FILTRATION

Decantation separates the treated juices into two parts: the clear juice that rises to the surface (80
90% of the juice) and the dregs that collect at the bottom.
The insoluble impurities precipitated or coagulated from the juice must be separated and the separation
It may not be complete in clarifiers or decanters, without having to bear heavy burdens.
juice or sucrose losses, the final stage of separation occurs in the filters, dividing the solution.
impure sugar or mud in a cake with low sucrose content and a clear filtered juice. Like the
the quality of the sugars primarily depends on the absence of any insoluble matter,
It is obviously necessary for this filtering.
REMOVAL OF THE CACHACA IN THE CLARIFIER
The removal of sludge from a clarifier may be the most important operation in
relationship with defecation, since this elimination is performed as quickly as possible
possible, it leaves the guarapo free of the impurities that harm it, as long as the contact of the
Clarified guarapo with the cachazas, in a clarifier always means investments of sucrose.
or destruction of inverted sugars, as has been seen through this process of
defecation. Generally, the extraction of the sludge from a clarifier is done through the part
central inferior of the same, through a pump known as 'repump pumps', since
This cachaza can almost come out by gravity, and only the pump determines the amount that should be.
extracted. There is a practice in Cuba, always, where the cachaza is well extracted
concentrated, and in our opinion it should be discarded since logic indicates that, for
For the cachaza to concentrate, it is necessary for a large amount of it to accumulate.
inside the clarifier to form this concentration, which causes fermentation inversions
and the formation of decomposition products, which greatly affect the later stages
of the manufacturing.
The best practice is to remove as much sludge from the clarifier as the filters can process.
rotary, or the filter presses, and in this way the fresh pulp will be extracted and it will be
clarifier free from what harms it the most. In recent years, it has been devised by the engineer
Tomás Martínez a system that he calls 'Boots for the Calm', which consists of making channels
radial channels at the bottom of the clarifier at 90’ from each other; these channels have an outlet through a pipe
what contains an automatic valve that is activated by a timer, to which it can be fixed
time to open and close. One of the pistons of the pump (which are generally double or triple),
one is connected to the ordinary tube at the center of the bottom, and the other is connected to the boots; from this
the piston of the center tube will be continuously extracting sludge from the clarifier, and the
another pulls without ceasing, calmness from the boots. The valves are generally arranged so that
always be open one and is taken as a maximum time of two hours; thus, each valve of the
The boot will be open for about 30 MHz. As can be seen, this is one of the most efficient systems.
What can be installed on a clarifier, since through it the sludge is removed very ...
quickly, because they are falling into the channels, in the fourth part of the normal route of the other
system and, therefore, in a quarter of the time. Practice has shown us that this system
it makes the clarifiers work better, there is less investment, the juices remain clearer and
The losses are smaller.
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS FOR THE EXHAUSTION OF THE CACHACA
The filter press was the classic system in Cuba until around 1936, for the
treatment of the slag. If we conduct a thorough and unbiased analysis of the filters
presses, from a technical point of view, we will see that it was a great system, since the juices more
the bad ones from defecation were filtered through cloth; which is ideal for obtaining clear guarapos; the
the excessive cost of its maintenance led the industry to seek more economical devices, and it is
there where Oliver Campbell's filter enters for the exhaustion of the cachazas, but
unfortunately this filter did not turn out ideal and the juices it produces have been, for the most part,
what has caused the great disasters of the refractory guarapos in Cuba
Clarification. It has always been customary in Cuba to keep the cachazas before passing them through the
filter presses, at the boiling point and, moreover, use in the Oliver filters the waters of
washed, as hot as possible; this is counterproductive, and if we project a look
In retrospect to what has been written here about the constituents of juice, it will be clear,
that we have done nothing but bring to the factory all the wax that the juice brought from the
mill, also with hot imbibition waters; furthermore, many other constituents pass
from the sludge to the juices of the Oliver filters. And to all this, we add that there are still technicians who
They are trying to neutralize the acidity of the cachaça with lime, before filtering it, thinking that this will
it was done in the era of filter presses, where this operation was necessary if - since the
colloidal materials from the cachazas had to be precipitated in highly alkaline media and
obtain a good flow - without calculating that the Oliver filter does not distill through cloths and that due to its 'layer
"filter" colloids, the bagasse and everything that the guarapo carries pass through. Today we find ourselves
so that ignorance, of putting lime to the sluggishness, is nothing more than the formation of products
dark, honey formation and destruction of inverted sugars, with its sequel of formation of
decomposition products, which only bring difficulties and losses of sucrose. Thus, in the
rotary filters not only need to seek the exhaustion of the dregs, but also
manage this department in a way that causes the least harm to the
manufacturing, such as sugar quality and lower losses in other departments, which
they come as a consequence of the mistreatment given to the cachazas.
SUGAR RECOVERY FROM THE CACHACA
Although the appearance of the fecal sludge suggests that a large proportion of it
consists of suspended matter, the bulky flocculent precipitate actually includes
a lot of liquid. The suspended matter amounts to only 5% by weight.
approximately. Thus, the sucrose percentage of the cachaza is only slightly lower than that of the
Clarified juice requires a considerable expense for the recovery of this sugar.
DECANTATION
It is likely that one of the first methods of recovering sugar from the molasses of the defecator
out of the decantation. The residue that remained in the open defecators after extraction.
the clarified juice was diluted in water, boiled with the addition of lime to facilitate the
coagulation, and it was allowed to settle. The portion of water, consisting then of a solution
diluted sugar was returned to the process, and the second layer of cachaza was discarded. This
The process is sometimes referred to as double decantation. The first decantation is the one
in which the pulp of the juice settles. Such dilution means, of course, that it was incorporated
additional water to the juice, which requires an additional evaporation load to eliminate it.
Since the sugar lost in the final molasses depends on the ratio of water to molasses.
elementary, a considerable degree of dilution is required to sufficiently reduce the loss in it
cachaça.
CONTINUOUS DECANTATION PROCESS
A process conceived by Killer in Australia, and used extensively in that country until recently.
very little, I used the imbibition water to dilute the primary cachaza which was then left
settle this water in a secondary clarifier. The overflow less turbid from the second
clarifier is then used as imbibition, and, as is logical, it drags with it an appreciable
sugar content.
With a high proportion of imbibition, and consequently, with a high dilution of molasses,
the loss of pol in this is reduced to an insignificant figure. HAYDEN reported results that showed
the scant amount of 1.01% of pol in the final cachaza, using the Killer process; the
dilution, however, yielded the extremely high figure of 39% in the primary juice, while
the volume of primary cashew was only 4% of the clarified juice. Given that the water of
imbibition collects some sugar from the vinasse, its effectiveness as imbibition will be lower than that of
pure water. This constitutes a disadvantage of the process, more harmful, but generally
inadvertently, it is the redissolution of impurities in the molasses. Tests have been reported that
they achieved a purity of 75% in the clarification of the Killer process, compared to 88% in
the own juice defecated. The difference represents impurities collected when diluting the cachaza; Part
Such impurities could be calcium salts that are generally added to facilitate the
coagulation of the diluted cachaza. If the sedimentation of the cachaza in the second clarifier does not
it is satisfactory, particles from that pass to the clarification and when depositing from the imbibition liquid
in the bagasse, they can cause a serious slipping in the final mill. Those disadvantages have
motivated the gradual substitution of the Killer process by rotary filters.
The Petree process, used to a considerable extent during the period of 1920-1930, consists of the
dilution of the secondary cachaça from the compound clarification with imbibition water, but the
Cachaça is applied afterward with the imbibition, so that it filters in the bagasse and passes without causing
no damage to the boilers' furnaces. The system, however, was not successful due to the
harmful effect that it produced on the final mill's feed, just as it happened with the
defective sedimentation of the Killer clarifier.
FILTRATION:
Results of the clarification. The clarification separates into two portions: (1) the clarified juice and (2)
the sedimented precipitates, foams, and sludges. The clarified juice, which consists of 80 to 90%
from the original juice, almost invariably passes to the evaporators without further treatment. The foams
and combined muds are filtered.
Decantation separates the treated juices into 2 parts:
The clear juice that rises to the surface.
(b) The wash that collects at the bottom. The clear juice goes to the production, that is, generally to
the evaporation. The cachaza must be filtered in order to separate from the juice precipitate that it contains along with
with the insoluble salts that have formed and the fine bagasse that it drags.
CONDITIONS FOR GOOD FILTRATION
Filtration is an operation that can sometimes be delicate and difficult to handle. In order to...
to improve the odds of success, it is necessary to observe certain rules:
Temperature.
The viscosity of the juice and especially that of the gums and waxes that the surface must retain.
filter decreases as the temperature increases. For this reason, it is advisable to filter it at
high temperature. It should ideally operate above 80 ºC.
2. Reaction.
Alkaline juices filter better than acidic or neutral juices. For this reason, they are generally
add lime to the slurries before sending them to filtration. The pH is raised to 8 or 8.5. It's better.
reduce from 8.5 to avoid unnecessarily using an excess of lime, which also increases deposits
in the multiple effect.
Adjustment of the sludge pH.
The sludge is generally alkalized to a pH no higher than 8.0 to 8.5. An excess of lime here is
harmful for the same valid reasons as clarified juice. In some areas, the preference is for the
neutralization with sodium carbonate (soda ash). However, the juice from the sludge usually
it has a pH lower than that of clarified juice, therefore it is necessary to add some lime to the sludge
to raise the pH between 7.8 and 8.0 and also maintain the temperature of the sludge at 85 ºC afterwards
from the addition of bagasse. To achieve a faster reaction, calcium saccharate is preferred.
the lime mortar.
TYPES OF FILTERS
The main devices where filtration takes place are the following:
Filter press.
Mechanical filters.
Continuous vacuum rotary filters.
PRESS FILTERS
Pressure filtration is generally used for carbonated juices. The juice passes through
the filter fabrics and the sludge accumulate until the receptacle between fabrics is full. The pressure
varies from 30 to 50 lb/inch2(2.1 to 3.5 Kg. / cm)2and the temperatures are 80 º C (176 º F).
Plate and frame filter presses have been widely used and are still used in
Some countries The filter presses are of the normal type of plates and frames. The frames have
around 2 inches thick and up to more than 3 square feet and are prepared for the
systematic washing by alternate plates that remove the cake from each sludge (see fig. 17/1).
The flocculent precipitate is something sticky and compressible and does not filter easily. Generally, it
it adds lime until achieving a high alkalinity (pH of around 9.0) in order to accelerate filtration.
The filtration continues until the frames are saturated, which is indicated by the noticeable
pressure rise necessary to pass the filtration through the frame. Then the
filter keys that are present in the washing plates (the even numbers from Fig. 17/1) and are pumped
in the manner indicated by the arrows, to move the juice that remains in the filter cake. The
washing, however, always proves unsatisfactory, due to how uneven the cake is, and even
with a large proportion of washing water, it becomes extremely difficult to satisfactorily reduce the
sucrose content of the cake. PRAEGER reported tests in which the washing was maintained.
until the drained water dropped to a brix of 2 º, but the pol content of the filter cake
washing continued to be 6%. The washing with pumped water that follows the same path as the
filtration is still worse, given that washing tends to come in through the upper portion and
less dense than the whole, leaving practically untouched the denser portion at the bottom
of the frame.
Different means have been used to solve the washing problem and reduce the content of dust.
of the cake. One of these methods consists of diluting the cachaza before filtering it. This reduces the
losses of pol, but the filtering volume increases, so more capacity is required
filter. Another procedure involves discharging the cake into a receiver, where it is mixed with water
and it gets filtered again. This system is more effective, but it also requires additional filtering capacity.
It is not uncommon for all attempts to wash the cake to be abandoned and for it to be limited to
effort to the steam application; that is, injecting steam into the ducts of the passage of the
pressing to extract the maximum amount of juice possible, and then proceed to discard the cake,
without washing it. If the cachaza is a product of the sedimentation of a juice of low concentration, it is
undoubtedly will lead to leaving a filter cake with lower pol content. The process
the clarification compound has this advantage, as the spent sugarcane juice mixes with
the secondary juice, with what is left diluted in part by the weaker guarapo.
DESCRIPCIÓN:
A filter press (Figure 1) consists of a series of plates (Fig. 31.2) separated by frames.
of the same thickness, both independent and mobile running on 2 support bars and
that can be tightened against each other by means of a screw device or by
by means of a hydraulic pressure.
When the pressure is set and the filter is closed, the holes a and b, located in the ears of
The plates and frames form a continuous tube. The juice arrives; the conduits between frames and
plates, filtering steps or fabrics are interposed. The juice penetrates the frame, passes through the cloth, exits
through the channels c (Fig. 31.3) after having left the cloth inside the frame, the
suspended materials it contained.
The mass formed by these materials, when it has filled all the available space, is called
'cachaça' cake

Figure 1

Plates.
The plate comprises an original machined surface and a thinner central part, which
it has undulations or relief patterns, through which the juice can drain under pressure
from the pump that tends to press the fabric against the plate.
The plates can be corrugated or have a pyramidal surface to ensure better drainage.
a 30% increase on the corrugated ones allows it to filter viscous liquids.
Marco.
The frame encompasses the same marginal surface but is empty inside.
The thickness of the frames and the plate is 30 to 40 mm, the thicker it is, the greater the
time it takes for the cake to form.
Both the frames and the plates are always made of cast iron.
The number of mobile plates is one less than the number of frames, which is generally,
40 to 45.
The frames and plates are held by 2 steel bars that also serve as
beams that absorb the tensile stress produced between the 2 structures at the ends by
the pressure exerted to close the plates.
The fixed keys to each plate form a longitudinal outlet through which the filtered juice drains.
The description just made applies to the plate and frame filter presses.
There are other models of filter presses, particularly the plate filter press that does not have
frames, but whose principle and operation is exactly analogous. These will not be seen.
models that also tend to disappear.
CYCLE
It takes about half an hour to an hour to decompress, clean, recharge, and
press a filter press
The actual filtration lasts one and a half to two hours,
Washing with water and steam takes
From here, the duration of each cycle can be obtained:
Decompress and reload approximately 3/4 hour

Filter 1 3/4 h
Wash ½h
Cycle 3 hours
FILTERING SURFACE:
The filtration surface is equal to the useful surface that presents itself, when the turbid juices pass through,
interposed fabrics.
In the plate and frame filter presses, the filtering surface is expressed as
S=2*N*H*L
S = filtering surface of the filter press
N = number of filter press frames
H = internal height of the frame, m
L = interior length of the frame, m
USUAL DIMENSIONS
The most common dimension corresponds to the filter press of 40, 42, or 45 frames of 1 m x 1 m.
The dimensions of the frame are the outer ones. The corresponding filtering area is
approximately 0.90 m x 0.90 m, that is, 1.62 m for each frame or around 70 m2
For each filter. The total surface area of the plates, which is 2 m here, has no influence on
the leakage.
FILTER PRESSURE
The filtration speed depends on the pressure at which the juice is placed inside the filter.
This pressure is provided by the mash pump.
The pressure is normally 3 to 4 kg. cm2It can descend to 2 Kg. / cm2in the cases
more favorable and increase up to 4.5 Kg. / cm2at the time of washing and in cases
unfavorable.
SOLIDITY OF THE PLATES
The plates must eventually be able to withstand the pressure of the juice on one of their sides.
Indeed, it can happen that the juice channel of a frame becomes blocked. In this case, the plates
neighbors do not receive any juice pressure from that side but suffer the pressure from the other. A plate
of a filter surface of 0.90 x 0.90 m then experiences a total pressure.
P = 90 * 90 * 4 = 32.400kg
assuming that the maximum pressure given by the feeding pump of bagasse is 4 Kg/cm2
In practice, the plates are made of cast iron and are not built to normally withstand these.
pressures. For this reason, care must be taken to ensure that the juice channels remain clear and must
From time to time, clean yourself to avoid the accumulation of solid matter.
CLOSING PRESSURE
The closing screw or the hydraulic pressure must be able to balance the total juice pressure.
and also provide an additional closure that ensures the isolation of the device and prevents leaks of
juice between the frames and the plates.
It is generally estimated that the pressure exerted by the closing device must be at least
superior by 50% to the pressure of the juice, that is, in the previous case:
P’ = 1,5 P = 32.400 x 1,5 = 48.600kg
The separator bars and the closing nut must be calculated accordingly.
CAPACITY OF PRESS FILTERS
The filtering surface needed for a factory, per T.C.H., varies greatly according to the
purification procedure adopted and as it is carried out in a more or less
Complete in the washing of the cakes. The averages from one country to another vary within broad limits.
In Cuba, for example, 4 m are estimated.2filtering surface by T.C.H. In Mauritius, it is calculated that
same amount when working with noble canes. In Bourdon, where the juices are more
difficult, it should reach 6 or 7 meters2The British Antilles install 10 m2In Hawaii, the filters
presses also represent 10 m2The general control of the factories in South Africa gives,
by 1929, an average of 11 m2with the extremes, 4 and 30 m/T.C.H.
Noel Deerr (Page 306) and Tromp (Page 392) respectively calculate the following areas, in
rn2/T.C.H. and foot2/T.C.H.
Tromp advises adopting the lower figures if kieselguhr is used; however, if it is not taken into account
it accounts for the quality of the juices that are processed, it is more convenient to increase them.
The figures from Noel Deerr suggest that molasses constitutes 10% of the juice volume, and its material
dry, from 0.3 to 0.4% of the weight of the cachaza
TABLE 53–SURFACES REQUIRED IN PRESS FILTERS
Noel Deerr, m2Trump, m2
Defecation without washing 7-8 6-7
Defecation with washing of the cake 10-12 8-9
Double filtration 9 - 11
Sulfitation, with washing 10 - 12
Filtration of all the juice 15
Filtration of all the juice. with wash 23
1st carbonation of Haan 8 6-8
1st ordinary carbonation 10–13 9 - 11
2nd carbonization 4-5 4-5
Filtration of the molasses 3-4 4-5
WEIGHT OF THE CAKE PRODUCED
The filter presses yield about 4 or 5 kg of cake per m.2of filtering surface per hour.
CAKE
When the filtration is good, the cakes are porous; when it is bad, they are semi-liquid and
thin.
Humidity.
The moisture content obviously depends on the state of the cake. When the cakes are
buenas, es decir, secas, el contenido de humedad varia del 50 al 60 % cuando son semi líquidas
reaches 70%
Sugar content.
Before washing, the water content of the cakes corresponds to the juice content. From the
In the same way, the sugar content originates solely from the juice: if the cake contains 70%
from the juice (that is, 50 to 60% water) its sugar content will be 70% of the content of the juice
where it comes from. Hence the interest, observed in the composed clarification, to filter only the
cachaza that comes from poor juices (when working with secondary juices). Likewise, it
explain the advantage of washing the cakes exclusively to replace the juice with water
contain.
Amount of filter cake.
The amount of cake, regardless of the Cister used for sludge removal, varies.
much with the locality and many other factors. The efficiency of grinding and casting of
juices, the amount of lime and additives used in clarification, all are factors that affect the
final weight of the sludges. In general, the amount of cake per ton of cane increases as
that advances the harvest. Mechanical harvesting introduces trash and soil from the field and is the cause
obvious from the increase in the sludge. With the number of variables, the weight of the cake, particularly
the moist cake is of dubious utility. The data provided here should be considered
only as a general guide and not as precise figures or to establish criteria. With filters
pressing the weight of the cake can be done with reliable values obtained. For Cuba, the
The average cake in filter presses was 30 to 40 lb (14 to 18 Kg) per ton of sugarcane and with
humidity levels from 55 to 65%. Similar values were reported in Java and Puerto Rico. In the case of
Vacuum rotary filters range from 60 to 140 lb (27 to 64 kg) per ton of cane with moisture of
65 to 80%, depending on the degree of mechanization of the field, the efficiency of cane washing and
characteristics of the countryside land.
The cake can be quantified by collecting and weighing a known area of it,
establishing a relationship with the peripheral area of the filter and then multiplying by the number of
revolutions of this during a certain period. Some factories currently weigh fa
cake load that trucks carry before using it for filling and in the fields, or for
industrial purposes.
The quality of the treated juice determines the amount of cake obtained. With grindable cane, the cake
será de 17,5 kg /TC. Con cañas poco molinables será mayor a 20 Kg /TC.
With 20 Kg/Tc the total sugar loss in the filtration will be around 0.4 to 1% of it.
sugar contained in the cane, according to the effectiveness of the washing that is practiced.
Weight of the cake.
The weight of the cake obtained from 100 Kg. of sugarcane is:
Factories with defecation or sulfitation 1 at 2.5% cane
Factories with carbonation: 6 to 12 %
The quality of the processed juice determines the amount of cake obtained, Sise works with noble canes.
the cake will be 1.75% of the cane's bagasse, for example, and it could even go down to below 1%. If it
the attempt at less noble canes will be greater than 2%
Sugar losses in the cake.
With a cake weight of 2%, the total sugar loss in filtration will be around 0.4.
at 1%, of the sugar contained in the cane, according to the effectiveness of the washing that is practiced.
CAKE WASHING
The filter presses are arranged in such a way that the juice can be displaced and the cake washed with
water. In practice, all methods of washing the cake from the press filters come from the
Simple defecation is not satisfactory. What yields better results is to dilute the cake and return it.
filter in such a way that the new cake can be discarded without washing. Introduce air or steam into the
Pressing at the end of the cycle is not entirely satisfactory for reducing the residual juice in the cake.
The juice loading to the filter press is interrupted when the cake has finished forming, something that is
check for the decrease in the clear juice spending on the keys of the plates. In this
moment the juice that saturates the cake and makes up more than half of its weight, is the juice of the
decanter or defecator that generally contains 12 to 15% sugar. It is necessary
then replace it by rinsing the filter with water or steam. This operation is called
washing. It can be done in 2 ways:
Simple wash.
Simply substitute juice for water. The water goes through the same path in the filter and comes out through
the keys of Jugo.
The system is not very effective because water tends to take the shortest path.
say, through the slots or from the top of the cake. To achieve a better result some
Sometimes one of the frames in the center of the filter press is replaced with a frame that is 5 or 6 mm thicker.
slim. This frame evidently fills up before the others. It is assumed that when it is
full, the others must still have an empty space of about 5 or 6 mm. Really, the reservoir
In the fabrics that form regularly and is faster at the lower part of the frame than at the part
superior. At the end of the loading, the cavity has the indicated shape (Fig. 205), sufficient for
improve water distribution.
This washing method, although very common, is still primitive and ineffective, even with this modification.
Systematic washing
It has been seen (fig. 31.2) that the frames and plates have, apart from the juice duct a, placed
in the back ear, a tube b in the front ear. Additionally, the paired plates are differentiated
of the odd ones, by alternately installing a short key and a long one. In this way it is more
easy handling of the keys that would otherwise be confusing.
The even plates communicate with conduit 1.
The systematic washing is then carried out as follows: Water is sent through conduit 1, and it
close the clear juice valves of all even plates (for example, all long keys).
The water then enters through the even plates, passes through the fabrics and the neighboring cakes, and exits through the
keys that were left open and correspond to the odd plates (fig. 31.4).
This procedure yields better results than the previous one.
French builders give to the filter press, water ducts, that communicate with the
interior of everything, the plates. This practice aims to:
allow simple washing using ducts b
Make the interchangeable plates
When installing these plates, it is necessary to close the small communication channel in all pairs;
for example. For this purpose, it is advisable to use an elastic mass that can be removed with
ease and no casting chewing.
Washing limit.
When, at the end of the filtration, juice is replaced by water in the washing, the brix of the clear juice that
It drains through the keys, remaining constant at the beginning: This corresponds to the juice.
content in the cake that is being replaced by water. Later, the brix drops sharply, in
At this moment, water begins to arrive. According to the filtration surface available.
washing is interrupted from the moment the brix drops 3 º, 2 º or 1 º. It is not advisable to
lower than 1 º because at this moment impurities would be dragged along and not sugar.
Considering the price of the filters and their installation, it is not advisable to have the filtration.
lower by 2 or 3 brix because right now, the washing time is extended
considerably.
The washings (the water that drains after washing) are alkaline and should not be mixed with the juice;
they are frequently used in the manufacture of lime slurry.
The washing ends by forcing the water out of the cake by passing steam through the filter.
Exterior washes.
The cake can also be washed outside the press filter; to do this, it is placed in a container in
where it is diluted with 90% of its weight in hot water. It is mixed and re-filtered. The second
filtration is quick and yields a cake that contains no more than 1 to 2% sugar.
PROBLEMS IN FILTRATION
If the filtration is difficult and the cakes are semi-liquid, it may be due to the wax contained in the juice that
it solidifies at around 66 ºC and deposits on the cold fabrics when filling the filter with juice
hot. To avoid this phenomenon, it is advisable to pass steam before starting the intake
of the juice.
If the cake remains semi-liquid, its quality can be improved by increasing the amount of
bagacillo introducing it directly into the juice to be filtered or replacing the bagacillo cloths
for fabrics with larger diameter perforations.
IMPROVERS
Kieselguhr can also be used. Kieselguhr is a siliceous deposit that is extracted in
mines of North Africa and America that originate from the accumulation of diatoms
dead. The drawing of these tiny beings is very fine and gives their siliceous remains properties
filters.
Diatomaceous earth is mixed with the juice by filtration. Tromp mentions 400 to 500 g of diatomaceous earth per meter.
square feet of filtering surface per hour
FILTERING FABRICS
The filtering fabrics are made of cotton or linen and cotton; they can also be hemp and
cotton, jute, or a mixture of 2 of any of these various materials.
Fabrics are presented in the market in long strips of the desired width that are later cut.
in the factory to the necessary size, or alternatively, in pieces made to the suitable size. The fabrics are
they are generally sold unpolished and guaranteed not to shrink. Anyway, it is
It is advisable to allow for an excess in length and width.

In Fig. 207, the best dimensions to be adopted for filter fabrics are given.
1 m x 1 m press. The reinforcement bands shown in the figure serve to increase the
thickness of the fabric at the points where it is most prone to wear. In this way
extend its duration without increasing the price. The fabrics must never overlap because
any increase in thickness causes leaks of the juice at the point where the overlap occurs
supports finally the joint between the sea and the plate.
If the fabrics shrink, it is necessary to give them dimensions of 2.250 x 1.070 times the side of the
plate.
A filter fabric weighs between 800 and 1,000 g/m2according to their quality, and excluding the reinforcements.
Screen consumption for filters.
In a factory that works with defecation or with sulfitation, a consumption of about should be calculated.
2 meters of well-made good quality fabric for 100 T.C.
B. MECHANICAL FILTERS
PHILIPPE FILTERS
The Philippe filters do not perform the same job as the press filters; they are generally reserved for
the most delicate filtrations, for example, for the filtration of the clear juice from the decanters or
for the filtration of molasses. They are usually found next to the press filters, at the
that complement but do not substitute.
Description
A Philippe filter consists of a rectangular container closed at the top by a
perforated plate of parallel channels (Fig. 208). Through each of these slots, a
metal frame (Fig. 209) that is received in a hollow cap. This frame serves as a skeleton and
support for the bag (Fig. 209). The bag is a fabric that wraps around the frame like a sack and
that ends at the supposed edge in a thick border that forms the joint between the cap and the groove.
Operation.
The juice arrives at the container under a certain pressure and exits through the cap after having passed through
the bag. This is externally covered with a layer of filtered impurities. When this
the mattress becomes very thick the clear juice output decreases; at this moment the filter must
stop to change the bags
Dimensions.
The frames are generally 700 x 700 m that is, 1 m2by purse.
A filter has between 20 to 33 bags.
Necessary pressure.
The Philippe filters do not need to use a pump: they work under the simple load provided by 1 to
2 meters high for the juice and generally 2.50 m.
Si la altura pasa de 3 m la filtración se hace muy rápida pero se corre el riesgo de romper las
bags.
Capacity.
An expense of approximately 200 I can be calculated per item (per bag or per m)2) and by h,
for a pressure H equal to 2 m.
For a different pressure, the flow rate varies as H.1/2The cycle of a filtration is from 12 to 18 hours, in
average 15.
It is estimated that one filter out of every 12 will be inactive, to replace bags.
It is deduced that for the filtration of clear juices, it is necessary to anticipate around 5 m.2T.C.H. Noel
Deerr calculates from 3 to 4 m2T.C.H. Tromp measures from 6 to 10 m2/T.C.H.
When using Philippe filters to filter molasses, it is necessary to provide a surface
filter approximately equal to that needed for the juice.
Employment.
The Philippe filters complete the purification of the juice by removing very fine particles.
However, their use is decreasing because they take up a lot of space and require labor.
numerous and the bags they use wear out quickly and are expensive.
They are low-pressure filters and can remove more impurities at a higher juice rate than the filters.
packaged.
They are used on a small scale in sugar cane factories, their main field is the
refineries and beet sugar factories.
FIXED DISK FILTERS OF THE SWEETLAND TYPE
This filter came into use around 1915 with the discovery and commercial exploitation of
high-capacity diatomaceous earth.
These filters, for guava pomace, replace the filter presses. They are more expensive but require little
labor and its consumption of fabrics is lower.
Its capacity, for the same surface area, is 1.8 times greater than that of the filter presses. It is calculated:
Factories with defecation or sulfitation 3 to 3.5 m2T.C.H.
Factories with carbonation 6 to 7 m2/ T.C.H.
They are mainly used in carbonation.
They consist of a cylindrical container that opens halfway with the help of a counterweight.
Interior and containing a series of disc-shaped frames (Fig. 210). They work as a
analogous to the Philippe filters.
The filtering elements consist of circular wire mesh screens between fabric.
covered with fabric and equipped with an outlet nipple at the top connected to a device
of the filtering discharge, outside the filter.
In the gaps between the discs, there is a small nozzle that can wash the mattress of
deposits that form on the two neighboring sides of them. As in the case of the Philippe filters
Each disc produces clear juice through an individual outlet tube that allows for control.
Glass tubes for discharge and shut-off valves allow you to see if there are broken fabrics or others.
breakdowns
The horizontal circular body of the filter is divided into two parts and the opening or closure is taken to
cable using hydraulic or other types of mechanisms.
When the filter pressure reaches a maximum of 60 lb/in2 (4.2 kg/cm2), a washing device,
mechanically operated with a nozzle placed directly above each blade, releases
with water the cake formed. The operating pressures vary from 2.1 to 2.8 Kg/cm2, during a
cycle of one hour or more.
The washing of the cake is almost always done after it has been dragged using water.
to other containers and filters.
According to Tromp, these filters produce around 7 kg of dry cake per m.2/ h. They are cleaned
washing them and emptying them. The filtration speed is 15 to 25% higher than that of the filters.
press.
The thickness of the cake reaches 20 to 25 mm. The cycle is about 60 to 90 minutes of which
they use 40 to 60 for the filtration itself.
The washing is more effective than in the filter presses and the cake will be desugared to less than 1%.
The filters are sold in units with areas ranging from 39 to 65 m².2These filters are popular in the
American zone. They are more expensive, require little labor, and their fabric consumption is lower.
than in filter presses. The flow rate is 15 to 25% higher than filter presses, but for the
Washing requires 50 to 75% more water.
Its capacity per unit area is 1.8 times greater than that of the press filters.
SUCHAR AUTOFILTER
It is a filter similar to the previous one but in which the disks pivot around a hollow central axis.
through which the juice circulates. The discs rotate at a speed of 3 to 5 rpm and operate under
pressures that vary from 1.5 to 3.5 kg / cm2.
The filter opens only to change the fabrics; the washing and emptying of the bagasse are done without
Interrupt their progress, so it is possible to work on it without opening for several months.
These filters, like the Sweetland, are used throughout the carbonation process; their use is limited
almost to the American zone; they present the same advantages and the same disadvantages as a
Sweetland filter,
CONTINUOUS VACUUM ROTARY FILTERS
The type of this genre of filters, which became widespread, is the Oliver-Campbell filter. It will be this one that
describe and whose characteristics are discussed. The vacuum rotary filters have lower retention of
solids (70%), high sugar loss and high use of bagasse.
Changes in practice. The Oliver-Campbell type vacuum rotary filter has almost replaced
totally to those of plates and frames, except for those areas where labor is cheap. The
A great inconvenience is that the filtration is clean enough to go to the evaporators. This
It is necessary for all the filtering to return to the clarifier, imposing a load on the system.
clarifier.
At the end of 1950, several processes were introduced that allow the direct mixing of the filtrates.
from the sludge with the clarified juice, an improvement that prevents the recirculation of this large volume of
liquid matter.
After its introduction around 1935, the Oliver Campbell cachaza filter
quickly replaced the filter presses. The filter consists of a rotating drum covered with
a perforated plate of copper or another metal that is immersed in a bath containing the sludges. A
As the drum turns, suction is successively applied to the different segments, with which
a thin cake forms on the filtering surface. The cake thus formed passes under
water spray for washing, it dries by suction and is removed by scrapers over a
discharge conveyor. To facilitate filtration, a small amount of bagasse is added
fine (bagacillo), obtained by sifting or by air separation from the bagasse of the last mill, to
the foams and sludges of the clarifier. A diagram of the Dorr-Oliver filter is found on the side
right of the figure. The great advantage of the rotary filter is that it saves a lot of labor.
necessary in the press filters. The great disadvantage of this system is that it rarely produces a
sufficiently clear filtered to pass to the evaporators.
Description
The rotary vacuum filter, already well established in the chemical industry, was applied by
first time to the filtration of cane bagasse back in 1930, under the name of Oliver filter
Campbell. Several other manufacturers are currently supplying design filters.
similar. The essential feature of such filters for cachazas is the use of a sieve made of
for a perforated copper or stainless steel plate, instead of cloth. The common cloth
it would easily become clogged by the small particles of pulp and reduce the filtration rate
practically to zero, at a few revolutions of the drum. The metal screen or sieve, on the other
part, allows for easy discharge of the cake, so that the sieve maintains its efficiency. Given
that the perforations of the sieve are too large (around 0.5 millimeters) to retain
The particles of cachaza, bagasse is used as a filtration aid. For this purpose, it is separated.
from the final bagasse sufficient fine bagacillo, to mix with the spent before dumping it into the
filter. The particles of bagasse thus come to constitute the true filtering element in the
clean; but the passage of a certain amount of cloudy juice is inevitable before the filtering mantle.
remains properly formed. Consequently, the filtering is separated in the distributing valve,
placed at the end of the filter, in two portions, the so-called cloudy and clear filtrates. The cloudy filtrate
it is what happens at the beginning of the filtration cycle, when the filtering surface is submerged in the
drainage of the filter tank and is connected to the vacuum for the first time. The hole or passage for filtering
clearly collects the filtering from the rest of the cycle, including the wash water. The vacuum rotary filters
it has lower solid retention (70%), high sugar loss, and high use of bagasse.
It consists of a drum that rotates around a horizontal axis (Fig. 31.6) which is submerged
in part, in the liquid to be filtered. The periphery serves as the filtering surface: it is divided into 24
independent sections, each occupying 15º of the circumference and extending to
Throughout the length of the drum, each of the sections connects individually to a vacuum pipe.
through a small metal tube that connects to a distributor, located in one of the
ends of the axis and that has 3 different sectors,

One without communication with the vacuum and in communication with the atmosphere.
(b) The second statement with a space in which a small vacuum is exercised; of the magnitude of
10 to 25 cm of mercury,
The third one in communication with a space where a greater vacuum of about 20 to 30 is applied.
The exterior wall is made of a finely perforated copper mesh.
Auxiliaries
Es natural que se requiera una cantidad considerable de equipo auxiliar, como se muestra en el
diagram of the figure. The bagasse is separated from the final bagasse conductor and is taken away by means
from a venturi to the cyclone separator, which discharges into the mixer, where it is combined with the
cachaza. The mixture of bagasse and cachaza then goes to the upper feed tank,
from which it is pumped back to the filter trough. This trough is maintained at a level
constant, as the mixture is allowed to flow out through an overflow to return to the tank
from the lower mixture. The filtrates pass to the two receivers, which correspond,
respectively to the first and second filters. Next, the filters are extracted from these.
receivers by means of pumps, and they are returned to the process or passed to the evaporators,
depending on the degree of clarity of them. The receivers are connected to a separator
of dragging and to a Torricelli condenser that is in turn connected to the vacuum pump. The
The filter cake is removed using a scraper and taken out through a channel that is not visible.
in the figure.
From the bagacillo, the final bagasse can be obtained using sieves or through the
pneumatic separation. The screens can be fixed, vibrating, or rotating.
Operation
The filtration surface or sieve is placed on the perimeter of the sieve and is divided into 24 sections.
independent, so that each one occupies 15° on the circumference. Each segment
It connects separately to a pipe located at the end of the drum, which communicates with a
slot in the fixed part of the distribution valve located at the end of the drum.
The operation is illustrated in the figure.

The vacuum is first applied to position O, so that the cake forms in section 0-1 and
I passed the filtering to the connection of the cloudy filtration. The filtration continues in section 1-2 and the cake.
grows. In the next section (2-3), the wash water from sections 3 to 4 is applied, the cake is
drains partly due to the water drainage in it; at position 4, the vacuum is cut off and the
the segment opens to let in atmospheric air; in this way, the cake detaches.
easily when stumbling upon the rubber scraper. It will be seen that the immersion-type filter is low,
what does it mean that a small proportion of the cycle is dedicated to true training of the
filter cake with what remains a larger proportion for washing and drying.
This is the normal procedure with a broth of quite difficult filtration properties, and
when the important factor is the collection of the filtering, rather than the obtaining of a cake
dry.
OPERATION
When turning the filter, the section that begins to enter the liquid immediately becomes
communication with the vacuum. The aspiration of the liquid occurs, which enters the small
drillings.
However, they quickly fill up with pieces of pulp and suspended matter.
the first juice that passes is then evidently poorly filtered and is cloudy. It is called "filtered"
turbid" and is taken to a special container
The section thus furnished with a small mattress that forms the beginning of the cake passes in
followed by the high vacuum sector. Indeed, it is necessary to increase the aspiration because the
resistance offered by the cake increases with its thickness. However, the juice that passes is now
filtering in a more effective way by their own impurities and by the pomace that both form
by themselves the filtering surface necessary when accumulating on the drum. This juice constitutes
the 'clear filtering goes into the other container. The cake continues to thicken until the section comes out
from the liquid. The juice that drags its surface drains into the bucket. The section then goes through
spray nozzles that sprinkle hot water over the cake. At this moment
the washing begins. The vacuum slowly sucks up the water and the manufacturers assure that this wash
it is planned so that the water has just the right time in the remaining fraction of the turn
to go through, to cross the cake and displace the juice. In effect, the sugar removal is very efficient and,
however, the brix of the clear juice is only slightly lower than that of the cloudy juice.
After the spraying, the washing is maintained by the sprinklers that let water drip over
the cake as the surface dries due to the absorption of water. The drying begins
after the last sprinkler; The water is sucked inside without being renewed outside. A little before
from which the section re-enters the liquid finds a scraper formed by a rigid band
of rubber that slightly rests on the perforated fabric. At the moment when the section is about to
touch them, the distributor breaks the vacuum that keeps the cake stuck against the fabric. In this way
the simple contact of the scraper separates it into a block that falls to a screw conveyor that
she takes it outside of the apartment. The cake is received in the yard in a trailer that, when full, is
dragged by a tractor that distributes it in the field; the trailer is immediately replaced
on the other hand.

In the way they are usually worked, the operation of these filters of this type with
frequency is very unsatisfactory. The filtrations result extremely murky and the retention of
Suspended matter leaves much to be desired. The 'retention', defined as the percentage of
solids of the incoming sludge (suspended matter excluding the bagasse) that
retention in the filter cake has often been 50% or less. With a retention of a
Such a low order results in a lot of suspended matter being recirculated to the clarification plant.
With a retention of 50%, for example, the amount of solid bagasse that passes through the plant
clarification increases until it doubles the amount that comes in with the mixed guarapo. This
point is about JENKINS in a report that covers research on the requirements for
an efficient filtration: FOSTER created the chart reproduced in figure 17/5, in the
which indicates the amount of solids from molasses manipulated by the filter with different degrees of
retention efficiency; When the filtrates are turbid, they are usually returned to
mixed guarapo and, consequently1they pass again through the heaters, defecators, and filters.
A rather temporary improvement consists of passing the filtrates to a separate clarifier,
after the addition of some lime and the application of heat. The molasses then settles and
the clarified filtering can be good enough to go directly to the
evaporators. If it is not, it can be returned to the mixed guarapo. In these cases, the degree of
the recirculation of the filter cake is considerably reduced, as it is essentially limited to the filter; but
In any case, the filter is still overloaded due to its poor retention.
Perforated fabrics
Perforated fabrics are made of copper, brass, or stainless steel, with 100 holes per cm.2each
one of 0.5 mm in diameter. These copper fabrics are 0.45 mm thick, 1 mm apart
centers of the drilling and 23% of the open area. Its designation in the series
french is RD 0.5 S.
Monel fabrics have a thickness of 0.45 mm, 1 mm between hole centers, and 23%
open area.
The width of the sections is 318 mm in the Oliver filter and 344 mm in the Eimco filter.
The stainless steel ones have 695 holes per inch.2with center to center hole distances of 1 to 1.2 mm,
They are alternately disposed, and the open area ranges from 22 to 23%. Its thickness is 0.3 mm and
they have a 20 mm unperforated fastening flange.
The drum has its perimeter divided into equidistant spaces, which, through bars
Welded longitudinally, they form the sections or vacuum chambers on the surface. Throughout
the extension of each chamber is placed with metal brackets or drainage grades made of material
synthetic, generally polypropylene, which aim to promote spacing
between the base of the surface of the drum and the filter cloth. This space allows the liquid
filtering drains inside the chamber 3 towards the drainage outlets.
.Las telas se fijan en las barras con cordones de algodón, neoprene o plomo y a veces alambres
to fix them in their position. The number is 22 plates.
They hardly wear out and can be used for several harvests. However, they are fragile and
delicate; for this reason it is advisable to wrap the filter during downtime, and to avoid
injuries, cyclone damage, etc., with a protective cover that fits over the drum by
medium of belts.
STIRRER
To prevent the sludge that reaches the filter bucket from settling at the bottom, it is kept in
movement by means of an oscillating stirrer that pivots on the axis of the filter and moves
by a special engine,
MOTOR
The filter drum received the rotational movement from a small electric motor.
approximately 2 H.P.
SPEED
The speed of this motor is constant. Generally 1,400 rpm. It moves the filter by means of
a belt and a double gear reducer of worm screws, A small device allows
adjust, by means of a pulley, the gear reduction ratio of the V-belt.
The rotation speed of the drum can be varied between a maximum of one turn every 3 minutes.
and a minimum of one lap every 10 minutes. That is to say, on a scale of adjustments that allows for variation
the speed between two ends that are in the approximate ratio of 1 to 3.
CAKE
The cake obtained has a good appearance, dry and porous; however, it contains from 75 to
80% water.
Due to the need to add bagasse to the slops to facilitate filtration, it must be calculated.
approximately 4 Kg. of cake per 100 Kg. of sugarcane; this amount is greater than usual (which is
of about 2 kg.) is due in part to the moisture and in part to the bagasse it contains. The thickness of
The cake varies between 6 and 10 mm. The filter produces 60 to 70 kg of cake per m.2/ h., 0.36
kg/m2by revolution.
Sugar losses in the cake.
The cake contains 0.2 to 1.5% sugar, averaging 0.8 to 1%. This amount corresponds
a loss of sugar of about 0.1 to 0.4 5 of sugar in cane, significantly lower than
the usual losses in the filter press.
FILTRATION RATE
2
Between 200 to 400 liters of juice can be calculated per meter. of the filter surface, per hour. In the
composite clarification is sufficient at around 200 l/m2in simple clarification are
sufficient from 250 to 300 l/m2/ h.
CAPACITY.
The required surface area varies according to the country. It is calculated
Media, m2/ T.C.H. Extremas, m2/ T.C.H.
Cuba 0.30
Philippines 0.44
Queensland 0.46
Natal 0.63 0.53 to 0.76
Hawaii 0.74 0.60 to 0.90
Puerto Rico 5.85 1.98 to 2.16
It varies from 0.25 to 0.8 m2/TCH. It is estimated that even with difficult-to-treat juices, 0.50 is sufficient.
m2T.C.H. if working with composite clarification. Otherwise, it is necessary to foresee: 0.60 m2
/T.C.H
For organic sugar, the surface is greater.
Indeed, the slurries produced by the compounded clarification have a superior filtration.
The filtering capacity depends on the amount of solids in the sludge and an average is:
TCD/m2% Solids
29 3
57 6
97 10
TURBID JUICE PROPORTION
The amount of filtering varies from 150 to 250 lt/TC. For every 100 parts of juice given by the filter there are
what to calculate from 30 to 60% of cloudy juice and from 70 to 40% of clear juice.
The flow in beet sugar factories is 654 l/m.2.h y e sugar cane factories 409
l/m2.h
USE OF FILTERS
It is difficult to decide the employment that should be given to the two categories of filtering.
In the case of cloudy juice, the first idea that comes to mind is to simply return it.
to the filter bucket or to the tank that precedes it. In this way, the molasses is diluted, which is not
recommended. It should be sent before the clarifier. In the composite clarification, it can be chosen.
between sending it before the primary clarifier or before the secondary one. Hugot prefers the first one.
solution.
In the case of the clear juice from the filter that unfortunately lacks both brilliance and clarity
From the juice of a filter press, since it is grayish and still slightly opaque, it is not advisable.
to return it to the filtration along with the primary clear juices. It is usually returned before the
primary clarifier.
In simple clarification and often in combined clarification, it is a common practice.
reunirlos y enviarlos juntos antes del clarificador.
Some argue that broken flakes from the filtration affect the proper formation of flakes.
from the main juice stream, resulting in a clarified juice of lower quality.
This is the drawback of the type of filters we are studying: they overload the department.
of decantation. When it operates close to its capacity limit, it is not advisable
increase the volume of the juice and consequently, the circulation speed in the clarifier, by
a fraction that represents approximately;
Simple clarification: 12 to 20%
Composite clarification:
Primary: 10 to 12 %
Secondary: 10 to 15%
One solution consists of clarifying the two filtrates again in a special clarifier.
small, after reheating and re-liming. This way a very juicy result is obtained.
clear along with a very thick cachaza that returns to the rotating filter; the filtrates can also
to be treated in a Westfalia centrifuge separator.
The vacuum filter's filtrate can also be refiltered in a pressure filter such as Fas filters.
flo. But whether it is reclarified or re-filtered, the issue is decided by means of a balance
economic.
Despite the presence of sulfur that can cause problems in fermentation, normally
The filtered juice presents acceptable characteristics for alcohol production without the need
of supplementary treatments.
Sending the clean filtrate to evaporators has its risks.
WASHED
FOSTER reports washing tests of the filter cake and concludes that a filter
rotary with a suitable mix of bagasse allows for a good approximation to washing of
displacement; the washing water mostly displaces the filtered water with little mixing. From there
that a low poll would be obtained in the cake, when only 16% of the wash water, or less
from a gallon per ton of cane, it went to the filtering. It follows that the water required
to achieve a low pol in the cake, it does not mean any extra load of consideration for the
evaporators. This has generally not been achieved in practice, but the author of this book has
seen in operation some plants that filter to that degree of quality.

Due to the reasons indicated in the filter operation, the amount of water from the wash that passes
In the clear juice, it only represents a small fraction of the water that reaches the filter, around 20.
At 25%, most remains in the cake. So it is necessary to determine the amount of
water that should be used for washing according to the dilution of the clear filtrate and not according to the
amount of water, by itself.
The effectiveness of washing is more important than the amount of water used.
South Africa a factory that used 100% wash water from cake obtained 0.3% polarization.
while another, using half, obtained 0.4%.
Generally, 100 to 150% water is used on the cake.
This water should preferably be at 75 or 80 ºC.
However, Webre believes that it is not desirable to go above 60 º C in order to avoid dragging the waxes.
contained in the filter cake.
Washing can lead to up to 0.2% polarization in compound clarification, or up to 0.3% in
simple clarification; however, the convenience of this gain is debatable because
descending to these figures, there is the danger of lowering the purity of the filtration to such an extent that when
final result is losses.
The excess washing of a part of the soluble impurities causes, in effect, a drop in purity.
between the juice to be filtered and the clear filtered product
This difference is generally from 2 to 4 º brix.
The difference in brix between these two juices, when carefully washed, is between 15 to 25%.
Training on the sieve occurs almost instantly when the flow through the cake is.
In addition to the amount of water, the good washing of the cake depends on the distribution of water and the
correcta localización de las boquillas rociadoras. Las zonas de alto y bajo vacío y la localización
The general of the nozzles is indicated in figure 7.4.
The efficient washing of the cake reduces the loss of pulp without excessive water consumption.
If high drum speeds are used (16 to 18 r.p.m.), a thin cake (0.75 to 1 lb. per foot)2
(3.6 to 4.9 Kg. / cm2, intermediate suction vacuum (5 to 10 in. Hg.), high drying vacuum (20 in.
and a good water distribution (between 8 and 9% on the cake) it is possible to obtain a PoI
in this with a very low value between 0.5 to 1.5 %.
The washing water pressure must be between 4 to 5 bar.
The applied water should not exceed a dilution of the filtered juice greater than 25% in relation to the
mixed juice. The difference in Brix between the cloudy and the clear is between 1 to 4 º Brix: The pH of the juice
filtration must be between 6.1 and 6.6.
To achieve good filter washing performance, it is essential to have a supply of
clean and hot water, at a constant pressure. The hot water to be used in the washing of the
cake can be obtained through the condensates from the heaters, tanks or last ones
evaporation bodies. That water must be sent to the filter at a temperature no lower than 80 º
C, and before entering the distribution tubes, it must pass through a dirt separator filter.
Normally small deposits from the pipe, which are carried away with the flow of
water, would obstruct the atomizer nozzles or spray nozzles. To maintain a constant pressure, the flow
it must pass through the adjustable regulator at 2 kg/cm2.
One cannot expect good performance from the filter regarding the washing of the cake, which
It is evidently related to the reduction of pol, if the peaks were blocked.
Also, the necessary variable pressure affects the quality of the spraying and the quantity.
of water in the peaks.
The distribution pipes are equipped with valves to regulate the flow, which through
rubber hoses are connected to the washing tubes, in which the nozzles are installed
atomizers.
These distribution tubes can be in a number of two, that is, at each end of the filter whose
the length of the drum should be 1.5 to 2 times its diameter.
For smaller drums, the filter can be equipped with a single distributor tube.
Regarding the washing tubes, the number of them may vary according to the
drum diameter, but the spray nozzles must be positioned in spaces
interspersed between one tube and another, to completely cover the area to be sprayed.
Those tubes must have adjustable positions with fasteners located on the sides of
justification of the washing system.
Most filters use 1,500 to 2,000 l/h
The relationship of the wash waters to the cake's pole is illustrated in figure 7.5. This indicates that
Increasing the water to more than 50% has little effect on the reduction of the cake's Pol. Chen has
it has been found that it is necessary to make timely adjustments in operating conditions in order to achieve
an effective reduction of Pol in the cake, which confirms the results obtained by McGrath
Baikow establishes that a well-washed cake should contain around 1.5 to 2% sugar and
that the loss of sugar in cake should not exceed 0.1% by weight of the crushed cane.
For a good wash of the cake, it should not be too thick. A normal cake has a thickness of
½ a 1/4 inch (1.3 to 1.9 cm).
Hydraulic pressure is applied to the cake, 33.0% of the juice in the cake can be recovered with a
pressure of 20 kg/cm2(284 lb. / pUlg.)2and 38.45% with 50 kg/cm2711 lb. / inch.2The cake
pressed can be pelletized to be used as animal feed
RETENTION:
Retention refers to the proportion of solid materials extracted by the filter % of materials
solids contained in the arriving precipitate. This retention is sometimes less than 50%,
The filter must extract all the solid materials that come to it from the clarifier. otherwise
This way they accumulate. So if the retention is 50%, it means that the two are filtered.
they maintain in circulation, between the clarifier and the filters, a quantity of materials in
suspension equal to that which evacuates the cake, It is evident that, in this way, a
very harmful overload for the clarifiers that significantly reduces their capacity and
it mentions the risk of moving to the manufacturing of very fine particles, along with the clear juice of
clarifier
In experiments conducted by Jenkins in Queensland, results were obtained in which the
retention varied from 48% to 88%, the average was 70%. The conclusion of these tests was that
It is easy to reach 75% and even 80%, which represents a very evident progress over 50%.
To achieve good retention, it is necessary:
Increasing the proportion of fine bagasse in the precipitate, in the range of 0.4 to 0.8 parts
from dry bagasse due to suspended solids in the sludge.
It is recommended to use properly sifted bagasse that when dry allows 80 to pass through.
90% of the material on the sieve12 or a mesh of fewer than 32 threads per decimeter
Try to condition the mud so that it has about 6% of material in it.
suspension after the addition of bagasse (for example, 0.6 ratio of dry bagasse
with 3.75% insoluble solids sludge
Use under vacuum in the formation of the cake to ensure good permeability of the
same, in the range of 160 to 200 mm Hg.
Use high vacuum, only in the washing of the cake to ensure low pol, in the belt of 4000
500 mm Hg.
Use hot water between 80 to 90 ºC in the appropriate amount and properly atomized,
to avoid the destruction of the uniform cake layer that ensures good retention.
(7) Reducing the rotation speed of the filter. It is advisable that the speed does not exceed
of a revolution in 6 to 8 minutes. If possible, the minimum speed must be maintained, which is
of a revolution every 10 or 11 minutes.
The efficiency of filtration is measured by the percentage of retention of insoluble solids, the drop
of the purity of the filtrate and its clarity.
It oscillates between 78 and 85%.
With diffusion, the amount of sludge is reduced by 50%. With clean cane it is 2% and for wing
mechanically loaded by 5%.
With mills, the sludge contains about 9% insoluble solids to obtain some
consistency, similar to that of diffusion, must stop for long periods of time to
compactarse. Esas retenciones causan caída de pureza de 5,0 puntos entre el jugo mixto y el
filtering, which increases the indeterminate losses.
Studies conducted at the SMRI show that sludges with a content below 4% are not filterable.
The filtrate contains 1 to 2% of insoluble solids.
DIMENSIONS:
The diameter of the drum of the Oliver - Campbell filters is always 8 feet = 2.44 m.
The length varies, 7 dimensions are produced:
Dorr Oliver Measures
Diámetro, ft Longitud, ft Área Filtración TCD
ft2 m2
6 4
6 6
6 8
6 10
7 10
7 12
7 14
7 16
8 8 200 18.6 1,000
8 10 250 23.2 1250
8 12 300 27.9 1500
8 14 350 32.5 2000
8 16 400 37.2 2500
 10 16 500 46,45 3000
10 18 565 52.50 4000
10 20 630 58,5 4500
13 20 820 76.2 5900
13 24 980 91.0 7000
13 28 1140 105.9 8200
13 32 1310 121.7 9300
13 40 1640 152,36 11800
14 32 1407 131
14 36 1583 147
14 40 1759 164
16 44 2211 206
ACCESSORIES FOR CONTINUOUS VACUUM ROTARY FILTERS
Vacuum pipe
The vacuum lines must be sized to carry the required volume of air to
very low densities, with minimal pressure loss. Welded or flanged connections
are preferable to minimize the possibility of leaks. The vacuum lines that lead
Air and liquid must be installed, when horizontal, with at least a 1º inclination.
so that they can be completely drained.
Juice pipe:
Juice pipes, which operate under negative pressure, must always be installed in the
vertical position. The check valves, preferably of the flap type, must be installed
also in the vertical position, to prevent the accumulation of particles in their seats of
sealed.
Water pipe:
The water lines to the condenser installed between the receiving tanks of the filtration and
vacuum pump, they operate under negative pressure and therefore must be perfectly sealed.
Valves and connections
Exclusion valves must be used for sludge, vacuum, juice, and water lines. Elbows of
Wide radio are preferable in the installation and connections. The valves must be flanged.
to facilitate its removal in case of adjustments and maintenance.
Flanged diaphragm valves are also used.
Connections for manometers:
When a filter is put into operation for the first time, pressure gauges are needed that
they are not normally used during normal operations. The placement of tubes or fittings
of ½ inch with BSP or NPT thread in places where such accessories are needed must be
made during the pipe installation.
Once normal operations are established, the pressure gauges can be removed,
keeping the connections in their positions and properly closed. When there would be
need for manometers the connections will be available.
Filtering receiver tanks
Each vacuum rotary filter continuously discharges a mixture of air and filtered material, which comes from
the formation/filtering zones and the washing/drying of the cake.
The discharge coming from each area must be sent separately to its respective tank.
filter receiver, where the liquid and air are separated, with the liquid extracted from the tank
through the centrifugal pump and the air directed to the condenser and then to the pump
of emptiness.
The two filtering receiver tanks are necessary, once the formation/filtration area
operates at a different pressure from the washing/drying zone. Pressure control is carried out by a
vacuum regulator placed between the two tanks. Those receivers must be constructed of
way to achieve the maximum separation of filtration and air, and it must have sufficient capacity
to contain the volume of filtrate, which may accumulate due to some anomaly that occurs
with the extraction pump, or an excessive amount of filtering that may accumulate due to
some damaged filter fabric, etc.
Receiver tanks are generally constructed from cylindrical steel.
conical tank with a discharge nozzle for the filtration, and a tangential inlet for the filtration and the
air. Located near the top of the drum and also an air outlet connection in the
top. The top consists of a flat lid bolted to the body of
tank, which facilitates its easy removal for inspection and cleaning.
Deflectors are installed on some receivers to provide better separation and reduce the
foam drag in the discharge tube. A removable wear plate must beInstalled.
in the internal part of the tank where the tangential entry of the liquid occurs.
Others have a float that opens a vacuum break valve when it is filled or elevated.
too much emptiness in the filter.
The ratio of cloudy juice to clear is 1 to 5 to 1 to 2.
Filtration extraction pumps:
The centrifugal pumps for extracting the turbid and clear filtrates from the respective tanks
receivers must have enough capacity to drain all the juice coming from the filter. These
pumps must be suitable for operating under a vacuum of 24 in Hg, especially the one that
is connected to the clear juice tank. The installation of these must be below the
tanks, ensuring that the discharge pipes of these are in a vertical position.
Vacuum regulator:
The 2 empty spaces, the large one, which varies from 20 to 50 cm, and the small one, from 10 to 30 cm, is maintained in the
desired value through two membrane regulators.
The cake formation zone in the rotary drum filter needs a vacuum that can be
regulated in the range of 7 to 1º in Hg. Since only one pump is used in the system
empty, and it is intended to operate with all its potential applied in the areas of
Washing and drying of the cake, it will be necessary to install a vacuum regulating valve in the line.
that connects the cloudy juice receiver tank to the clear juice tank.
The positioning of the regulating valve should be more towards the juice tank side.
turbid, and before the connection that links the separator and the condenser.
In this way, the control of the low vacuum will be for this tank, while the juice receiver
It is clear that it is connected to the total vacuum of the pump.
Juice drag separator.
A juice drag separator must be installed before the steam condenser, in order to
collect any juice that is dragged.
The filtering and the air, upon entering the receiving tank, tend to foam and together with the air, when
foam is dragged to the vacuum pump.
The drag separator groups the filtering droplets that form in the pipe or breaks down.
the foam returning to the receiving tank of qlto empty, through a line that must have a
check valve.
Contracurrent barometric condenser
It is a device used to condense steam due to flashing and reduce the temperature of the air.
sucked (and with it the volume) from the receiving tank and directed to the vacuum pump.
The effective capacity of the pump increases when the temperature of the intake air is reduced.
Due to the same. With high temperature, flash from the seal water of the vacuum pump can occur.
(rotary) of the liquid ring type, thus reducing its capacity and reflecting on the
decrease in filter efficiency.
The barometric condenser must be designed to handle the total flow of air and steam and
achieve a good heat transfer rate, without pressure drop. The supply
The water to the condenser must be regulated to provide only the amount of water necessary.
to condense the steam that enters, to a temperature of 3 to 6 ºC above the water.
expelled by it. A liquid ring vacuum pump operating with water at 30 ºC, can
manipulate the air at 36 º C, without affecting its efficiency.
The condenser's feed should be with cold water, at a constant pressure. Its efficiency
it can vary greatly if the pressure oscillates. The exact flow of water to the condenser must
tentatively determine, until the correct amount is established. It should be taken into account.
be careful not to flood the condenser, which would cause water to be pulled into the vacuum pump,
about overloading the engine of this.
The barometric column has a diameter that ranges between 500 and 750 mm.
The capacitor is a small conical-cylindrical container that is connected to a separator of
water. The barometric column should be installed 3.5–3m above the axis of the filter head, for
reduce drags and with a condensation area of 0.13 m2for every 10 m2of surface
installed filtration effectiveness.
Vacuum or air pump
Al adquirir un filtro continuo, el comprador frecuentemente desea evitar la adquisición del pequeño
vacuum system that accompanies it. However, it is not advisable to take the vacuum for filter, from the
central system
Because the amount of air entering the filter is considerable and disturbs the central vacuum.
Because the necessary conditions for these two voids are very different
(c) Because the filter does not necessarily operate at the same time as the buckets,
For these reasons, the filter is equipped with a small air pump and a small
barometric condenser
The pump is estimated to have a displacement (volume generated by the piston) of 20 to 30 m.3/h /
m2from the surface of the filter. It is estimated to be between 4.475 to 5.24 m3/min for every 1,000 TCD.
These small pumps are powered by an electric motor of 10 to 20 H.P. and 1450 r.p.m at about 300
r.p.m of a trapezoidal belt.
Tromp calculates 0.381 m3/m2minimum displaced air.
The appropriate size of the vacuum pump should be selected according to the area of the filter.
sea level, cooling water temperature and other particular characteristics of the
installation.
Under normal conditions, a mud filter requires a vacuum pump with a suction of 18.
30 m3/h per m2of the filtering area at sea level and the water of the ring at 30 ºC.
Liquid ring vacuum pumps have the advantage of being quite simple, easy
maintenance and supporting small amounts of water without damaging its components.
The characteristics of those bombs allow them to have a relatively low consumption.
power uniformity, regardless of pressure. The maximum capacity varies directly
with rotation, and also, decreases rapidly when the vacuum increases
All liquid ring vacuum pumps are very noisy, thus requiring
use of mufflers attached to their exhaust nozzles. In the body of the muffler, there is
a jar at its lower extremities for the sealing water outlet
Multijato or Parallel Current Capacitors:
This system does not require a vacuum pump, as the water flow carries the air with it.
descent, for this to occur a large flow of water is necessary, approximately 400 liters per
kg of steam to condense. The entering air velocity is from 0.5 to 2.1 m/s and the pressure in the
multijato is from 20 to 45 mca.
The speed of the water in the nozzles ranges between 10 and 45 m/s, the descent speed of the gau.
It must be between 3.1 and 4.4 m/s.
Bagacillo for filter feed.
The bagasse is used as a filtering element for sludge in rotary filters. Its fibers
they must be thin to compose a porous layer on the surface of the drum, which retains the
solids from the sludge, so that it can be washed.
Vacuum filters require a certain amount of bagasse in the feed for filtration.
efficient. Cullen has shown that the distribution of particle size in the bagasse is
80 to 90% in the 14 mesh sieve and less than 5% in the 36 mesh sieve. The bagasse
coming from the 4 mesh sieve is satisfactory as it contains less fine material. This
fraction can be obtained by applying a suction of 2.8 lb/foot213.7 Kg / m2per minute through
of inclined screens with 4 meshes. Hugot prefers that the bagasse fiber has the shape of thread
3 cm (1.2 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) in diameter. The necessary amount of bagasse.
cited by Hugot from various sources varies between 9 and 32 lb (4 and 5 kg) per ton of cane, or in
generally 7 to 4 lb (3 to 6 kg) per ton of cane. North-Coombes uses 1.0 to 1.5% of the
cane. Baikow gives values from 15 to 30% of the dry matter in the cake or 6 to 2 lb (3 to 5 Kg.) per
ton of clean cane. Pert suggests 33 lb (15 kg) of wet bagasse per ton of cane.
which corresponds approximately to 4.5% of the mill's bagasse. Hoareau emphasizes that
the quality must be fine and free of long fibers, and the fiber/sludge ratio should be between 0.40 and 0.45.
The optimal solids content of the sludge is considered to be between 5.5 and 6%.
collaborators" claim that the quality of the bagasse is of utmost importance for the
operation of the filter and suggest that it must be very fine (less than 0.85 mm in diameter) and
preferably it should be obtained from the parenchyma. The normal ratio of optical fiber to solids in the
The load is 0.35%, but at high speeds it may be necessary for the ratio to be 0.50.
2.- Sieve for bagasse.
This bagasse is mainly composed of filiform strands about 3 mm long and
pieces of 1 mm3approximately. The mixture of these two materials helps to increase
notably the filtering value of the suspended materials that make up the precipitate. The
fibers in particular form the filtering mixture, lining the fabric of the meshes.
2 m is installed.2for every 9.3 m2of installed filtering surface, or 1 m2for every 1,000 TCD with
hole diameters of 6.354 mm with a thickness of 3 mm and distance between hole centers of
9 mm. Longitudinal alternating arrangement with 36 holes per square inch.
Fixed screens
A very simple device that is used very frequently consists of placing fixed sieves in
the elevator or bagasse conveyor; that is, a part of the bottom sheet of the conveyor is
replace with sieves of 4 to 6 mm holes with alternate arrangement others use holes
elongated. When pulling the rakes, the bagasse over the sieve, part of the bagacillo falls through it.
Rotex Sieve
Rotex is a rotating sieve that is generally used for this part of the final bagasse.
download over this sieve, to which a rotary motion is imparted that simulates hand sieving
The Rotex screen is more efficient in separating particles of the required size; but only
a part of the bagasse spills onto the sieve. On the other hand, the entirety of the bagasse went over
the fixed screen, but since only the portion of the bottom of the bagasse pile comes into contact with the
clean, its efficiency, regarding the separation of particles of the desired size, is very
low..

Moreover, the clogging of such sieves occurs very quickly, which further reduces the
efficiency of the same. These screens have 4 to 10 meshes per inch. The finest mesh
It is convenient, but sometimes, use a thicker one so that a certain amount passes through it.
sufficient bagasse. A very beneficial combination is to use a fixed mesh sieve.
de alrededor de media pulgada, para separar una proporción suficiente de panículas de tamaño
medium, which is then passed through a Rotex type sieve of a grid approximately
10 meshes. With this procedure, the desired amount of bagasse is brought to the Rotex.
greater than what can be obtained with the solid bagasse directly from the mill, and is obtained,
by the way, a better supply of the desired fine bagasse
Pneumatic separation
Whalley describes a pneumatic separator in which the bagasse is introduced into a chamber of
unos 3 pies cuadrados, por la que pasa una corriente de aire. El bagazo se descargo en una
rotating mixer consisting of a shaft that rotates at about 300 r.p.m, with longitudinal blades that
disperse the bagasse in a way that it is well distributed in the moving air current.
The air speed is controllable to regulate the amount of bagasse collected by the
fan. WHÁLLEY cites figures that demonstrate the efficiency of separation by means
The tire increases significantly with finer particle sizes, while with the
In sieves, the opposite occurs as they are much less efficient with extremely fine particles.
fine. Since the most suitable particles are those that pass through a mesh of 14 or
more, the pneumatic separator is evidently superior.
Necessary amount:
Manufacturers estimate that it is necessary to add about 7 kg of bagasse per ton of processed cane.
In Cuba, about 6 kg of bagasse with 48% humidity is calculated.
In South Africa (from 4 to 14 Kg./T.C,
This amount is very variable and depends on how easily the juice filters.
The calculations can generally be based on a value of 3 to 6 Kg./TC.
To obtain the amount of bagasse necessary for a filter that processes all the precipitate of the
factory, it must be passed through the sieve, from 25 to 00% of the total amount of bagasse
factory. In composite clarification, only 25 to 35% is necessary.
The amount of bagasse required is 15 to 30% of the total dry matter contained in the cake.
to make the filtration of fecal foams practicable.
Perk suggests 15 kg of wet bagasse per ton of clean cane, which corresponds to
approximately 4.5% of the mill's bagasse. Hoareau argues that the quality must be fine and
free of long fibers and the fiber/sludge ratio must be between 0.4 and 0.45. The optimal content of
solids in the sludge are considered to be between 5.5 and 6.5.
Aguis argues that the bagacillo must be very fine (less than 0.95 mm in diameter) and
preferably it should be obtained from the parenchyma. The normal ratio optimal fiber / solids in the
The sludge is 0.35, but at high speeds, V = 0.5 may be necessary.
Contents of bagasse

Both JENKINS and FOSTER report laboratory tests and total scale that take or the
conclusion that the proportion and particle size of the bagasse constitute the most
important factor in improving filter retention. JENKINS states that better is obtained
retention at lower filter speeds.
This conclusion, however, is mainly due to the fact that, with the available equipment,
the amount of bagasse was insufficient for a suitable proportion of bagasse;
this is, the proportion of bagasse to solids in dry vinasse. FOSTER used proportions of
bagacillo up to 0.8 and summarizes its results in figure 17/6, demonstrates the
importance of
a) the proportion of bagasse and
b) the concentration of solids that are in suspension in the feed.
With a low concentration of suspended solids, a larger volume of filtrate passes through first.
that the filtering mantle of bagasse is formed. FOSTER states that the convenient size
The bagasse is thicker than the mesh 14. The thicker bagasse allows the passage of particles of
cachaça is not effective. WHALLEY also addresses the fineness of the bagasse, and reaches the conclusion that
finer particle sizes are preferable. Hence their acceptance of the separation
pneumatics.
JENKINS also highlights the advantages of smaller holes in the filter screen, depending on the...
demonstrated in laboratory experiments. However, the finer perforations on the
Metal mesh screens are not practical, besides the metal fabric wouldn't be either.
satisfactory. A filter manufacturer has suggested screens made of perforated plastic material, but not
it seems that this system has been adopted in practice
Installation.
To obtain the pulping residue, a vibrating sieve (Fig. 216) is placed under the bagasse conductor.
preference between the first two feeding hoppers of bagasse to the boilers. In this way,
a trap similar to those that feed the boilers drops the bagasse onto the sieve that
allows the passage of the bagasse and rejects the rest to the two neighboring hoppers.
The husk is sucked by a fan through a galvanized sheet metal pipe.
that sends it to a cyclone placed over the mixer (Fig. 217) through which the precipitates pass
that go to the filter, The expenditure of the bagasse is adjusted in the fan through a valve of
butterfly
Screen. The four main measurements of perforated fabrics are as follows
TABLE 55. METALLIC CLOTHS FOR BAGASSE SIEVES
No. English, meshes / in No. of meshes / dm Proportion of bagasse produced, by weight
8 32 100
10 40 90
12 48 60
14 56 25
The finer meshes will be used when the juice does not filter well, provided that the amount of
the bag should be sufficient. The thicker meshes than No. 12 provide poor filtration; in
Only No. 14 will possibly be used.
Sieve capacity:
A mesh screen with 32 meshes/dm produces 60 to 80 kg of bagasse/m.2Generally, it is installed
a sieve of 0.5 to 0.10 dm2/T.C.H. that is, 5 to 10 dm2T.C.H Oliver provides four sizes of
tamiz:
TABLE 56. OLIVER SIEVE SERIES
mm m2 in pies2
550 x 1.220 0.62 20 x 48 6.67
1.015 x 2.130 2.16 40 x 84 23.33
1.015 x 3.050 4.65 40 x 120 33.33
1.520 x 3.050 4.65 60 x 120 50
Ventilador:
In Cuba, it is estimated that for a 75 m long pipe with 3 elbows, it is necessary to
6 to 7 m3of air/Kg. of bagasse to be transported.
The bagasse is transported from the sieves to the cyclone separator, located above the
mixer through the blower fan. This fan must have the capacity to ensure
that the airspeed is sufficient to prevent the bagasse from clogging the pipe between the
same and the cyclone.
The following speeds and air volumes are recommended:
Minimum air speed in the tube: 13.7 Kg/m2
Maximum air speed in the tube; 15 m/s
Volume of air: 4.5 to 6.5 m3per kg of bagasse
The installation can be done:
1) With the fan drawing directly from the bagasse collection box.
2) The fan sucking directly from a suction tube.
3) The fan installed prior to the collection of bagasse. The use of this system eliminates the
wear of the rotor.
4) The fan/fiber separator pipe suffers a lot of wear due to the material.
abrasive that is conducted. The elbows and the places where the pipe bends are the most
affected. Therefore, the pipeline must have the fewest possible curves and, when it is
They must be long-range with replaceable parts.
Separation and Transportation of Ash
Recently, there has been a trend towards mechanized harvesting in mills and distilleries.
from the cane. The mechanically harvested cane is usually not washed, resulting in higher
amount of sludge in the clarifiers and consequently a greater need for area of
filtration. Several mills already adopt a minimum factor of 0.6 m2/ TCH to define capacity
from its filtration sector, instead of the traditional 0.4 m2/ TCH valid until some time ago
back.
A larger filtration area means a greater need for good quality bagasse for a
adequate operation of the filters.
However, there are more sophisticated systems for the separation of bagasse, such as by
example of rotary or vibrating screens, the truth is that in engineering it is almost always necessary
a conveyor at the exit of the mill to carry the bagasse to the conveyor
food distributor for boilers.
This work of lifting bagasse can often be done by fabric conveyor.
rubber, more economical in energy and maintenance, particularly when there is a large
distance between the mill and the boilers. Meanwhile, if this were the case, it is possible to have a
shorter drag conductor over a small part of the route, and use this conductor
like the husk separator.
The ideal solution is to transport the bagasse on top of the towing driver.
where the fabrics are installed with the perforation suitable for the average size of the bagasse that is
wants (see Figure 1). When the fabrics are installed at the bottom of the drag conveyor,
the hopper under the fabrics is very large and creates installation problems, which is why
Many times in practice, the area of the fabric is conditioned by the size of the hopper that
you can install.
The most important recommendations for the installation are as follows:
Adopt an inclined chute to facilitate separation, with an angle of 30 to 60 degrees.
Install a fabric area on the strap of 0.025 m2/tch, average value whose variation depends on the
drilling and the amount of bagasse.
Use fabrics with holes of 4 to 6 mm in diameter.
Install a rubber scraper every six tiles that allows for constant cleaning of the
fabric to prevent obstruction
the larger side panels of the hopper over the dosing screw must be slightly
divergent to avoid obstructions.
The box of the driver in the region of the moved axis must be properly constructed so that
the taliscas return to the top part of the conductor the bagacillo in case of
the hopper is full.
Depending on the physical layout of each facility, the possible installation of a small
conductor with a rubber belt to provide the flexibility to have bagasse during the
settlement of the decanters, even with the grinding stopped.
a dosing screw must be installed under the hopper, equipped with a frequency inverter, which
it can eventually have its rotation commanded from the filters sector, with a capacity in
the belt of 7 to 10 kg/tch.
The pneumatic transport system must be of the venturi type, in order to avoid the bagasse.
and all the abrasive material in the content comes into contact with the blower blades.
A pneumatic transport system with a minimum air/cogging ratio must be anticipated.
of 3.0 m3/kg to avoid possible obstructions.
The piping bends must be of the extra long radius type, with thicker sheet metal and
with inspection openings on its upper part for eventual cleaning. The layout of the piping
it can be the most exquisite and elegant, but it must have the fewest curves possible and not
to have low points.
The air separator cyclone should preferably be mounted on the elevated mud mixer.
in relation to the filters, so that the bagasse sludge mixture can be conducted to them by
gravity.
Coconut husk cyclone:
The cyclone separator is the most used equipment to separate the bagasse from the air it carries.
the screening section of the bagasse, for the filters section.
The cyclone is essentially a precipitation chamber, where centrifugal acceleration helps to
the separation of the solid material from the air stream. This equipment has no moving parts and
requires a minimum of maintenance.
It is important that the cyclone is of the correct proportions and of proper construction.
The air speed at its inlet must be approximately 15 m/s.
The chimney for the air outlet must be straight and, if possible, exceed the covering of
building.
The top of the chimney must be protected to prevent rainwater penetration.
observing as long as that protection does not offer resistance to the outflow of air.
As for the discharge tube of the bagasse that feeds the mixer, it must be straight and as short as possible.
as possible.
It should be located where the warm, humid air is not drawn inside.
Bagasse mud mixer agitator
The required volume is 3.5 m31,000 TCD, at a stirring speed of 8 to 10 cm/s.
To achieve a homogeneous mixture of mud and bagasse, a mixer should be used.
efficient so that a proper consistency in the filter feeding can be maintained.
The best performing mixer is the horizontal type with a continuous screw conveyor, or
mixing palettes.
This type of mixer is very efficient, as the feed of sludge and bagasse is done in a
from the ends of the box, while the outlet for the filters is positioned on the other
extremity.
In the journey from one end to the other, a homogeneous mixture is processed.
The box of that mixer has two valves at one end for controlling the discharge of the
mixture that will feed the filters.
They usually wear covers and have a breathing nozzle for gas outlet.
The amount of bagasse used affects raising the pulp of the cake, because it absorbs juice. For this reason,
Some install a tray with water at the cyclon's exit, so that it gets moistened first.
Marie Jeanne has used fine ash mud (80% humidity) instead of bagasse,
finding an improvement in porosity, without affecting the quality of the juice, while at the same time
eliminate the air pollution caused by dry ash.
The objectionable aspect of this procedure is that the ashes are typically high in content of
sodium and potassium, highly soluble salts that retain sucrose preventing its crystallization
Sludge return tank:
The sludge receiving tank from the level regulator or transfer from the filter basin,
acts as a lung reservoir in that circuit. The sludge retention in that tank must be
reduced to a minimum of time, to avoid losses from the investment of sucrose. The temperature
it must be maintained, through heating by steam coils and when possible by
the application of insulation to the tank, which is recommended.
To prevent sedimentation of the sludge, when retained in the tank, it must be
gently stirred, through a vertical agitator. That agitator must have its
actuator placed on the top surface of the tank, which must be cylindrical in shape
with conical background.
The sludge level in the tank must be constantly checked by the filter operator. If not
If possible, it should be seen directly from the team floor; a meter should be installed with
remote indication or a device activated through buoys, which according to the level
maximum in the established minimum will operate the mud circulation pump.
When that tank is used as a sludge receiver for the decanter, it must be
sized according to the total volume of the material that will feed the rotary filter,
maintaining the minimum retention time.
Slurry recirculation pump
The mud recirculation pump is one of the most important auxiliary equipment in the section.
of filters. In order to achieve good performance from one or more filters, the pump must be
sized according to the filtering area used, and of variable capacity. It must be given
preference for pumps that move sludge from the return tank to the filter tray, without
breaking the flakes present in it.
The piping that interconnects the equipment, as well as the valves used in the line, must be made of
larger diameters than those conventionally used, to avoid flow turbulence.
The selection of the pump to be used, in terms of its flow rate, must be in accordance with
with the filtration installation. If the sludge feed from the clarifier to the mixer and of
This is for the filter, to be executed by gravity, a pump that displaces approximately 25%
from the sludge coming from the decanter will be the appropriate capacity.
If the filtration installation was designed for the sludge from the decanter to be sent to the
mixer and filter, through pumping, the pump must have a capacity of at least 125 5
of the total load of sludge.
For either of the two systems, the mud circulation pump must be easily
controllable and the transfer of the filter maintained at a minimum level.
The amount of mud varies from 20 kg/TC for clean cane to 50 kg/TC for loaded cane.
mechanically.
TOTAL POWER REQUIRED:
The total power needed for the entire installation (filter and accessories) corresponds to a number
the H.P. represented approximately by the filtration area of the filter, measured in m2For
a 28 m filter2, for example, it will be necessary
Filter motor 2.5 H.P.
Dry air pump 12
2 centrifugal pumps, for filtrates 3
Cake evacuation worm 2
Lint filter 1
Bagasse fan 5
Precipitate-bagasse mixer 0.5
Cachaza Hoppers:
It produces 1614.6 kg/m2and a hopper of 26 m is required31,000 TCD
Sizing of a continuous rotary vacuum filter
The equations corresponding to the design of these equipment are obtained by following the same
reasoning of the discontinuous filters.
It is advisable to develop the design equations based on the total filtering area, despite
that at each moment, only a fraction of the total area acts directly.
dV/dt = (A * P) / ((RK+ RF)* ) = (AD* f* P) / ((RK + RF)* )
RK+ RF= C * (l + lF)
ADTotal available area
fFraction submerged in the cachaza
RKResistance of the cake to the passage of the liquid.
RFResistance of the filter medium to the passage of the liquid
Dynamic viscosity of the filtrate.
C = constant of proportionality
L = thickness of the cake.
LFthickness of a fictitious cake that substitutes RF.
With a continuous filter, the thickness of the cake does not vary over time at any point of the
submerged filtering surface in the paste. The thickness varies, however, with the location, at
measure that forms the cake when the surface crosses the sludge. The thickness of the cake
where the filtration zone ends, depends on the concentration of the cachaza, of the density of
the cake and the volume of filtrate delivered in each turn. The thickness can be expressed by
next equation
when leaving the filtration zone = (w r * ) / (2 c*) A* D
where
rfiltering volume delivered per turn
c cake density, in kg of dry solids per unit volume of wet cake, in the
point where it leaves the filtration area.
It can be assumed that the average value of the cake thickness is equal to the half sum of its
thickness at the entrance and exit of the filtration area.
As the initial thickness should be insignificant
Lprom.(w0 * ) r / (2* DA* c)
L + lF=prom. + lF (w * (( /2) + Ar D* f* )))/ D(A
*F ) c
Then:
dV/dt = (2AD*2 f * P) / ( * w *(r + 2*A D* f* )* )
F
Integrating between the limits V = 0 and V = VKy t = 0 y t = 1 / NK
where
NKnumber of drum revolutions per unit of time, leads to:
2
r + 2*AD* *f F* VK = (2AD* f* 2 P) / ( * w * * N K)
O
2
r + 2*AD* *f F* VK = (2AD* f* 2 P) / ( ` * w * * N K)
5
= ` * ( P)* s
= constant that depends on the properties of the solid
s = constant called compressibility exponent of the cake.
The previous equation is frequently used in the following simplified forms, based on
two hypotheses, that the resistance of the filtering medium is negligible and that the cake is incompressible.
0.5
Filtration volume per revolution = AD * ((2
r * f* P)/ ( * w * * N K))
Filtration volume per unit of time = * NR r
Rate of the dry cake mass per unit of time: = * NRr* w
Rapi-Floc System for sludge filtration.
The Rapi-Floc system introduced by Dorr-Oliver employs a special flocculation procedure.
with precise pH control that allows for rapid filtration in an ordinary rotary vacuum filter at
through a fabric with high porosity. A flow diagram is shown in the figure.
Bagasse is added as in the conventional Dorr-Oliver system. The sludges are limed to a
pH of 7.5 and then treated with a flocculating polymer in a special type of coagulant.
from which the treated sludge flows by gravity to the vacuum filter.
The filtering medium is a high porosity fabric placed over the existing perforated plates.
The cake, thicker than in the old system, is separated using a scraper. The obstruction
The fabric is protected with high-speed water jets under a special cover to prevent the
dilution of the filtrate. A new design washing system ensures the uniform distribution of water
and achieves a better wash due to the high porosity of the cake. To keep the sieve clean
after the cake discharge, the sludge temperature must be kept between 185 and 195 º
F (85- 90º C).

This method, perfected by the Dorr-Oliver Company, uses a felted dacron cloth.
high porosity, along with the addition of synthetic polyelectrolytes to the feed, in a
special coagulator, from which the broth flows by gravity to the filter tank, in addition to having
a rigid control of pH. The obstruction of the fabric is avoided by means of water jets
arranged in such a way that they wash the cloth perfectly, after the cake has been unloaded, but
always avoiding that the wash water mixes with the feed before filtration. It is used the
bagacillo, like in the conventional system. It is ensured that a clear filtering of great
brilliance, with a significant increase in filtration capacity.
The coagulant is prepared in a small tank equipped with a propeller-type mixer, the
which dilutes it to the desired concentration and is pumped with a proportional pump within the
coagulator, which is specially designed to achieve maximum efficiency of the poly
coagulant type electrolyte.
The sludge mixed with bagasse and coagulant flows by gravity from the coagulant to the filter tank.
Flocculant polymers in sludge filtration:
For the sugar industry, there are different types of polymers. Some are cationic and others
anionic or non-ionic. The various commercial polymers applied in sludge filtration are
all anionic.
Noble presents the results of using polymers in sludge filtration on a filter without cloth: (1)
the content of insoluble solids in the filtrate decreases from 2.0 to 0.4% (2) the content of
humidity in the cake is reduced from 79.5% to 75.6% and (3) the percentage of pulp in the sludge decreases
around 30%
Chen compares different flocculants in filters covered with polypropylene fabric and shows that
a more effective polymer, it also produces a cake with less moisture. To compare the
loss of pol in the cake, the expression should be: pol in cake / 100 of solids. The effect of
Polymer in the particles of the sludge is shown in figure 5.15.
If 1.3 ppm of flocculant is used on cane, production doubles and the washing waters
decrease; moreover, the losses of pol and moisture are reduced. These results also,
they indicate that the effect of adding lime to the diet to raise the pH of the filtrate from 6.9 to 7.8 does not
alters the characteristics of flocculation,
The dosing of flocculants varies between 2.0 and 4.0 p.p.m. and, under special conditions, it can be
as high as 5 p.p.m.
High doses, however, can cause difficulties especially in those with low grade.
Dextran hinders good filtration. For better thickening of the sludge, poly are used.
electrolytes such as Separan AP 300, Nalco D -1940, which are added to the cachaza mixer
with the sludg. When used Separan, the mud must be alkaline and lime should be added to the mud.
when it leaves the clarifier. For the Nalco D-1940, this treatment is not necessary.
The addition separates approximately 30 kg / Tc and reduces the pol by approximately 30.
%, reducing the recirculation of impurities. The filtration rate varies with the consistency of the
mud.
Fine ashes as filtration aids
Marie-Jeanne conducts tests on the replacement of bagasse with a corresponding amount.
from fine ash sludge (80% moisture for the filtration of cane sludges and finds that the
ash improves capacity and does not affect the quality of the juice, while eliminating the
air pollution caused by dry ash.
Sludge pumping.
Regarding the effect of the pumping systems of cane mud on the
characteristics of the filtration the results show that a greater amount is obtained of
sludge solids with a centrifugal pump than with a pneumatic box system. But the unit
Mono CD 910 has proven to be even more effective than the centrifugal pump.
Diaphragm or screw pumps are used preferably; if centrifugal pumps are used, they must be
fully open rotor and low rotational speed.
MANAGEMENT OF A CONTINUOUS FILTER
The temperature of the precipitate to be filtered plays a very important role. It must be ensured that this
do not drop below 80 ºC, it should preferably be kept above 85 ºC and if possible at 90 ºC. While
that this temperature is maintained, the drum will remain clean after the separation of the
cake. At the end of the week, its surface will be cleaned with a jet of steam through a
device equipped with the filter. If this precaution is forgotten, the drum's perforations
They get clogged. In South Africa, it is recommended to clean with steam every 12 hours.
VACUUM FILTRATION OF SULFITE SLUDGES:
The amount of filtration varies between 15 and 25% in cane and results in a recharge to heaters and
Clarification. Moreover, broken flocs act to the detriment of the formation of new flocs.
resulting in a low-quality clarified juice.
Sólidos insolubles: 12 %; Pureza jugo crudo: 80,0; Filtrado a vacío: 75,0; pH: 6,5; temperatura:74
0 C. It can be observed that the filtered material to be recirculated has a noticeable amount of solids.
insoluble, making direct feeding to evaporators impossible.
The filtering of a continuous vacuum filter, when mixed with the raw juice, tends to increase the
volume of sludge and introduce fine particles of bagasse into the clarifier.

Time, Slurry–mud (88–92 º C) Sulphited juice

min. Sin With With lime and Sin With
flocculant flocculant flocculant flocculant flocculant
0 1,000 ml. 1,000 1.000 1,000 1,000
5 - - - 830 320
10 990 980 970 630 280
15 985 975 950 460 270
20 - 960 930 400 270
25 980 945 920 380 265
30 975 935 900 340 265
45 970 925 880 320 260
60 960 910 860 300 250
Mud density = 1.065 g/l; flocculant = 2 - 3 p.p.m.; lime: 7.5 pH; return rate of
filtrado % molienda = 19,93 % 0,97
Weight per liter of slurry Flow rate, lts. / h * pie bagasse Download cake
1,032 17.0 Very fine Mala
1,040 21.5 Very fine Mala
1,055 28.0 2 to 3 mm Regular
1,063 32.0 2 to 3 mm Good
1,070 33.5 3 to 4 mm good
Washing water pressure: 50 p.s.i.
Velocidad, minutos por rotación Flujo, lts. / h * pie Bagacillo, mm Humedad torta, %
3.2 18.5 2 a3 67
4.0 24.0 3 to 4 69
4.5 24.5 3 to 4 68
5.2 20.0 4 to 5 67
5.5 17.5 4 to 5 67

% Sólidos insolubles en lodo % sólidos insolubles en filtrado Eficiencia filtración, %

10.23 1.82 82.20
9.78 2.06 78.93
9,10 1.66 81,75
9.96 1.81 81,82
10,17 1.96 80,72
10,5 2.01 80.2
Pol torta: 2,27 %, Humedad torta: 68,75 % 0,87; caudal 25,2 lts. /h * pie2
Media Parameter D.E C.V. [Link]. n
Brix 14,69 0,61 4,18 16,11 13,60 23
Pole 10,99 0,55 4,97 12,32 10,09 23
Purity 74,79 1,93 2,58 78,8 70.47 23
The absence of an increase in purity from mixed juice to clear juice in sulfated juices is due to the
introduction of low purity filtered juices. Only eliminating that recirculation, it is
It is possible to observe the increase in purity and lower production of molasses.
Washing water was used at 50 p.s.i., speed: 4.0 to 4.5 minutes per rotation, sludge consistency.
from 1.060 to 1.065 grs. / high vacuum: 500 to 530 mm Hg; low vacuum 200 to 250 mm Hg; bagasse:
3 mm; washing water: 100% cake weight.
The elimination of the filtration recirculation results in an increase in capacity of the
clarifier, lower lime consumption, lower volume of sludge, and lower amount of filter cake. To
reduce the retention time in the clarifier, the smaller the loss from investment, one has
an increase in the purity of the clarified mixed juice, less molasses, and lower loss
of sugar in molasses, having a higher quality clarification, lower evaporation load,
better quality sugar, etc.
THE SPECIFIC RESISTANCE OF FILTER CAKES IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Uno de los primeros efectos de la difusión fue el cambio en cantidad y calidad del lodo clarificado.
A measure of the characteristics of the filtration sludge is its specific resistance, as well as a
measure of its filtrability. The flow of liquor through the channels is represented by the
Poiseuille's equation:
dV / (A * d) = P / (u * ((W / A) + r) (I)
Which gives the instantaneous filtration rate per unit area, is expressed as the ratio of
the driving force, pressure, to the product of viscosity and the sum of the resistance of the
cake, plus the average resistance of the filter. Alpha represents the average specific resistance of the cake.
and it is a constant for a particular cake under the immediate conditions. It is related
with the pressure for expression:
= 1* ps (II)
where s is the compressibility of the cake from 0 for incompressible cakes to 1 for compressible cakes
highly compressible.
W is related to V by the material balance:
W = w* V = (( * c) / (1–M*c))*V III
For constant pressure filtration, equation I can be integrated by weight:
O / (V * A) = ((u ** w * V) / (2 * P * A)) + ((u * r) / p) (IV)
when O /(V* A) is plotted as V/A on the x-axis, there is a line with slope ((u ** w *
V) / (2*P* A)) and it intercepts the vertical axis of ((u* r) / P).
Given u, w, and P, y and r can be calculated.
=2* P / (u* w))x slope (V)
r = (P/u)x, vertical intercept (VI)

First, in the material balance for equation III, the assumption of an average resistance of the
cake and the resulting equation depends on the validity of the premise that the cake is incompressible
or evenly compacted through the particles. Compressible cakes do not compact
uniformly and violates the presumption. Perry, however, found that the error is small for many.
materials.
Seguido la precisión de la determinación de la intercepción a ser usada en la ecuación VI es difícil
due to large experimental errors in the observation of the exact time of
filtration activation and the time/volume during the initial moments, when the rate
the filtration is high
A = filtration area, m2; P = presión, Pa; V = volumen de filtrado, m3w = Weight of dry cake
corresponding to V, Kgs.; C = fraction of solids in the feed, % M = mass ratio
from wet cake to dry cake; r = resistance / unit area of the filter medium, m; s = compressibility
of the cake, = average specific resistance of the cake, m / Kg.; 1 = constant; = density of the
filtering, Kg. / m3u = viscosity of the filtrate, Pa* sec.; W = mass of dry cake solids / unit
filtering volume, kg/m3time, seconds.
= 5.4 * 10^10 1.65 * 10^10 = average specific resistance

Vacuum Rotary Filter with Drain Press

The trend of decreasing cane washing based on the increase in mechanization of
cut and the need to reduce polluting effluents brings about, among other consequences,
a larger volume of settling sludge to be treated.
This additional sludge can be treated by increasing the area in the filtration sector or
through the installation of a dewatering press to work in parallel with the existing filters.
The basic differences between the two types of teams;
The drainage press can operate without the need for bagasse, although with bagasse it can
You can expect better solid retention in the cake. This fact provides the advantage of
save on the screening and transportation system of bagasse in case it
It is at the limit. In addition to that, it results in a small increase in fuel for the boilers.
The rotary vacuum filter can operate without the need for the mixing of flocculants in the sludge.
Fact provides an operational economy of the equipment that must be taken into account.
The dewatering press produces a filtered juice with much lower turbidity, which can be
sent directly to the settled juice tank without any additional treatment. It is about a
important point for the case of sugar production with this juice.
The rotary vacuum filter produces a filtered juice with a higher brix, as it requires lower amounts.
washing water quantities for the same level of losses in the cake. This fact favors the
balance of steam and maximizes the existing evaporation capacity in the case of production
of sugar.
The dewatering press produces a cake with lower moisture, around 60 to 65% compared to 70 to
80% in the case of the rotary vacuum filter. This means a significantly lower cake weight.
ser transportado y es un punto muy destacado por los fabricantes de la prensa. En la práctica es
I need to accurately assess the profits from the cake transport, since the reduction of
volume is less than weight reduction. On the other hand, the gains depend a lot on
each specific case (average distance, truck capacity, distribution system,
etc.).
The vacuum rotary filter is a more robust equipment regarding its maintenance. Its
Fabrics can be exchanged by sectors and are not susceptible to the presence of materials.
strange metallics in the mud. The fabric of the press is more susceptible to the presence of
strange materials in the mud, making it necessary to foresee a protection system with the
installation of a magnet for the removal of these materials from the sludge. The fabric must be of the type that
can be repaired by sectors, but usually represents longer downtime for
maintenance in case of accident. The tissue requires greater care regarding its
correct alignment to avoid excessive wear on the edges.
The draining press consumes less electrical energy, 30% to 40% of the filter, mainly.
depending on the need for the vacuum pump installation. The vacuum pump of the filter
rotating represents a relatively high installed capacity when operating at levels
of appropriate vacuum in the range of 0.25 to 0.30 bar abs.
The rotary filter usually requires a metal structure 8 m high to use pumps.
for the filtered juice that are not special (NPSH for operation under vacuum). The press can
it is installed closer to the ground, but it is a relative advantage, since in this case
we need additional mechanical equipment to raise the produced cake to the hopper
from which they will be loaded onto the trucks.
The initial cost is naturally a determining factor and will depend on each manufacturer and
each negotiation. The important thing is to have reliable information regarding the capacity of
processing of the press and the filter. We normally install from 40 to 60 m2 / 100 tch in the
case of the filter, depending on the quality of the cane. In the case of the press, normally
we install from 0.9 to 1.1 m / 100 tch (width of the fabric).
The final decision will depend on each particular case, and as always, it is essential to visit and
talk to someone who already has the equipment in operation.
STRING FILTER or Cord discharge filter
There is an analogous filter to the previous one that functions on the same principle. The drum is
wrapped with a filtering fabric that adjusts to the drum through a series of cords. These
they pass over two small return drums.
The cords detach the cake and lead it to the evacuation hopper.
All the operations, in particular washing, are similar to those described for the Oliver filter.
The lace filter has the following advantages:
It only provides clear filters, due to the effect of the fabric, it does not wear out as it is not necessary.
use of a scraper that separates the cake.
2. No emplea bagacillo, gracias a la misma tela.

These advantages are very notable and theoretically this filter should be very convenient. Without
embargo, it is rarely found, Hugot has never seen it.
This type of filter, as described by HUGOT, uses a cloth as the filtering medium. Around
this cloth passes a series of closely placed strings. The strings lift the filter cake
del pol cuando salen del tambor principal y lo descargan cuando pasan por el rodillo de pequeño
diameter, before returning to the filter drum (see figure 17/7). An Eimco filter of this type
It operated for several years in an Australian sugar mill, where a cloth was used.
synthetic monofilament. No publicity has been given to the results obtained with this filter,
but it is understood that its operation was encouraging.
BAND ROTARY FILTERS or Eimco band filter.
The Eimco band filter is of the rotary drum vacuum type, but it uses a filtration medium of
polypropylene fabric. The fabric passes around a small diameter roller where the cake is
download without scraper. Pressure water sprayers wash the fabric on both sides and it is already
clean returns to the drum (figure 7.1). The fabric must remain clean after passing the roller.
Download - The water pressure for washing should be at least 40 lb/in².23 kg / cm2)
and have a temperature of 180 º F (82 º C) to avoid fabric blocking.
The sludge is generally limed to a pH of 7.5 to 8.0 with the addition of bagasse and polymer.
floculant in solution (0.5 %), before entering the filter
The dose of the flocculant must be adjusted to local conditions, as low doses can
to produce dirty filtering, but an overdose can cause difficulty in cake formation.
about the filtering surface.
If a regular Eimco filter is converted into a band Eimco filter, the capacity is doubled and the
suspended solids in the filtrate decrease from 0.80 to 0.01-0.05%.
The vacuum rotary filters for syrup never had satisfactory performance, in terms of
light guarapo for the respective process. Many years have been fought and worked on in all the
sugarcane areas of the world, to solve the problem of poor juice quality
coming from these filters.
They have the following advantages:
From clear filters, due to the effect of the fabric. This does not wear out because the use of
scrapers that separate the cake
Do not use a small bag due to the use of the fabric.

The Eimco filter sends the filtration directly to evaporators, which in the case of turbid juices due to
fabric defect complicates.
The rotation is 13 r.p.h. Nylon or polypropylene fabrics are used. The efficiency is 97-99 %.
The purity of the filtration is 5 points greater than that of Oliver Campbell and the obtained filtration is much
clearer.
A suitable treatment for these juices has never been found, and it can be said that the
The difficulties that have arisen from them have been of such magnitude in defecation of
sugarcane juice, that most of the problems in the sugar factories have originated
for this. In recent years, manufacturers and technicians have agreed that it was necessary
to make a deep modification in this part of the process, to definitively resolve the
problem of low quality juices. Currently, three types of filters are being worked on that
they have a very high efficiency regarding the quality of the guarapo they produce, they are: the
Eimco-Bell, Oliver and Verny Cuba has intensified the installation of these last filters, with
very beneficial results. We had the satisfaction of directing the technical-economic evaluation of
this filter, which also involved professors and engineering students from the University
Central de Las Villas. Below we present our criteria and the data obtained in such
evaluation. For this evaluation, 95 parameters were established over a long period
duration, of which only eight were prioritized. Likewise, the evaluation consisted of eight
experiments with five tests each, over a period of 15 days.
From the results obtained, and well analyzed, the following conclusions are inferred:
Better results are obtained by filtering cakes to which no bagasse is added, but
passing the guarapo mixed through a fabric with 144 holes per square inch, obtaining
minor partial and total losses. Partial, because better depletion is achieved.
cachaza on equal terms with the other parameters, and totals because by not adding
sludge to the cachaza, all the equipment for its collection is eliminated and results in a smaller amount of
cachaça for every hundred of cane, because this is increased when we add up to 12%
bagacillo, regarding the weight of the cachaza and when 3 tons of cachaza are obtained per 100 tons of sugarcane,
bagacillo represents 360 kg more of cachaza, which carries the same amount of pol as the cake of
cachaza. If the cake has a pol of 1.5%, 0.005 more of Pol % of cane is lost.
When the pH of the molasses is high, it produces:
Greater loss of Pol in the cake.
Greater destruction of reducing sugars.
Filtered with a liquid to solid ratio (L/S) that are lower.
The best results, in particular tests, are obtained when the pH is in the vinasse.
between 6.6 and 7.6.
Two binders were used, the Separan AP-3D and the BTI-150L4, without any noticeable difference.
difference between both.
The exhaustion work of the cachaza is much better when the washing water is raised to
more than 11,000 l/h, achieving a 50% reduction of Pol in the sugarcane bagasse, when increased from 7,000 to
11,000 l/h of washing water does not significantly increase the humidity of the bagasse. Neither do the
The Brix of the filter juices drop to values that may affect the caloric balance of the
fábrica.
Working the filter at speeds of one revolution every 3'10'', the pulp can be manipulated.
from 3,400 to 4,000 tons of cane per day. The Vernay filters working at that capacity can provide
clear juices, which mixed with the clarified juice yield L/S ratios between 150 and 200 and tend to
upper limit, which guarantees good quality to be incorporated into the process at the entrance of the
evaporators.
Eimcobelt Filter
This filter also uses a cloth filtration element, but with the fabric arranged in a shape
what can come out of the drum and pass through a series of rollers, similar to the strings of the
drainage filter by strings. The cloth is thoroughly washed as it passes through the rollers.
that it is completely clean before returning to the drum for the next cycle. It is claimed that
with this device, the bagasse is used, and the filtrate goes directly to the evaporators.
Working with Vernay filters, there is a significant increase in capacity in
alkalization tanks, heaters and clarifiers, equivalent to the volume of juices from
recirculation from the by-products.
In the work of this filter, there are some details that must be closely observed, in order to obtain
a good operation: they are:
The L / S ratio of the wash water leaving the clarifier must be 1.
Bagass should not be used in the mixture.
The lime added to the cachaza before filtration must be automatically controlled to the pH.
established.
The low vacuum must be adjusted to 26.30 cm of mercury; the high vacuum must be formed to the maximum.
possible.
The cake must be washed with water at a temperature of 50 ° and at a rate of 11,000 to 12,000 l/
h.
Always add the binder in solution at 0.5%, that is, 5 g of binder per liter, which
equates to 1.35 (1.60 kg per 1000 tons of cane).
The cachaza, at the time of filtering, must have a temperature of about 80 º C.
The agitator of the cachaza basin should not have a linear speed greater than 8-10 cm/s.
The gauge pressure of the washing water for the fabric should be between 4 to 5 bars in the sprays.
equivalents to 59-75 lb/inch2.
The following is a series of diagrams and graphs that demonstrate the work of the filter. In the
Figure 35 shows the installation layout of the accessory equipment of the filter; figure 36 is the filter.
schematically and figures 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43 are curves with the results
obtained in the evaluation of the Vernay filter.
Filtration with Fas-FIo filters.

The horizontal leaf filter originally designed for refineries can also be used
for the filtration of sludge. This filter is shown in cross-section in figure 7.6 and consists of a partition
vertical with horizontal semicircular aluminum leaves, two sections for each leaf.
Leaves ensure that the leak occurs only at the top of the surface, preventing the
cake drop during the filtering cycle or the de-sugaring (washing). The mechanisms of
Cleaning with water jets originally consisted of rotating arms, one for each level.
Chen converted the arms into rotary nozzles (figures 7.7 and 7.8)
Chen evaluated the performance of the Fas-Flo filters in the filtration of complete sludges during a
a total of 600 days of work with vain modifications and control measures. No bagasse was used.
Another aid for filtration, the pH of the slurry must be adjusted to obtain a filtrate that when
it mixes with the clarified juice, does not produce precipitates in the evaporators The moisture in the
The cake is 20% lower than that of the vacuum filter.
Sludge centrifugation.
The washing and drying of cane iodos by centrifugation sparked new interest in 1969,
In early 1970, several experiments were conducted. The last unit of a centrifuge of
a solid vessel was operated under the following conditions: (1) fiber in the feed 2 to 3%; (2)
washing water, 80% of the feed; (3) polymer, 20 p.p.m. (4) basket speed, 2550
r.p.m. and (5) feed per minute, 220 to 260 lb. (100 to 120 kg) per minute. The observations are
that the installation cost is high and the performance is not as satisfactory as that of the filters
they are well operated. However, experiments conducted in South Africa show that the
potential gains from mass reduction (around 30%) and Pol recovery
(50% in cake) provide a considerable economic incentive (figure 7.9).

Ayala and colleagues use two continuous centrifuges to process the sludge without filtration.
The first centrifuge has a mesh of 0.05 mm to remove bagasse, sand, and particles.
metallic. The second centrifuge is of the plate type and spins at 6,500 rpm. It also has
automatic sludge download. The Pol in sludge that can be recovered is more than 965%
When the final sludge is discharged into water at a rate of 1 gal/l, it results in only 250 pp. of BOD.
TREATMENT OF ROTARY FILTER JUICES
When the band filter for cachaca is not yet used, major problems arise with the
juices produced by rotary filters. Many uses have been made of these juices to
avoid problems in the clarification, and in reality none have behaved satisfactorily,
Considering literatures from other countries, experiences have been made in Cuba with the separator.
De Laval OX - 210-MB, whose results we will see.
In this experience, only the so-called 'cloudy juice' or 'low vacuum' from an Oliver filter was used.
It was heated to a temperature of 85-90 °C, since at lower temperatures (65 °C), the wax
the juice solidifies.
Eight nozzles of lb mm and 4 nozzles of 1.45 mm and 80 plates were first used.
1 is blind). When the separator ball was opened, it was observed that none of the nozzles
it was thick, despite the fact that the ball was partially due to the sluggishness; in short, it
he completed the work with the 12 nozzles of 1.45 mm.
The formula used to determine the initial concentration is based on the fact that: The flow rate
The flow from a nozzle is proportional to the square of its orifice. The supply of juice to the
The separator was made at a rate of 7,500 l/h, with a content of 30% bagasse. In this type of
Laval separator, the outgoing flow rate through a 1 mm nozzle is 293 l/h.
If we apply the formula, we will obtain the initial concentration.
(7,500 * 0,30) / (12 * 283 * 1,45230.4%
The volume will be circular:
(7,500 * 0.30) / 0.304 = 7.401 l / h
The separated cachaza will be:
(7500 * 0,30) / 0,70 = 3214 l
The clear guarapo is, therefore:
7500–3214 = 4286 l / h
The driving force of the separator is as follows, according to the specifications of the manufacturer.
seller: To move the empty machine
8 HP, for every 1,000 / of juice 0.27 HP, for every 1,000 / of molasses
0.92 HP. Then, the horsepower consumed in our house was:
Without load 8.00 HP
Clear: 027 * 4.3 1.16
Cachaza: 0,92 * 7,4 6.81
Total 15.97 HP
The results found were as follows:
a) The wax from the liquid cachaza mostly passes into the clarified guarapo.
b) The clarified guarapo obtained from the separator is suitable for feeding into the evaporators.
c) For every 100 l of Pol that enter the separator, 12.32 kg of Pol are lost.
d) If the separated waste products from the machine are diluted and treated, they can be passed through a
second separator to minimize losses.
e) We have not economically evaluated the results by this system, according to the cost of
investment and the technological results in manufacturing, but we estimate that it is not cost-effective the
procedure, due to the high cost of the machine, its maintenance and consumption
combustible.
Belt Rotary Filters:
It emerged in Brazil in 1992, the application of the so-called Filter Vacuum Press (FVP), or filters of
belt, dewatering presses and/or flat vacuum belt filters. With that, in a faster way
composite sludge filtration systems also emerged, having been experimented with
in various arrangements and combinations the use of these two teams, each one
filtering the sludge directly or re-filtering the cake after the paste with water
The vacuum belt filter with pressing (FVP) consists of a series of filtration sectors.
continuously moving in a closed circuit, where all the filtering stages take place.
The primary filtering media consists of fabrics supported by perforated partitions that
they can be perforated elastomer belts. They allow for large variations in concentration and
speeds, which depend on the physical properties of the sludge. The thickness of the cake allows for a
range between 1.0 to 25 mm. Fig. 3 illustrates the sectors of the various stages of filtration, pressing,
washing and disposal of the cake.
Advantages
Operation with higher vacuum pressure without blockage of the filtering tissue
Gravity feeding with uniform distribution of the solution to be filtered
Lower cost of instrumentation, as there is only a filtering tissue.
Protection against transshipment of the solution
Lower polymer consumption
Enables operation with higher sludge concentration
Low investment in construction and support structures
It can be installed at the floor level. Longer lifespan of the filter fabric.
Robust bearings protected against splashes
Pneumatic alignment of the filter cloth
Low energy consumption
Brix of the juice higher than the Dewatering Presses
The main advantages of belt filter presses (BFP) are design simplicity.
constructive and installation compared to filters with automatic valves, and the ability to
provide cake washing in countercurrent, aided by gravity with removal of
thin cake layers. The FVP filters operate with the cake fully sealed, which means they allow
low admission of air or non-condensables, in addition to those dissolved in the sludge and in the water of
washing. With that, it lightens vacuum generating systems, which basically start to operate for the
displacement of separated liquids and flash vapors generated by pressure drop,
Well, the drying stage is done with pressing, unlike what happens with filters.
FRV.
Its disadvantages include inefficient use of the total available filtration area and deficiency of
washing of the cake on the edges of the straps.
Belt filter presses (BFP) are characterized by continuous filtration operation under vacuum.
reduced, and especially under belt pressing made of fabric.

The main stages of filtration are:

Stage 1 - Starting from the sludge feed made directly under the filter medium
primarily, the filtration process is initiated with the formation of the cake, purely by the action of the
gravity that allows the cake to act as a secondary filtering aid. At this stage they are
collected 60 to 70% of all the filtered juice, referred to as cloudy filtered juice, having tenor
of insolubles (~ 1.0% v/v).
Stage 2 - Vacuum filtration between 2 to 5 inches of mercury, (709 to 633 Torr), therefore low
empty. First, carry out the dehydration of the formed cake by collecting the juice and,
subsequently, receiving imbibition of clean and hot water at 80 ºC (washing of the cake),
concluding with the dehydration of the washed cake, ready for the pressing stage.
At this stage, 15 to 20% of all the filtered juice, referred to here as filtered juice, is collected.
of course, with an insoluble content of around 2.5% v/v.
Stage 3 - Pressure filtration, referred to as the cake drying stage depending on the action
purely mechanical pressing of the cake between the fabrics. In this region, 15 are collected
20% of all the filtered juice, with an insoluble content of approximately 5.0% v/v, also
referred to as clear filtered juice.
Vacuum filtration mechanisms for drum and belt filters with pressing
STROH and STAHL (1991) describe a filter cake for a vacuum filter composed of half
filter, the bed of particles in a centrifuge basket, as a set of particles but
another set of capillary channels, as illustrated in figures 4 and 5. Both the particles and
the channels have varied diameters.

According to LOCKHART (1992), BENDIT et al (1994), MATHEWSON et al (1995) and CONDIE et al (1996),
the formation of the cake in filtration occurs due to the continuous growth in thickness with the
simple drainage of the liquid phase (filtration). In this phase, the compression of the cake occurs.
with the continuity of the filtered runoff, which contains very fine particles (< 0.5 mm), not
being particularly important since the formed cake is not compressible under
empty. The dehydration of the cake is characterized by the flow of two phases (air and liquid)
filtration), through the cake formed, during which large pores are emptied through
small existing channels and others remaining partially or totally saturated,
starting the appearance of channels (scratches), characterized by the emptying of large
openings in the cake and due to the airflow. In continuity, the smaller pores continue
containing filtered liquid, some of which continue to be drained. If the
breaking of the channels through the air in the cake (scratches), outside significant to the point of
reaching the primary filtering medium, the vacuum will be lost due to the high airflow
Through these scratchings, efficient dehydration will cease, thus marking the end of the stage.
of filtration.
Similarly, we present the filtration stages for the vacuum belt filter with
pressed, according to figures 6 and 7.
FVP filters benefit from the use of gravity in assisting
filtration, in this way they do not require vacuum in the stages of cake formation and require
very low emptiness for the dehydration and drying stages. The fabrics of the belts
obligatorily flexible are characterized by the small opening for the passage of fluids
separated, minimizing the passage of solids for filtration. Another fundamental characteristic is
that the FVP filters do not require large air passages for the drying stage of the cake,
which is performed by mechanical pressing more efficiently, thus reducing power
necessary for the vacuum generator system. The value of the vacuum used for FVP filters is
reduced to the point of not exceeding the vapor pressure of the separated fluid, thus it is not generated
vapor flash that would overload the vacuum propulsion system, which in other words is summarized as
drainage of the separated fluids. Another important factor is that the pressing stage
it gives a lower volume to the resulting cake and primarily lower final moisture.
On the other hand, they allow the addition of water for washing the fabrics abundantly, resulting in
in diluted effluent that must be incorporated into the process, which does not mean overload in others
process units, especially evaporation. The additional water for washing the fabrics should not be
to be considered as incorporated into the process, since it can be used in the actual imbibition of
the filters after pre-filtering or then used in the soaking of the grindings.
The use of flat vacuum belt filters in the sugar-alcohol sector
FVP filters have primarily been used in the following process stages:
Direct filtration of sugarcane juice sludge;
Filtration after the embankment of cake sludge from sugarcane juice (Refiltration of the cake);
- Filtración de jugo clarificado;
Syrup filtration (cane juice concentrate, after the evaporation stage and before
from the crystallization);
Filtration of concentrated juice from refinery (sugar dissolution juice);
Water filtration from gas washing of boilers;
Filtering of domestic sludge;
Capabilities
Model SCF -15 SCF-30 SCF-50
Longitude, m 9.5 11.50 12.00
Width, m 1.80 2.30 3.10
Height, m 2.50 2.70 3.20
Mud volume (m)3/h) 15 30 50
Weight, ton 7.5 9.5 10,5
TCD 2500 5000 8500
Comparison between vacuum belt flat filter and vacuum rotary drum filter
Handling capacity of solids
the FVP filters, due to their construction shape given by the belt in the horizontal, also
gravity assistant for the cake formation stage in a more efficient way
that rotary drum filters allow for greater applicability, being more versatile,
they promote solutions in concentrations that vary from approximately 1.0% to 80%
volume/volume. A classic example is that a juice clarifier can be completely exhausted.
from cane without discarding process materials due to high or low concentrations.
Final moisture of the cake
FVP filters operate with humidity around 60 to 65%, and FRV filters in the range of 71 to
78%, this means a drop of approximately 15.5 to 16.6% of the weight of the cake caused by
the reduction of humidity.
Relationship of area per ton of cane in the use of filters
Literature recommends medium area ratios for filtration of juice cane sludge for
FRV filters between 0.25 to 0.8 m2/tch. In this way, a filter with the size of 14 feet by 40 feet,
with a nominal filtration area of 164 m2can handle an average of the sludge generated from 234 tch.
For FVP filters, this same relationship revolves around 0.07 to 0.09 m.2/tch, what would be equivalent
for the management of the same 234 tch with an effective filtering area of 20.8 m2(including phases
of filtration, cake formation by gravity, under vacuum and pressing). The nominal area of
filtering for FVP represents approximately 350 % of this value, inferring the inefficiency of
use of the primary filtering medium as mentioned earlier.
Amount of filter aid (bagacillo)
The FRV requires a relationship that varies greatly for each plant, but on average the value
It is recommended to use around 6 to 7 kg of bagasse per ton of cane.
The FVP, due to having a primary filtration element with a smaller opening, requires around 2 kg.
of bagasse per ton of cane without prejudice to the passage of solids along with the filtered juice.
Level of impurities in the filtration
The retention obtained in FVP filters is around 96%, that is, equivalent to 325 mesh, in
how much do FRV filters reach an average value of 68%.
Amount of cake per ton of cane
In addition to the countless factors that determine the amount of bagasse per ton of cane,
as mainly type of regional soil of the plant, quality of the raw material and of the type of
juice extraction process (conventional milling or diffuser), these values may vary
between 12 to 45 kg of cake per ton of cane for rotary drum filters. In a comparison
between the FRV and FVP technologies, we can differentiate the amounts generated by the balances
of the amount of filter aid used, and of the final moisture of the cake. FVP filters, even
having greater retention, they have an advantage in this regard achieving reductions of 20%,
able to reach 40% of the cake generated in the process used by the FRV. This benefit
it directly impacts the cost of transporting the cake.
Use of polymer
For proper operation, FVP filters require polymer consumption of around 3 ppm.
per ton of cane, but which should be disregarded in relation to the cost due to its
reduced monetary value. For the FRV filters, unfortunately it is not practical in the sucrose sector.
alcoholic the use of polymers, however their profits are significant.
Required flow rate of vacuum propulsion systems and filtration rates
The vacuum rotary filters (VRF) require vacuum application rates around 22 to 30.
m3/hm2The FVP filters, due to their high filtering capacity, require around 300 to 550.
m3/hm2.
This significant difference between the specific flows is due to the areas involved in the
vacuum filtration process, represented by the filtration rates for FVP filters
they range around 3,000 to 5,800 l/hm2with a vacuum of 6.7 to 16.7 kPa (2 to 5" Hg), while for
the FRV average rate varies between 450 to 600 l/hm2, for vacuum between 33.3 to 66.7 kPa (10 to 20” Hg),
considering direct filtration of sugar cane juice sludge.
It is observed that the vacuum propulsion systems installed for FVP filters in the sugar sector
alcoholics are generally directly linked to the filter, holding all the responsibility.
condensation of vapors and extraction of non-condensables to the ring vacuum pump
liquid, generating large installations. These systems can be easily scaled down with
auxiliary condensation systems (direct or indirect contact condenser), or use of
more efficient vacuum systems, such as Roots compressors, seeking a drop in power
installed.
Peripheral speeds of the filtering medium
For FRV, peripheral speeds between 1,200 and 2,000 mm/minute are recommended (when applicable.
Possible, the ideal is 1,600 mm/minute), and for FVP filters around 4,000 to 6,000 mm/minute.
It is worth noting that the velocity of the filtering medium must be regulated in such a way that the cake does not
presents scratches indicating the completion of the filtration with excessive air passage, as you
presented in Fig. 5.
Cake washing water (cake imbibition)
The amount of water is relative to the desired final cake pol, that is, the filter presses are
capable of operating with very low poles due to their great hydraulic capacity. However, the factor
of imbibition reaches a limit (we call it the ideal poly curve) where the volume that is accepted
Imbibition no longer has much effect on the residual pulp, barely diluting the filtered juice.
the graph below.

The vacuum rotary filters (FRV) have limitations regarding the amount of wash water.
admitted by the due process due to its constructive form (drum).
The big question is how to add so much water needed in a rotary drum filter (FRV) without
to the detriment of the stability of the formed cake, as in the belt filters (FVP) this
Difficulty does not exist, as they possess hydraulic capacity many times greater.
It is important to note that FVP filters require water to wash the fabrics, preventing their
obstruction, an essential condition for its proper operation, and this value revolves around 8.0 m3/h
for each meter of belt width, which necessarily must not be discarded as
effluent, as it contains sucrose that must be recovered in the process and is the recommended place
it is in the imbibition water in the grindings.

In summary, the drop of pol from the cake for FVP filters is obtained more easily by the greater
water admission capacity of imbibition in relation to the FRV filters, with the benefit of
greater recovery of sucrose in the process, but with the alert of this water together with the
washing water from the fabrics must also be evaporated in the process. In any case, a
facility that opts for the use of FVP filters, even if it does not have an evaporation and steam system
available, will limit its performance in relation to the amount of water admissible for imbibition.
Investment cost
Taking as a basis a filter press with 31.8 m2of filtration area and a rotary vacuum filter
conventional size 14” x 40”, which are equivalent in handling capacities and
production, we present in the table above the comparative investment costs.