Vibration-enhanced compaction of filter cakes and its influence on filter cake cracking

ABSTRACT

Filter cake cracking is a common problem in cake filtration that can be avoided by compacting the filter cake prior to air-blowing. Here, we present a new method for compaction by applying vibration in the form of oscillatory shear. The shrinking and cracking behavior of the model material is analyzed by combining laser displacement measurements and image analysis. Then, the compaction results are presented and discussed regarding the process time and energy consumption. Finally, we show how compaction by oscillatory shear influences the cracking behavior of the filter cake. Significant reduction in cracking could be achieved.

KEYWORDS:

• Cake filtration
• compaction
• filter cake cracking
• shear

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank M. Jaensch and J. Pfinder for performing part of the experiments and H. Guigas and T. Reutter for the realization of the experimental setup.