is extensively used in sugaring operation such
as the production of maple syrup, since it offers very high
efficiency and reliability.

36
 CHAPTER 8
LITRATURE RERVIEW

 LASTA MC Mineral concentrate mining press and dewatering

presses micronicsinc.com. (retrieved 21 april 2015)
 MC GREW, KENT .historical development of the automated
filter press .
 Von sperling,M (January 2007) biological waste water treatment.
 SUTHERLAND,K (2008). Filter and filtration handbook(5th
edition).elsevier.

37
 CHAPTER 9
CONCLUSION

 The project aims at encountering the problem faced in the soil

or water.
 The ammount of effort required for reduced the pollution by
industries

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