Chapter 13 - Getting the Most from Filtration Processes

Abstract

Commercial production processes generally have three life-stages: product development and process design, project execution, and equipment selection and production and process optimization. Each filtration process is unique and there will be particular issues with the process that may not have been anticipated by a mechanical engineer in a drawing office. It is not uncommon for filtration to be neglected during product development and process design. To do so, the first principle should be to consider the filtration steps in a process as early as possible. It is assumed that by understanding how the outcomes of a filtration process affect the success of the overall process and what factors determine these outcomes, the user will be able to improve the success of the filtration process and, finally, the competitiveness of the overall process. These improvements may be far from obvious and may rely upon careful consideration of what could be happeninginside the filter device, followed by testing of ideas on a small scale. While these improvements may involve anything from a small change in operational procedures to an entire rethink of the filtration process including the purchase of a different filter or type of filter, they can make a very significant difference to the success of the overall production process.