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NECESSARY FUNDAMENTALS FOR SUCCESSFUL ALUMINA SEED FILTRATION

Bott, R., Langeloh, T. and Hahn, J.

For seed filtration, vacuum disc filters are commonly used. In the last few years however, High Performance Disc Filters have been installed in modern alumina refineries replacing standard disc filters due to the tremendous hydraulic throughput rates required. This filter type impresses not only by its dimensions but also by its operational data.

The new design of the High Performance Disc Filter is the result of a consequent innovation. For more than twelve years BOKELA has been upgrading Al-Hydrate filters of many manufacturers. The know how and the experience gained by these projects is reflected in the new design of the High Performance Disc Filter.

The plant design as well as the efficient operation of this filter type requires a detailed understanding of the theoretical filtration fundamentals. Only if the influence of the process and the process and the apparatus parameters on the filter operation on the operational result is understood then feasible operation of the seed filters can be ensured. The standard equation for cake formation describes how the specific solids throughput (ms) depends on the decisive and influenceable parameters of the filtration process. By discussing each of these parameters it can be highlighted to which extent the filter capacity can vary during operation.