Software for Empirical Modeling of Test Filtrations

Abstract

Filtration is a widely used unit operation in chemical engineering. Conventional filtration theories are difficult to use when the system to be modeled contains all of the stages and features that are present in a complete solid/liquid separation process. Furthermore, most of the filtration theories require experimental work to be performed in order to obtain critical parameters required by the theoretical models. The statistical design of experiments provides the necessary tools for recognizing the effects of variables. It also helps to perform experimental work more economically. Design of experiments is a prerequisite for creating empirical models that can describe how the measured response is related to the changes in the values of the variable. A software package was developed that provides a filtration practitioner with experimental designs and calculates the parameters for linear regression models, along with the graphical representation of the responses. The developed software consists of two software modules. These modules are LTDoE and LTRead. The LTDoE module is used to create experimental designs for different filter types. The LTRead-module is used to read the experimental data gathered from the experiments, to analyze the data and to create models for each of the measured responses. The software provides both numerical data in the form of model equations and visual representations showing how the selected variables affect the responses. This approach to the study of cake filtration processes, as presented, has been shown to have good practical value when making filtration tests.