Experiment no.

#5

Study of Constant Pressure Filtration


Course: ChE 304
Chemical Engineering Laboratory-3


Date of performance: 28/1/2014
Date of submission: 11/2/2014
Submitted by:
Name: Nuzhat Maisha
Student number: 0902053
Group: 5 (A2)
Group members: 0902051,0902052,0902054,0902055.
Level: 3 Term: 2
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.


Summary
The aim of this experiment was to study filtration process, determine major contributing factors
in its operation, determine the flow rates through the filters and determine specific cake
resistance and filter medium resistance for a number of constant pressure runs. A filter press
was used to conduct the experiment. Three plates and frames were arranged in such a way that
feed (slurry of CaCO
3
) can enter through one channel while filtrate comes out through two
different channels. Two different filtration cycles were operated maintaining 10 and 20 psig
pressure by controlling by-pass line valve. For each cycle of operation filtrate was collected at
regular interval and corresponding weight and time of collection were recorded. Filtration was
allowed to continue until the flow became almost ceased. The down time, which is time
required for dismantling, cleaning and setting up the device, was also noted. The constants of
filtration have been determined from the Reciprocal Filter Rate vs. Cumulative Volume of
Filtrate which in turn used to calculate optimum volume of filtrate as well as optimum filtration
time per cycle. At 10 psig, volumetric flow rate was 0.0177m
3
and operating time was 12 min 24
seconds. At 20 psig, volumetric flow rate was 0.0174m
3
and operating time was 5 min 20
seconds, which was the time, required for cleaning and dismantling only.


Experimental Setup


Figure 2: Sketch of a plate and a frame [Badger, 1997, Page-561]
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of filter press in operation
Observed Data
Down time=10 min 20 sec
Table 1: Observed Data for constant pressure filtration at 10 psig pressure.
Number of Observation
Mass of filtrate collected
excluding the bucket(kg)
Time (s)
1 3.5 60
2 2 60
3 1.55 60
4 1.5 60
5 1.25 60
6 1.25 60
7 1.1 60
8 1 60
9 0.95 60
10 0.9 60
11 0.85 60
12 0.85 60


Down Time=5 min 55 seconds
Table 2: Observed Data for constant pressure filtration at 20 psig
Number of Observation
Mass of filtrate collected
excluding the bucket(kg)
Time (s)
1 5.2 60
2 3 60
3 2.3 60
4 2.1 60
5 1.8 60
6 1.65 60
7 1.5 60
8 1.45 60
9 1.4 60
10 1.35 60
11 1.15 60
12 1.05 60
13 0.9 60


Calculated Data
Table 3: Calculated Data for constant pressure filtration at 10 psig
Number of
Observation
Volume of
filtrate v
(m
3
)
t/v
(s/m
3
)
Cumulative
Volume
(m
3
)
Cumulative
Time
(s)
Theoretical
Time
(s)
1 0.003511 17091.43 0.003510532 60 48.71371158
2 0.002006 29910 0.00551655 120 98.28673825
3 0.001555 38593.55 0.007071214 180 147.5790841
4 0.001505 39880 0.008575727 240 204.3218121
5 0.001254 47856 0.009829488 300 258.4001126
6 0.001254 47856 0.01108325 360 318.6535893
7 0.001103 54381.82 0.01218656 420 376.7847544
8 0.001003 59820 0.013189569 480 433.7809866
9 0.000953 62968.42 0.014142427 540 491.5880515
10 0.000903 66466.67 0.015045135 600 549.6427732
11 0.000853 70376.47 0.015897693 660 607.4116165
12 0.000853 70376.47 0.016750251 720 668.0358612

Table 4: Calculated Data for constant pressure filtration at 20 psig
Number of
Observation
Volume of
filtrate v
(m
3
)
t/v
(s/m
3
)
Cumulative
Volume
(m
3
)
Cumulative
Time
(s)
Theoretical
Time
(s)
1 0.005216 11503.85 0.005215647 60 22.78740631
2 0.003009 19940 0.008224674 120 60.68225374
3 0.002307 26008.7 0.010531595 180 101.9984406
4 0.002106 28485.71 0.012637914 240 149.017606
5 0.001805 33233.33 0.01444333 300 196.382058
6 0.001655 36254.55 0.016098295 360 245.5262817
7 0.001505 39880 0.017602808 420 294.9563268
8 0.001454 41255.17 0.019057172 480 347.0419847
9 0.001404 42728.57 0.020461384 540 401.3456336
10 0.001354 44311.11 0.021815446 600 457.4447421
11 0.001153 52017.39 0.022968907 660 508.1251995
12 0.001053 56971.43 0.024022066 720 556.7225832
13 0.000903 66466.67 0.024924774 780 600.1430611


Sample Calculation
Sample Calculation for Observation no-6 at 10 psig
Calculation of
v
t

Weight of filtrate excluding the bucket, m = (4.6-1.25) = 1.25 kg
Density of water, = 997 kg/m
3
Volume of filtrate, V =
3
001254 . 0
997
25 . 1
m
m

Time interval of filtrate collection, t = 60 sec

v
t
=
60
0.001254
s/m
3
= 47856
Optimum Volume of filtrate and optimum time of filtration at 10 psig
From graph, Slope of the straight line, a = 400000 sec/m
6

Intercept, b = 6990 sec/m
3
Downtime recorded, t
d
= 10 minutes 20 seconds
Optimum volume of filtrate per cycle,
3
01776 . 0
400000
620 2 2
m
a
t
V
d
opt

The optimum filtration time per cycle,
opt
opt
opt
bV
V a
t
2
) (
2


s
s
24 min 12
744
) 0176 . 0 6990 (
2
) 0176 . 0 ( 400000
2

Sample Calculation for Observation no-6 at 20 psig
Calculation of
v
t

Weight of filtrate excluding the bucket, m = (4.6-1.25) = 1.65 kg
Density of water, = 997 kg/m
3
Volume of filtrate, V =
3
001655 . 0
997
65 . 1
m
m

Time interval of filtrate collection, t = 60 sec

v
t
=
60
0.001655
s/m
3
= 36254.55 s/m
3

Optimum Volume of filtrate and optimum time of filtration at 10 psig
From graph, Slope of the straight line, a = 2,339,692.74 sec/m
6

Intercept, b = -846.6 sec/m
3
Downtime recorded, t
d
= 5 minutes 55 seconds
Optimum volume of filtrate per cycle,
3
0174 . 0
74 2,339,692.
355 2 2
m
a
t
V
d
opt

The optimum filtration time per cycle,
opt
opt
opt
bV
V a
t
2
) (
2


s
s
40 min 5
340
) 0174 . 0 6 . 846 (
2
) 0174 . 0 ( 74 2,339,692.
2

Graphical representation
Graph 1: t/v vs. Cumulative volume for 10 psig pressure

Graph 2: Cumulative volume vs. time for experimental and theoretical values at 10 psig
pressure

Graph 3: t/v vs. Cumulative volume for20 psig pressure


Graph 4: Cumulative volume vs. time for experimental and theoretical values at 20 psig
pressure





Results and Discussion
The flow rates and operating time calculated are as follows:
At 10 psig, volumetric flow rate was 0.0177m
3
and operating time was 12 min 24 seconds.
At 20 psig, volumetric flow rate was 0.0174m
3
and operating time was 5 min 20 seconds.
To maintain a constant pressure during the experiment a bypass line was used before the inlet
channel of the filter press. The optimum time was determined because after certain time the
filtration rate got lower because the solid from the slurry accumulated between the plate and
frame and gave some resistance to flow through it. So to maintain the same filtration rate flow
pressure must be increased. This requires extra power. But as in this experiment constant
pressure was maintained, the filtration rate decreased gradually. So at certain point, the
filtration rate would be almost zero with all the power given. It is surely less efficient process.
The optimum time and optimum volume were determined to know limit when the filtration
process should be stopped and equipment must be cleaned.
The downtime required for this experiment is very high. In this experiment down time is
important as the optimum time and optimum volume depend on it. The less time required for
washing, dismantling and reassembling the plates, the more will be the overall rate of filtration.
Otherwise high filtration flow rate requires the use of high pressure. Although a higher
throughput from a given filtering surface is obtained from a continuous filter than from a batch
operated filter, it may sometimes be necessary to use a batch filter, particularly if the filter cake
has a high resistance, since most continuous filters operate under reduced pressure and the
maximum filtration pressure is therefore limited. If high flow rate is applied, solids may
penetrate through the filter medium. As a result, the filtrate may contaminate and also the
deposition of the cake may not uniform. For this reason, a high rate of initial flow is not
preferable.
In graph 1 and 2, t/v is plotted against Cumulative volume. The trend line gave the constants
of filtration from the slope and the intercept by which the optimum filtrate volume and
optimum filtration time had been calculated. In graph 3 and 4, cumulative volume vs. time is
shown. It was seen that in both cases experimental time required was more than theoretical
time that would have been required. From graph-3 and 4 it was seen that cumulative volume
slowed down with time as the rate of volume flow decreased with time. Filter cake blocked the
path of fluid as the pressure drop and other parameters (viscosity, area, membrane resistance)
were held constant. So the rate of filtrate collection was slowed down. It also shows that at
high pressure, cumulative flow rate increases. So, to maintain a desired flow rate the pressure
drop should increase that can resist the effect of resistance.
The process of filtration rate measurement was done by buckets and manual weighing machine
where a flow meter could be used. The flow pressure was kept constant manually. During the
experiment the pressure was supposed to be constant. But it was very difficult to maintain a
constant pressure. In order to keep the mixture homogeneous the slurry was continuously
stirred manually. If there was a mechanical stirrer at the bottom of the drum the mixing process
would be less costly and saved manpower.