Design, Fabrication, and Preliminary Testing of a Laboratory-scale Continuous and Batch Centrifugal Filters
Author : Nabatilan, Larry Bargola
Major Adviser : Alcanzare, Edilberto A.
Committee Members :
Year : 1991
Month : March
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract
Laboratory-scale continuous and batch centrifugal filters were designed, fabricated and preliminary tested. The slurry used was low grade massecuite obtained from the Canlubang Sugar Estate factory. The equipment consists of four major parts: 1.) the shafting assembly, 2.) the filtration basket, 3.) the filtrate collection chute, and 4.) the solids collection channel. The filtration basket to which the major operation is focused consists of gauge 16 stainless steel for the conical basket designed for continuous operation. It has a top diameter of 12 inches with an angle of 30°. On the other hand gauge 14 stainless steel was used for the cylindrical basket which is designed for batch filtration. It has a diameter of 8 inches and a height of 8 inches designed to have a maximum cake thickness of 1 inch. Both baskets have perforations of 1/4 inch holes with vertical pitch of 1 mm.
The preliminary testing of the continuous centrifugal filter was done using massecuite at different temperatures. Results show that between the tested temperatures of 65°C and 80°C, the former temperature favors a higher purging efficiency recorded at 25.74%. This low value does not suggest an inferior equipment, but the value obtained is that degree of separation necessary to produce a pasty sugar crystals impregnated with molasses which is further used in the sugar industry as footings or for remelt.
On the other hand, the cylindrical basket design for batch filtration recorded a high degree of separation which is 42.21% purging efficiency. The low centrifugal force due to low speed delivered by the motor was compensated by a very lengthy purging time of 90 minutes which is only between 20 to 35 minutes in actual operations.
There are a lot of difficulties experienced during the preliminary testing of the equipment. Further improvements are recommended for more efficient performance of both the conical and cylindrical centrifugal baskets.
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