Mass Transfer 2

Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

1.0 Objective

The purpose of the experiment was to study the operation of the filter press for
filtration of calcium carbonate slurry and to determine the filter medium resistance and
specific cake resistance from filtration data obtained.

2.0 Summary

The experiment`s objective was to study the operation of the filter press for filtration
of calcium carbonate slurry and to determine the filter medium resistance and specific cake
resistance from filtration data obtained. Calcium carbonate solution was used as the filtrate.
The experiment was run, every 5 L of filtrate produced the time was taken. At three different
time, three samples was taken to study the relationship of density and viscosity to volume of
filtrate. The viscosity and density of the samples was decreasing as V is approaching the final
volume. And using the equation given, the value of filter medium resistance and filter cake
resistance was found . The viscosity and density was values at the three different samples was
taken and it is found that they are proportional in relationship. The value of filter medium
resistance and specific cake resistance was determined from filtration data obtained.

3.0 Result

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Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

Weight fraction of calcium carbonate in slurry : 5 %

Weight of wet cake

Tray 1 : 3600 g
Tray 2 : 290 g
Tray 3 : 550 g
Total : 4400 g

Weight of dry cake

Tray 1 : 3460 g
Tray 2 : 240 g
Tray 3 : 410 g
Total : 4110 g

Weight ratio of wet cake to dry cake (mf/mc) : 1.071

Viscosity of filtrate (μ)

At V=5 L : 5 Pa.s
At V=45 L : 1 Pa.s
At V=89.3 L: 1 Pa.s

Density of filtrate (p)

At V=5 L : 1.0 g/cm3
At V=45 L : 0.997 g/cm3
At V=89.3 L: 0.992 g/cm3

Density of calcium carbonate : 2.93 g/cm3

Total active filter area : 0.47 m x 47.0 m = 22.09 m2
Pressure drop (ΔP) : 40
Total filtration time : 1005 s
Total volume of filtrate : 89.30 litre

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

Table 1 : Filtrate volume corresponding to time

Filtrate volume Time

V (litre) t (second)
5 75
10 107
15 155
20 203
25 255
30 323
35 374
40 428
45 478
50 530
55 583
60 640
65 692
70 743
75 793
80 844
85 895
89.3 1005

Table 2 : Table of the density of the 3 trays

ρ1 ρ2 ρ3
1.000 g/cm3 0.997 g/cm3 0.992 g/cm3

Table 3: Table of the viscosity of the 3 trays

μ1 μ2 μ3
5 Pa.s 1 Pa.s 1 Pa.s

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

C = mass of solid deposited(total weight of wet cake) in the filter per unit volume of
filtrate
= 4.10 kg89.3 L
= 0.04591 kg/L

4.0 Tutorial

1. Plot the data relating to t/V versus V to obtain a straight linear graph

Table 2 : t/V and V

t/V (second/liter) Filtrate volume

V (liter)
15 5
10.7 10
10.33 15
10.15 20
10.2 25
10.77 30
10.69 35
10.7 40
10.62 45
10.6 50
10.6 55
10.67 60
10.65 65
10.61 70
10.57 75
10.55 80
10.53 85

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

11.25 89.3

Figure 1 : t/V versus V graph

2. The slope of each line is Kc/2 in seconds per liter and 1/qo from the intercept of the
line.

When ΔP is constant, the only variable left are V and t. When

t=0 and V=0 and ΔP=ΔPm : hence;

μRmAΔP = (dtdV) = 1qo

dtdV=1q = KcV + 1qo

Where, Kc = μcαA2(ΔP) (1)

Integration of the equation (1) between the limits (0,0) and (t,V) gives

tV=(Kc2)V + 1qo

y = -0.015x + 11.52

slope = -0.015x = Kc/2

Kc = -0.030 s/L, since it cannot be negative, the negative sign is neglected. so,

Kc = 0.030 s/L

1/qo = intercept = 11.52

3. Obtain the filter value of filter medium resistance (Rm) and cake resistance (α)
from these equations.

1qo = μRmA(ΔP) , Kc = μcαA2(ΔP)

Where, μ = viscosity of filtrate

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

A = filter area

(ΔP) = pressure drop

C = mass of solid deposited in the filter unit per unit volume of filtrate (kg/L)

So, Rm = A(ΔP)qoμ

= 22.09 (40 )0.08681μ

= 10178.55μ

Table 3: Table of the viscosity of the 3 trays

μ1 μ2 μ3
5 Pa.s 1 Pa.s 1 Pa.s

Table 4: Table for filter medium resistance for the three trays
Rm1 Rm2 Rm3
10178.55 μ1 10178.55 μ2 10178.55 μ3
= 50892.75 m-1 = 10178.55 m-1 = 10178.55 m-1

Rm = Rm1+Rm2+Rm33
= 50892.75+10178.55+10178.553
= 71249.85 m-1

And, α = KcA2(ΔP)μc
α = 0.030 (22.09)2(40)μ0.04591
α = 0.030 (22.09)2(40)0.04591μ

= 12754.56μ

Table 3: Table of the viscosity of the 3 trays

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

μ1 μ2 μ3
5 Pa.s 1 Pa.s 1 Pa.s

Table 5: Table for filter cake resistance for the three trays
α1 α2 α3

12754.56 μ1 12754.56 μ2 12754.56 μ3

= 63772.79 s/L = 12754.56 s/L = 12754.56 s/L

α = a1+a2+a33
= 63772.79+ 12754.56+ 12754.563
= 89281.91 s/L

5.0 Discussion

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

Figure 1 : t/V versus V graph

From the graph, at t=5 minutes,the t/V is at its highest at the first 5 L. This is because
there were less cake resistance during the first 5 liters as the cake resistance had just started to
build up. A filter cake is formed by the substances that are retained on a filter. The filter cake
grows in the course of filtration, becomes thicker as particulate matter is being retained[2].
With increasing layer thickness the flow resistance of the filter cake increases[2]. From V=5
until V=30 the resistance of the filter cake resistance was starting to increase, that causes the
graph to plummet.As time volume increase, the filter cake resistance is increasing until the
cake was fully stuffed at the trays. From V equals 30L to V=89.3 the graph become linear,
this proof that the cake resistance is at its maximum and cannot build up anymore. The filter
medium resistance changed only when the pressure drop changed[1]. Cake resistance is based
on the volume of filtrate stucked in the filter.

With some filter cakes, the specific resistance varies with the pressure drop across it[2].
This is because the cake becomes denser under the higher pressure and so provides fewer and
smaller passages for flow[2]. The effect is spoken of as the compressibility of the cake. The
pressure drop of this experiment was constant at 40 psi. Filter cake builds up on the upstream
side of the cloth, that is the side away from the plate[2]. In the early stages of the filtration
cycle, the pressure drop across the cloth is small and filtration proceeds at more or less a
constant rate[2]. As the cake increases, the process becomes more and more a constant-pressure
one and this is the case of this experiment.

Calcium carbonate is directly affected by the pressure drop because of the size of its
particle, this does not apply to materials with smaller particle like salt and sugar[2].

The result of the experiment may not be correct because of the machine may not be
fucntioning properly. This may cause error of the experiment which means it is not the same
as the theory.

Table 6 : Table of density and viscosity at different volume

V=5 L V=45 L V=89.3 L

ρ1 ρ2 ρ3
1.000 g/cm3 0.997 g/cm3 0.992 g/cm3
μ1 μ2 μ3

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

5 Pa.s 1 Pa.s 1 Pa.s

Table 2 and 3 shows the values of the different density and viscosity of the different
volume which are V=5L,V=45L and V=89.3L. The relation of the density and viscosity of the
filtrate is proportional. For the first volume the value was the highest because the of the cake
and filter medium resistance was at it initial stage, which is the lowest. This is also caused by
the pressure is at its highest since there was still less resistance in during the first 5 liter. Then,
at V=45 liter the value of the density and viscosity decreases compared to the value of the first
5 liter. This is because the cake resistance was starting to build up and less particle can get
through as the filter filtrate more calcium carbonate compared to the first 5 liter. At the final
volume, V=89.3 L, the viscosity had remained constant because of the cake resistance had
remained constant as explained before(graph discussion). The density still decreases, this may
not be correct as it is also have to remain constant or almost the same as density at V=45 L.
This may be caused by experimental error, for example there is still air trapped inside the
density meter which cause the density value is less than it is supposed to be.

The weight of the cake(dry and wet) was different for every trays. The first tray have
the highest weight because of it is the first tray that was in contact with the filtrate. The cake
had build up at tray 1 that causes it to have the highest weight. The the third tray have higher
weight than tray 2 maybe because of tray 3 have smaller holes for its filter than two. The
different of weight of wet cake and dry cake is because of the weight of moisture(water) in
wet cake.

6.0 Conclusion

The conclusion is the filter medium resistance and specific cake resistance had been
determined which are Rm=71249.85 m-1 and �=89281.91 s/L by using the graph and formulas
and the data obtained. We explained the factors that affects the filter medium resistance and
specific cake resistance value which are pressure drop, filter medium, the size of particle. The
result of thus experiment may not be correct as the machine may not be functioning properly.
Proper maintenance should be done for better reliability of the experiment.

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

7.0 References

1. McCabe, Smith and Harriot, Units Operations of Chemical Engineering, McGraw

Hill, 6th edition (2000)

2. R. L. Earle ,Unit Operations in Food Processing. NZIFST (Inc.) ,(1983)

8.0 Appendices

C = mass of solid deposited(total weight of wet cake) in the filter per unit volume of
filtrate
= 4.10 kg89.3 L
= 0.04591 kg/L

μRmAΔP = (dtdV) = 1qo

dtdV=1q = KcV + 1qo

Where, Kc = μcαA2(ΔP) (1)

Integration of the equation (1) between the limits (0,0) and (t,V) gives

tV=(Kc2)V + 1qo

y = -0.015x + 11.52

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

slope = -0.015x = Kc/2

Kc = -0.030 s/L, since it cannot be negative, the negative sign is neglected. so,

Kc = 0.030 s/L

1/qo = intercept = 11.52

1qo = μRmA(ΔP) , Kc = μcαA2(ΔP)

Where, μ = viscosity of filtrate

A = filter area

(ΔP) = pressure drop

C = mass of solid deposited in the filter unit per unit volume of filtrate (kg/L)

So, Rm = A(ΔP)qoμ

= 22.09 (40 )0.08681μ

= 10178.55μ
Rm = Rm1+Rm2+Rm33
= 50892.75+10178.55+10178.553
= 71249.85 m-1

And, α = KcA2(ΔP)μc
α = 0.030 (22.09)2(40)μ0.04591
α = 0.030 (22.09)2(40)0.04591μ

= 12754.56μ

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 Mass Transfer 2
Experiment 4 : Plate and Filter Frame Press

α = a1+a2+a33
= 63772.79+ 12754.56+ 12754.563
= 89281.91 s/L

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