Method and apparatus for improved solid-liquid filtration of filter cakes
The invention is related to a method and vibratory apparatus for the improved solid-liquid filtration of filter cakes, especially for dewatering finely divided thixotropic filter cakes, with the aid of a vibratory apparatus. Further, the invention relates to a filtration apparatus having a vibratory apparatus as described herein, and to the use of the vibratory apparatus for the solid-liquid filtration of filter cakes.
1. A filter apparatus capable of vibrating accumulated filter cake for improved solid-liquid filtration of a suspension, said apparatus comprising:
a housing for containing a suspension to be filtered;
a filter mounted in said housing and accumulating a filter cake as a filtrate passes through a filter surface of said filter;
a vibratory apparatus unconnected to said housing, including:
a vibratory body positioned to contact or protrude into the filter cake so that only a portion of the filter cake thickness vibrates;
a pressure rib connected to said vibratory body;
a connecting part; and
a vibratory drive operatively connected to the vibratory body by said connecting part to cause said vibratory body to vibrate.
2. The filter apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vibratory drive is selected from the group consisting of a sonotrode, crankshaft drive, and unbalance drive.
3. The filter apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vibratory body has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of oval, circular and angular shapes.
4. The filter apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vibratory body comprises a fin or a knob structure.
5. The filter apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a scraper.
6. The filter apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a washing apparatus for washing the filter cake.
7. The filter apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is a rotary drum filter.