Complete Filter Press Guide: 3 Common Questions

Filter presses have been used for thousands of years to separate liquids from solids.  Some of the earliest uses of filter presses include extracting juices from fruits and oils from nuts and seeds. While there have been many advancements made to filter presses over the years, the idea is still the same. 

We will go over the basics of a filter press in today’s blog, along with three common questions that we hear.

How Does a Filter Press Work?

A filter press works by accepting a liquid slurry fed under pressure thereby causing liquids and solids separation, more commonly known as dewatering.  Modern filter presses use pumps to force a slurry through a stack of cloth covered plates. The pumps ensure that solids are evenly dispersed during the fill cycle.  Every filter press has filter plates with special cloths used to catch the buildup of solids.  The buildup of the solids forms what is called a filter cake.  Once the chamber formed by the plate is full of solids, the cycle is complete, and the plates need to be separated and the cake removed.  

As the filter cakes are forming, the filtrate, or liquid, is discharged from the plates through corner ports to the manifold. The discharged water is clean and filtered and can be recycled in processes or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

Now that we know how a filter press works, let’s look into common components and some specialty components that could be needed to help your press function at the top level.

What are the Main Components of a Filter Press?

Since filter presses are used over such a wide variety of industries, they must treat a wide range of slurry.  Depending on what slurry is being treated and the amount of liquid passing through the press, some filter presses might need extra components such as scrapers, gaskets, filter cloth washing equipment and air hammers.  

Companies with larger amounts of slurry to treat, or shorter cycle times, might want to purchase a plate shifter to cut down on the time it takes to remove cakes from the plates and clothes.  As the name implies, plate shifters are an efficient and safe plate separation method for filter cake discharge.

Filter presses come in all different sizes but there are four main components to a filter press: the frame, filter cloths, filter plates, and hydraulics.

1. The frame of a filter press typically consists of an overhead or side beam which the plates are supported on.  Whether a filter press has an overhead beam or side beam depends on the pressure that is to be used.  A side beam is typical of a wash system with lower pressure.  Smaller and mobile systems incorporate side beams.

2. Filter cloths are fundamental to the separation of solids and liquids.  As pressure is applied to a slurry, the cloth allows liquids through but traps the solids until eventually the chamber is full and has formed a cake.  

3. A filter plate is typically made of polypropylene or metal.  The type of plate used depends on what is being treated and factors such as temperature and pressure to be used in the process.

4. Lastly, hydraulics are piping and valves that are used to transfer the filtrate to a collection tank.

With knowledge of how a filter press works and the components that comprise a system, let’s take a look at the industries where filter presses are used.

What are Common Filter Press Applications?

A filter press can be tailored using different size plates and cloths or by changing the filtration limits to meet your company’s specific needs. Due to the versatility of a filter press, they are the equipment of choice for dewatering in the following industries:

·       Municipal Treatment Plants

·       Food and Beverage Processing

·       Aggregates

·       Mining

·       Power Generators

·       Asphalt and Cement Production

·       Chemical

·       Steel Mills

·       Industrial wastewater

·       Metal finishing

Get Your Filter Press from JMARK Systems

JMARK Systems is a leading provider of filter presses, components, and mobile wastewater treatment systems. With decades of experience in the industry, JMARK Systems has a proven track record of delivering high quality products and exceptional service. 

JMARK Systems offers a water optimization audit to achieve the best results for your industry, enabling us to recommend the best type of wastewater treatment for your application. 

Contact us today to learn more about our filter presses and how they can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your process.