SOFTWARE

Filter Simulation window for Continuous Filters – Example: Simulation of a Belt Filter with Reversible Trays

FILOS Simulation Window for Vacuum and Pressure Continuous Filters: Belt, Drum, Disc, Pan Filters. In this window we see a simulation for a Belt Filter with Reversible Trays. Simulations with different filter types are listed together and can be easily compared (see Tables & Charts and Compare Simulations modules). Every Step: Cake Formation, Cake Washing, Cake Deliquoring has its own Column. Highest Flexibility regarding input and calculated parameters. Material Parameters can be automatically loaded from the Data Analysis- module or Default Data can be loaded. Filter geometrical Data are saved in a Database and can be loaded to the Simulation window. Listing of the main results with graphical display of the cycle time components.

Tables & Charts window for Continuous Filters

Powerful Tables & Charts window for Continuous Filters. The influence of the most important geometrical and setting parameters on the filter performance parameters can be displayed in form of tables and graphs. Performance comparisons for different filter types, different materials and different filter settings. All Tables and diagrams can be copied/pasted in Word or Excel. For this example: How the solids throughput (Qms) and the cake height (hc) are influenced by the belt speed (u) for two filter types: Belt filter with Reversible Trays and Continuous Belt filter. We see clearly the performance reduction for a given time for reversing the trays (Tr=3 s)

Filter Simulation window for Batch Filters – Example: Simulation of a Membrane Filter Press

FILOS Simulation Window for Batch Filters: Pressure Nutsche, Candle Filters, Pressure Leaf Filters, Filter Press and Filter Press Automats. In this example we see a simulation for a Membrane Filter Press with cake squeezing before cake washing and cake deliquoring. Simulations with different filter types are listed together and can be easily compared (see Tables & Charts and Compare Simulations modules). Every Step: Cake Formation, Cake Washing, Cake Deliquoring has its own column. Highest Flexibility regarding input and calculated parameters. Material Parameters can be automatically loaded from the Data Analysis- module or Default Data can be loaded. Filter geometrical Data are saved in a Database and can be loaded to the Simulation window. Listing of the main results with graphical display of the cycle time components.

Filter Simulation window for Batch Filters – Example: Simulation of a Pressure Nutsche

FILOS Simulation Window for Batch Filters: Pressure Nutsche, Candle Filters, Pressure Leaf Filters, Filter Press and Filter Press Automats. In this example we see a simulation for a Pressure Nutsche Filter with 2 washing steps: Displacement and Resuspension washing. Simulations with different filter types are listed together and can be easily compared (see Tables & Charts and Compare Simulations modules). Every Step: Cake Formation, Cake Washing, Cake Deliquoring has its own column. Highest Flexibility regarding input and calculated parameters. Material Parameters can be automatically loaded from the Data Analysis- module or Default Data can be loaded. Filter geometrical Data are saved in a Database and can be loaded to the Simulation window. Listing of the main results with graphical display of the cycle time components.

Tables & Charts window for Batch Filters

Powerful Tables & Charts window for all Batch Filters. The influence of the most important geometrical and setting parameters on the filter performance parameters can be displayed in form of tables and graphs. Performance comparisons for different filter types, different materials and different filter settings. All Tables and diagrams can be copied/pasted in Word or Excel. For this example: The Optimization diagram (Solids throughput as a function of cake height) for 3 different filter types: Candle Filter, Pressure Leaf Filter and Membrane Filter Press.

FILOS Comparison window for Filter Simulations

The powerful FILOS Comparison window. Input and Result parameters for definite selected simulations can be displayed together enabling an easy Comparison. A filter on the top of the window makes the selection of the simulations, which have to be displayed and compared very easy. Different tables For the Material parameters, the Geometrical parameters and pressures for each step, the times and cake heights. The results parameters are separated in 2 tables: Main Results and More Results. The Units Options and Visibility Options windows provides highest flexibility regarding the displayed units and the displayed parameters.

Create New Simulation Window (left) with loading of Default Material Data for the New Simulation (right)

The user-friendly window for Creating a New Simulation for the Calculation of the Filter Performance for a given Suspension, a given Filter and given filter Settings. The user is guided to enter all needed data already in this window, so that after clicking Take Data to Filter Calculation complete simulation data appear in the main simulation window (if it is needed, the user has to do in the main window only changes on the input data). The material parameters can be loaded from the FILOS-Analysis module (see button Load Material Data from Analysis). In this example we see the Create New Simulation window for a Belt Filter with Reversible Trays. On the right we see the window for Loading Default Material Data to the Create New Simulation window. These default data can be changed by the user (see Default Material Data button in the simulation main window).

FILOS- Protocol window – Example of an Experiment with Cake Formation, Washing, Squeezing and Deliquoring

Powerful FILOS-module for entering and saving all known and measured data for every filtration experiment of a test series. Even input of data, which are not needed for the FILOS-Analysis modules but can be important for the documentation of the test series. Each experiment belongs to a definite series and every series belongs to a definite project. Projects and Series as well as experiments of each series, goal and tested steps for each experiment are listed in the first column. All data of one Series can be transferred to the FILOS-Analysis modules for Detailed judgment and determination of the necessary efficiency parameters for the filter performance simulation. The second column displays the geometrical parameters of the test apparatus and basic material data for the tested suspension. The data for each tested step are displayed in a separate column. The Protocol is also a Calculator because it calculates and displays from the entered measured data the values of many important parameters, which enable the judgment of each experiment. Highest flexibility regarding input and calculated parameters enables the use of Protocol even as a Simulator, which can be used even for the planning of the experiments. The Series Overview Table displays for comparison reasons all important input and calculated parameters for all experiments of the current test series.

FILOS- Report window

The Report is a tool of the Protocol module and enables the Excel-similar, formatted display of entered and calculated Protocol data for all experiments of one Test series. The content of the Report window can be exported to Excel. Highest flexibility regarding the displayed units and the displayed groups of parameters as well as the display of the parameters in each group. The groups in Report are the same as the groups in the Protocol window. Additionally the Report contains the results of the FILOS-Analysis modules as last group. Similar to Protocol the data can be displayed in English or in German.

Start Window of the FILOS Detailed Cake Formation Module

For a given test series with cake forming filtration: Enables the Input and Saving of all needed data for each cake formation experiment in order to determine the efficiency parameters for the cake formation step: Cake permeability (pc0), specific and absolute filter medium resistance (hce0, Rm0), cake compressibility (nc) and filter medium compressibility (mc). The default needed data for each experiment are: Recorded mass of filtrate with time ((t, Mf), see the first two columns of the table on the right side), viscosity and density of the mother liquid as well as solids density (all three parameters series specific). Furthermore the suspension solids content (Cm) and the cake porosity are needed. The values of these data can be loaded automatically from the Excel file by using the FILOS module Excel Loader. The first table on the left top side displays the different test series in the current program file and the second small table to its right the list of the experiments of the selected series. The yellow columns of the data input table are calculated values for each time (t) for the following parameters: Specific filtrate volume (vf), average specific filtrate rate (qf), specific solids mass and solids mass rate (ms, qms), the filtered suspension (Msus), the expected cake height (hc) and the cake permeability pc* (the description pc* instead of pc indicates that in the pc* - parameter the filter medium resistance is included (pc*: permeability of the system filter cake-filter medium).

Analysis Window of the FILOS Detailed Cake Formation Module

Example of the FILOS-Analysis window with the theory-based plot of three experiments at three different pressures (Analysis method: General Integral). The different slopes of the regression lines is an evidence of a compressible cake (nc>0). The higher the pressure difference, the bigger the slope of the straight line that means the lower the cake permeability (pc). In case of an incompressible cake all lines are parallel. For each experiment the determined pc-, Rm- and hce-values are displayed in the table below the diagram. Below this table, we have the “final” results: (pc0, nc) and (Rm0, hce0, mc) values. In the analysis window, the user can choose and see the analysis results of any test series that means in the same file the data of many test series can be saved and compared to each other. The number of the measurements can be reduced. Very important is that the user can choose one of four options for the analysis of the test data.

Data Input Window of the FILOS - Cake Deliquoring module

Main input parameters for each experiment are the measured cake moisture content Rf at the end of the test and the experimental settings: Pressure difference (dp), cake height (hc) and deliquoring time (td). Optional (see Configuration window) is the input of the gas volume flow rate at the end of the deliquoring experiment (Qgi: absolute instantaneous or qgi: area specific instantaneous gas volume rate). The parameters with the yellow background colour in the data input table are all calculated. Their values enable the judgment of each experiment before going to the Analysis windows. The parameters in the blue field in the bottom left side of the window are necessary inputs for the analysis of the test data.

Analysis window of the FILOS -Cake Deliquoring module (Analysis of cake Moisture content)

FILOS window for the analysis of cake moisture content (Rf) measurements. As main results are the values of the adaptation parameters, ad2 and ad1 (see table below the diagram). By default the program sets ad2=5 and the determined ad1-value is then defined as the deliquoring efficiency. The theory-based plot enables the judgment of the quality of the measured data. The analysis results of more than one test series can be displayed together enabling a comparison of the deliquoring efficiency of different suspensions.

Analysis window of the FILOS -Cake Deliquoring module (Analysis of Gas Flow Rate)

Analysis window of the FILOS module Cake Deliquoring for the gas flow rate through the cake during the cake deliquoring step. Main goal of the analysis of gas flow rate measurements is the determination through regression analysis of the adaptation parameters ag1, ag2, ag3. By having these series specific parameters, the gas flow rate for industrial filters can be calculated enabling the design of the compressor.

Data Input window of the FILOS module Cake Washing

The data input window of the FILOS Cake Washing Analysis module. On the top left side, we have the listing of all test series in the current program file for which we have washing test data. In the blue field on the left bottom side, we have experiment und series specific material parameters, which are used for the analysis of the entered measured data. The measured data are entered in the data input table. The columns with the yellow background color, display calculated values of important parameters: expected washing time (tw), washing ratio related to the cake volume (w*), cake saturation of the discharged cake (S), specific wash out content of the discharged cake (x*), specific wash out content directly after the washing step (xw*), washing kinetic parameter (w) and the washing efficiency parameters for each experiment (Bw and Dn for the empirical and dispersion model respectively). For one cake washing experiment we need to know the cake height (hc), the pressure difference (Dpw), the wash liquid mass or volume (Mw/Vw), the wash out content of the discharged cake (X) and the cake moisture content (Rf). Since the measured parameter is the wash out content of the discharged cake (X) and for the analysis of the washing data we need the specific wash out content directly after the washing step (xw*) the program calculates xw* from the wash out content of the discharged cake (X) and from the cake moisture content (Rf).

Analysis window of the FILOS module Cake Washing

Analysis results window of the FILOS- Cake Washing module. On the top left side, we see the list of all test series, which have washing data. Below the test series table we see the measured washing data for each experiment (white background color), which are necessary for the determination of the washing efficiency parameters. With a yellow background color, we see the calculated values of other important parameters, which allow us to judge the quality of the experiment. The judgment of the quality of the experiment is also possible in the theory-based diagram. The two tables below the diagram display the efficiency parameters for the empirical (Aw, Bw) and the dispersion model (Dn0, aw) for the selected series or for all series with “+” in the series list on the top left side. The display of the results in form of diagrams and tables for more series (see option: all series with +) allows among others the comparison of different suspensions regarding the washing efficiency.

Data Input window of the FILOS module Cake Squeezing

Data Input window of the FILOS module Cake Squeezing. The second data input table on the right bottom side is optional. It appears only if we select the option “Determination of Cake Permeability”. That means if we want to know the dependency of the cake permeability with variation of the squeezing pressure Ps. Such a dependency is needed if in industrial applications the cake has to be squeezed before washing (so called Presqueezing) or, if after squeezing the cake has to be deliquored. The table on the top left side is listing all series with squeezing data. The blue field at the left bottom side includes all material parameters of the unsqueezed cake, which are necessary for the analysis. Default inputs in the data input table are the Exp. Id, the squeezing pressure (Ps) and the cake heights before and after the squeezing step (hc, hcs). All other parameters are then calculated.

Analysis window of the FILOS module Cake Squeezing

Results window of the FILOS module Cake Squeezing. The main goal of this window is the determination and display of the squeezing efficiency parameters ANm and Apc (see one-row table below the diagram). The latter parameter is optional and is only needed if the permeability of the squeezed cake has to be known for the Filter Calculation modules. The theory based plotting of the measured data enables the judgment of each measurement and the data correction. Since all series with squeezing data are displayed also in the analysis results window, by choosing the option “all series with +” a comparison of the squeezing efficiencies for different suspensions can be done. The tables with the measured data below the series table can be corrected. This is very useful for the case that some values are not entered correctly in the Data Input window (first module window) and have to be corrected, or if we want to study the influence on the squeezing efficiency when some values are changed. With “Reset Data” any changes we do in this window are not valid anymore and the window returns back to its original data. The table on the left bottom side is a Calculator for the Squeezing step. Only the squeezing pressure Ps has to be entered and all other parameters are calculated.

Filter Cake & Suspension Relations – Example for Filter Centrifuges

For a plane filter area or convex area (candle filters) or concave area (centrifuges): For a given filter area and a given cake height, calculation of the suspension amount per cycle if the solids density, the suspension solids content and the cake porosity are given. Highest flexibility of the calculations: Instead of the suspension amount for one cycle, the cake height or the geometry of the filter or the cake porosity or the suspension solids content or the densities can be calculated (In this example: Calculations for a Filter Centrifuge, with input data in blue color).

Filter Cake & Suspension Relations – Example for Candle Filters

For a plane filter area or convex area (candle filters) or concave area (centrifuges): For a given filter area and a given cake height, calculation of the suspension amount per cycle if the solids density, the suspension solids content and the cake porosity are given. Highest flexibility of the calculations: Instead of the suspension amount for one cycle, the cake height or the geometry of the filter or the cake porosity or the suspension solids content or the densities can be calculated (In this example: Calculations for a Candle Filter, with input data in blue color).

Cake Porosity from Test Data

Calculation of the cake porosity from tests with filters with plane or convex or concave filter area under consideration of nonvolatile solutes in the cake liquid. Two options: Saturated cake (all voids filled with liquid) and non saturated cake are considered.

Calculations Cake Formation

Calculation of the filtration time for given suspension and cake parameters (viscosity and density of mother liquid, density of solids or suspension, solids content as mass or volume fraction or concentration, standard cake permeability/cake resistance, cake compressibility and filter medium resistance), for a given pressure difference and a given cake height. Alternatively the cake height or the amount of suspension Msus/Vsus can be calculated.

Cake Formation Analysis

It determines from one experiment (batch or continuous filter) both parameters: cake porosity and cake permeability/cake resistance with the highest flexibility regarding the input parameters. This module can be also used to simulate the performance of batch and continuous filters if the porosity and permeability of the cake are entered instead of calculated.

Cake Moisture Content from Cake Saturation

Calculation of the cake moisture content from the cake porosity and the cake saturation. Alternatively the cake saturation can be calculated if the cake moisture content and the cake porosity are entered or the cake porosity can be determined if the cake saturation and the cake moisture content are given.

Cake Washing Parameters

For Filters and Filter Centrifuges determination of the needed washing liquid amount (specific and absolute). Needed inputs are filter geometry parameters, liquid and solids density, cake porosity and cake height.

Filter Centrifuges – Calculation of the Centrifugal Pressure

Calculation of the Centrifugal Pressure for the filtration step in Filter Centrifuges. Default Inputs are the centrifuge diameter, the rotational speed, the liquid density and the liquid pool height.

Filter Centrifuges – Calculations to the Filtration Step

Calculation of the necessary filtrate drainage time during the cake formation step in the filter centrifuge, so that the filtrate pool height reaches the level h<h0 (with h0 the filtrate liquid pool height at t=0) and if additionally the following parameters are given: Centrifuge diameter, rotational speed, density and viscosity of the filtrate, cake permeability/cake resistance, filter medium resistance and cake height.