The most important operating parameters of disc filters are the height of the slurry tank, agitation and the intensity and rotation speed of the disc as these will determine the cake formation and drying times. It is important to continuously agitate the slurry in order to prevent sedimentation of the solids. Excessively high agitation intensity may affect cake formation or change the particle size distribution of the product. One of the most commonly used agitators for filtration using vacuum disc filters is an oscillating cradle-type agitator located in the bottom of the basin, which requires fairly high rotation speeds to form homogeneous slurry. For processing rapidly settling high concentration slurries, bottom-feed rotary disc filters are usually used.
Stage 1: Filtration
The filtrate from the internal passages of the discs is removed by the low vacuum used in the filter, while the small pressure differential across the disc causes cake formation. With a thicker cake produced in this stage, more effective washing is achieved at higher wash liquor flows. However, this causes larger air volumes to be consumed at discharge due to reduced resistance and marginally lower cake moisture.
Stage 2: Dewatering
In rare cases, due to the even structure of the cakes formed, the steady flow profile of the ceramic filter media and the gas free filtrate flow cake, washing has proved to be efficient in ceramic disc filters. The formation of thicker cakes during filtration and higher vacuum level leads to greater removal of solute.
Stage 3: Discharge
The basic scraper works well when the cakes are relatively thick and non-sticky. The final cakes are discharged by blade or wire scrapers on either side of the discs However, other types of agitators should be considered and installed if the cake is sticky or thin. An air blow-back system is often employed to aid cake removal where wetter cakes are discharged from disc filter.