Please use as reference.

1. PLATE AND FRAME FILTER PRESS
ELECCION, NICELY JANE R.
Department of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering and Architecture
Cebu Institute of Technology – University
N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City 6000
Filter press operates under pressure using the process of cake filtration which involves
sending a slurry through the press, which is equipped with filter cloths. This experiment
aims to determine how concentration isrelated to the weight and volume of cake obtained,
as well as to determine its effect in the length of time a certain volume of filtrate is
obtained. This experiment also aims to plot the volume of filtrate versus time per volume
of filtrate. As the concentration of the filtrate increases, the length of time to collect a
certain volume of filtrate also increases. The relationship between the volumes of filtrate
versus time per volume of filtrate produces a linear plot having an r2 value of
approximately 0.95 which means that the volume of filtrate and the time per volume of
filtrate has a linear relationship in which when one increases, the other one increases
respectively.
Engr. Jennifer M. Fernandez
March 13, 2018

2. 1. Introduction
The oldest filter plate design and the predecessor to recessed plates, which is
the plate and frame filter press consists of chamber which is formed by a flat plate on
each side of a frame whereby cake is collected in the frame. In other books, it is
described as a mechanical device which is specially used in solid/liquid separation
using the principle of pressure driven which is provided by a slurry pump Plate and
frame filter plates are usually used for polishing applications when filtration area is more
important than volume. The principle behind a plate and frame press is filtration.
Filtration is the separation of solid from a fluid by means of a porous medium that retains
the solid but allows the fluid to pass.
Filter presses consist of plated and frames assembled alternately with a filter
cloth over each side of the plates as described in Geankoplis (2009). The feed slurry is
pumped into the press and flows through the duct into each of the open frames in order
for slurries to fill the frames. The filtrate flows through the filter cloth and the solids build
up as a cake on the frame side of the cloth. The filtrate flows between the filter cloth
and the face of the plate through the channels to the outlet. This carries on until the
frames are completely filled with solids. As the number of solid increases in the frame,
filtration turns out to be slower. When the thickness of solids or cake is adequate to
develop in the edges of the frames, filtration is ceased, the press is disassembled and
the cake is expelled from the frames. The resistance of the cake increases with time as
the cake develops in the frames, winding up harder to compel the filtrate through the
cake, as the cake ends up thicker. Whenever this resistance from the stream of filtrate
is relative to the volume of filtrate that has gone through the cake.
In this experiment, the determination of how concentration is related to the
weight and volume of the cake obtained, the determination of how concentration affects
the length of time a certain volume of filtrate is obtained and to plot the volume of filtrate
versus time per volume of filtrate are the main focus.

3. 2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Equipment and Materials
 Plate and Frame Filter Press Equipment
 Water
 Calcium Carbonate
2.2 Methods
1. About 18 liters of slurry was prepared containing 10% by weight of CaCO3 &
90% by weight water.
2. The feed tank was filled with predetermined amount of slurry.
3. The removable head was tightened to lock.
4. The necessary valves (pressure and control valves) were opened.
5. The agitator and the pump were switch on simultaneously.
6. The switch of both the agitator and the pump were turn off when the slurry
from the feed tank was already consumed.
7. The procedure was repeated using 20% by weight CaCO3.

4. 3. Results
Table 3.1 Tabulated Data and Results of Plate and Frame Filter Press
𝑉𝑓 (ml)
(1.05%)
t (seconds)
Rate (
𝑉 𝑓
𝑡
)
𝑡
𝑉 𝑓
(
1
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒
)
13.832 0.22502 61.470
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.016268
25.612 0.45371 56.450
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.017715
33.264 0.63084 52.730
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.018965
44.905 0.88536 50.719
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.019716
54.483 1.10471 49.319
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.020276
63.203 1.30368 48.480
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.020627
78.779 1.67475 47.039
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
0.021581
Figure 3.1 Graphical representation of the time/volume of filtrate versus the
volume of the filtrate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0 2 4 6 8
VOlumeoffltrate
Time/Volume of Filtrate
Time/Volume Vs Volume of Filtrate
10% CaCO3

5. 4. Computations
𝜌 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑦= 1.074
𝑘𝑔
𝐿⁄ Weight of Slurry = 9.4 kg
Solid in Cake = 378.25 g Weight of Water in Slurry = 8.625
kg
Volume of Water in Slurry = 7.58 L
9 liters of 10% calcium carbonate solution
M = 9.635 kg
𝑀 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 = 0.1 (9.635 kg) = 963.46 g
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.9 (9.635 kg) (1
𝐿
𝑘𝑔
) = 8.67 L
𝑉𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑦 = 𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 + 𝑉𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3
Rate =
𝑉𝑓
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒
1. Rate =
13.832
0.22502
= 61.470
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
61.470
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.016268
2. Rate =
25.612
0.45371
= 56.450
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
56.450
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.017715
3. Rate =
33.264
0.63084
= 52.730
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
52.730
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.018965
4. Rate =
44 .905
0.88536
= 50.719
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
50.719
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.019716
5. Rate =
54.483
1.10471
= 49.319
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
49.319
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.020276
6. Rate =
63.203
1.30368
= 48.480
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
48.480
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.020627
7. Rate =
78 .779
1.67475
= 47.039
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑉𝑓
=
1
47.039
𝑚𝑙
𝑠
= 0.021581

6. 5. Sketch

7. 6. Discussion
Filtration may be defined as the separation of solid from a fluid through a porous
medium that retains the solid but allows the fluid to pass. It is affected by the
characteristics of the slurry, including (a) the properties of the liquid, such as density,
viscosity, and corrosiveness (b) the properties of the solid, like, particle shape, particle
size, particle size distribution, and the rigidity or compressibility of the solid (c) the
proportion of solids in the slurry (d) whether the objective is to collect the solid, the liquid
,or both and (e) whether the solids have to be washed free from the liquid or a solute. As
for the result of the concentration of the slurry as a function of time, the slurry gradually
achieves its original concentration similar to its initial concentration of calcium carbonate
prior to the addition of water. The possible sources of error occurred for this particular
experiment could either be from the equipment itself which is possibly defective resulting
to an erroneous result in the experiment, the weight of the cake both dry and wet which
varies for every tray and lastly the difference of the weight of the wet cake and dry cake
which was because of the weight of the water in the wet cake.
7. Conclusion
The relationship between the concentration of the cake obtained with its weight
and volume, and how it affects the length of time a certain volume of filtrate is obtained
were asked in this experiment. Based on the results, as the concentration of the filtrate
increases, the length of time to collect a certain volume of filtrate also increases. Evident
on the data presented, the relationship between the volumes of filtrate versus time per
volume of filtrate produces a linear plot having an r2 value of approximately 0.95 which
means that the volume of filtrate and the time per volume of filtrate has a linear
relationship in which when one increases, the other one increases respectively.

8. 8. Recommendation
In this experiment, assuming that a functioning equipment was used, it is highly
suggested that when it comes to the feed which is the slurry of calcium carbonate and
water proper mixture must be observed through the agitator. Also, the feed pump must
have its own switch control on/off. The pump should never turned on without the feed &
ensure that the feed pump must have a constant flow rate to obtain a zero value, for it to
have no pressure drop in the filter until the cake begins to build. The key issue in the
design of the filter press feed pump is the prevention of air ingress. Leakage of air
through the pump shaft seal will allow oxygen to enter the system. It is also
recommended to use inline vertical centrifugal pumps, which are submerged in barren
solution above the shaft seal which is the standard method of coping with this problem.
In some cases, a combination of filter cloth coated with filter aid such as filter paper is
applied to reach the maximum operating level of the equipment.
9. References
[1] Geankoplis, C.J. (2009) Principles of Transport Processes and Separation
Processes. 1st edition. Pearson Education South Asia PTE. LTD.
[2] Coulson et. al. (1979). Coulson and Richardson’s Chemical Engineering Series.
Pergamon Press
10.Web References
[1] Dewatering Equipment Removing Solids from Liquid-Solid Mixtures (Slurries).
Retrieved March 10, 2018, from http://www.mine-engineer.com/mining/plate.htm
[2] Plate and Frame Filter Press. Retrieved March 10, 2018, from
http://www.pharmainfo.net/book/pharmaceutical-machines/plate-and-filter-press