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Pumps provide faster filtration

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 25, 2004

PCM Moineau filter press feeding provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for plate feeder presses used in environmental dewatering applications.

PCM Moineau filter press feeding (FPF) provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for plate feeder presses used in environmental dewatering applications or product concentration and solution filtration in industrial processes.

Used in conjunction with an appropriate automation system, PCM Moineau pumps offer a cost-effective means of feeding filter presses while guaranteeing optimum operation throughout the different phases of the filtration cycle.

Using FPF it is possible to control pump capacity during the feeding and high pressure phases as the user wishes, with the latter able to implement up to five operating graphs.

FPF can be used to manage the injection of polymer in proportion to the theoretical or real sludge flow rate, and includes macerators to protect the pumps.

The filter press feed consists of one or two PCM Moineau pumps, depending on the size of the installation, linked to a control system that is compatible with all supervision links.

When associated with a Moineau pump, FPF automation offers many advantages.

The monochrome or colour screen graphic user interface makes it easy to use and set up FPF.

This system (available in four languages) can be used to trace and create graphs for implementing pressing in function of duty conditions.

The program is designed to operate in expert mode with reference graphs serving as the basis of system control.

Dynamic display of the operating graphs facilitates improved monitoring of the filtration cycles.

All events (operating and fault data) are archived and can be consulted at any time, and a comprehensive online help facility ensures easy interpretation.

Maintenance data are also stored.

With FPF, dewatering installation modifications can be integrated easily and rapidly, such as the addition of a pump protection macerator or a control flow meter.

PCM Moineau FPF can be integrated in equipment setups when installations are deployed or when existing equipment is replaced on-site.

It is particularly suitable for sewage sludge treatment and for environmental applications for the manufacturing industries, as well for manufacturing processes such as those carried out in the food processing and paramedical industries (eg beer yeast filtration) or the materials industries (eg ceramics, quarrying).

Europfil Sife is a surface treatment company (zinc, nickel, copper coatings) that works notably as a subcontractor for the automobile industry, and has been using PCM Moineau FPF filter press feeding since January 2003.

The company's system consists of a PCM 20l16 pump, with a fill capacity of 8m3/h and an end-of-cycle pressure of 15bar, for sludge recovery of liquid metal hydroxide sludge at the output of the physical-chemical treatment station.

The installation ensures that their site specification requirements are respected, including maintaining and improving sludge quality, obtaining a dry solid content of greater than 30%, reducing the cycle duration and keeping the noise level to a minimum.

Over the past year, Europfil Sife has been able to observe the efficiency of the FPF system, which has brought many benefits and allowed it to improve both productivity and working conditions in its plant.

In concrete terms, the user benefits were marked by a 50% reduction in filtration time, better sludge quality, less noise, the filtration graph display on tactile screen and the ability to modify this filtration graph from one cycle to the next.

Europfil Sife also reports that it has experienced no technical problems with this installation and that no maintenance work has been required since it has been up and running.