Dewatering of flocculated suspensions by pressure filtration

Abstract

Pressure filtration is an important method for removing liquids from a suspension. Previous work used linear models or applied to stable suspensions. Nonlinear models for flocculated suspensions are studied here. The equations governing the consolidation of flocculated suspensions under the influence of an applied pressure are based on the assumption that when the volume fraction is high enough, the network formed from the aggregation of flocs possesses a compressive yield stress Py(φ) that is a function of local volume fraction φ only. There are two modes of operation of the pressure filter—the fluid flux or the applied pressure is specified—and both of these are studied. The resulting nonlinear partial differential equations involve the time-dependent piston position, and in the case of the suspension being initially unnetworked, another internal moving boundary below which the suspension is networked. The small time behavior of these systems is obtained with an asymptotic method. In general, at later times, the solution can only be found numerically and an algorithm for doing this is discussed. The important parameters and properties of the filter cake are described. The results suggest various ways of controlling the filtration process, which may be useful in the manufacture of ceramics.