WO2005075047A1 - The treatment of contaminated liquid - Google Patents

The treatment of contaminated liquid Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005075047A1
WO2005075047A1 PCT/IB2005/000210 IB2005000210W WO2005075047A1 WO 2005075047 A1 WO2005075047 A1 WO 2005075047A1 IB 2005000210 W IB2005000210 W IB 2005000210W WO 2005075047 A1 WO2005075047 A1 WO 2005075047A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
filter
plates
press
contaminated liquid
plate
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2005/000210
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Raymond John Long
Original Assignee
Earthwize Environmental Group Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Earthwize Environmental Group Limited filed Critical Earthwize Environmental Group Limited
Publication of WO2005075047A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005075047A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D37/00—Processes of filtration
    • B01D37/02—Precoating the filter medium; Addition of filter aids to the liquid being filtered
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D25/00—Filters formed by clamping together several filtering elements or parts of such elements
    • B01D25/12—Filter presses, i.e. of the plate or plate and frame type
    • B01D25/164—Chamber-plate presses, i.e. the sides of the filtering elements being clamped between two successive filtering plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D25/00—Filters formed by clamping together several filtering elements or parts of such elements
    • B01D25/12—Filter presses, i.e. of the plate or plate and frame type
    • B01D25/19—Clamping means for closing the filter press, e.g. hydraulic jacks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D25/00—Filters formed by clamping together several filtering elements or parts of such elements
    • B01D25/12—Filter presses, i.e. of the plate or plate and frame type
    • B01D25/21—Plate and frame presses
    • B01D25/215—Construction of the filter plates, frames
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/06—Filters making use of electricity or magnetism

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to the treatment of contaminated liquid.
  • It relates particularly to a process for treating contaminated liquid and to a filter press apparatus and a filter plate for use in the treatment of contaminated liquid.
  • a filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid including
  • each filter plate including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to act as a filter medium, each filter plate including electrical connection means which is coupled to the filter screen element and which is connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screen element and thereby also to the sphagnum moss in the filter recess, in use ; and
  • press means that is operable to exert a force on the filter plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and the filter recesses of the filter plates are closed off by adjacent filter plates to form enclosed filter chambers and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another.
  • each filter plate may be disposed centrally and the outlet port thereof may be disposed peripherally.
  • At least parts of the outlet ports of the filter plates may be aligned so as to define a continuous outlet passage for filtered contaminated liquid, when the filter plates are in their closed compressed condition.
  • a filter plate for use with a filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid
  • the filter press apparatus including a press frame on which the filter plate and a number of similar filter plates can be supported in an adjacent parallel relationship wherein the plates are displaceable relative to one another; and press means that is operable to exert a force on the filer plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another
  • the filter plate having a substantially planar configuration and including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to
  • each filter plate may be disposed centrally, with the outlet port thereof being disposed peripherally.
  • a process for treating contaminated liquid which includes filtering the contaminated liquid in a filtration apparatus using sphagnum moss as a filter medium.
  • the process may include applying an electrical charge to the sphagnum moss thereby to ionize the sphagnum moss to enhance its ability to attract oppositely- charged contaminant particles in the contaminated liquid for separating said particles from the contaminated liquid.
  • the process may include treating contaminated liquid in a filter press apparatus wherein sphagnum moss is located in the filter chambers of the filter press apparatus.
  • the process may include treating contaminated liquid in the filter press apparatus as defined and described hereinabove.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation of a filter press apparatus in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic end view of one end of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic top plan view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 shows a schematic end view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , sectioned along section line IV - IV of Figure 3;
  • Figure 5 shows a schematic end view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , sectioned along section line V - V of Figure 3;
  • Figure 6 shows a schematic end view of an opposite end of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 7 shows a schematic exploded side elevation of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 8 shows a schematic fragmentary side elevation of a filter plate of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 9 shows an exploded schematic end elevation of the filter plate of Figure 8, sectioned along section line IX - IX of Figure 9;
  • Figures 10 A and 10 B show a schematic side elevation and an end elevation, respectively, of a filter frame of a filter screen element of the filter plate of Figure 8;
  • Figure 11 shows a schematic enlarged fragmentary end elevation showing detail XI of Figure 9;
  • Figure 12 shows a schematic side elevation of a fully assembled filter plate of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 13 shows a schematic exploded end elevation of the filter plate of Figure 8, sectioned along section line XIII-XIII of Figure 8;
  • Figure 14 shows a detail XIV of Figure 13
  • Figure 15 shows a schematic plan view of the filter plates of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , illustrating the flow path of water through the filter plates.
  • a filter press in accordance with the invention, for treating effluent water is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.
  • the filter press 10 comprises a press frame designated generally by the reference numeral 12, which includes two horizontally-spaced support beams 14, a front stanchion comprising two support legs 16.1 and 16.2, a front end support plate 18 which is fixed to the legs 16.1 and 16.2, a rear stanchion including a pair of support legs 20.1 and 20.2, and a rear end support plate 22 which is fixed to the legs 20.1 and 20.2.
  • the support beams 14 are of round bar and have screw- threaded end regions which are received in holes defined for this purpose in the front and rear support plates 18 and 22, the beams being secured to the end support plates by means of nuts 24.
  • the filter press 10 further includes six filter plates 26.1 , 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5 and 26.6 that are located between and suspended on the longitudinal beams 14 between the front and rear stanchions.
  • the filter plates are vertically orientated and supported on the beams 14 in an arrangement wherein the filter plates are horizontally displaceable along the beams.
  • the filter press 10 includes press means in the form of a hydraulically-actuated closing piston/cylinder 28 which is operable to compress the filter plates into a closed compressed condition (as is shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings) by displacing the filter plates towards the rear end support plate 22.
  • the piston/cylinder mechanism 28 comprises a cylinder 30 and a piston 32.
  • the filter press 10 includes a pressing plate 34 which is connected to a distal end of the piston 32 and which is supported on the support beams 14 so as to be horizontally displaceable along the beams. More particularly, the pressing plate 34 includes a pair of laterally-extending support arms 36.1 and 36.2 which define spindles on which rollers 38 are supported, the rollers providing for displacement of the pressing plate 34 along the beams 14.
  • the rollers 38 have concave rolling surfaces which conform to the round shape of the beams 14.
  • the pressing plate further includes an additional pair of straight rollers 44 supporting the pressing plate 34 on the support beams.
  • Each of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 has a planar configuration and includes a centrally-located inlet port 42 for effluent water and four peripherally situated outlet ports 44 for filtered effluent water.
  • Each of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 includes two sets of filter screens wherein each set comprises a first filter screen 46 and a second filter screen 48.
  • the filter screens are of stainless steel mesh with the first screen 46 defining larger holes than the second screen 48.
  • the first screen 46 defines apertures of 2mm
  • the second filter screen 48 defines apertures of 2 microns.
  • the filter screens are held in a stainless steel screen frame 50.
  • the stainless steel material of the filter screens and of the screen frame 50 is electrically conductive, the purpose of which will be explained in further detail hereinafter.
  • Each filter plate 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 includes a plastics filter body 52 in which the filter screens 46 and 48 are held and which defines the inlet port 42 and the outlet ports 44.
  • Each filter body 52 has a square configuration when viewed in plan view and defines back-to-back filter recesses 54 in which the sets of filter screen elements are located.
  • Each filter recess 54 has an octagonal profile when viewed in plan view.
  • An inner side of each recess formation 54 is defined by a base support formation 56 which has a grooved surface profile.
  • the screen frame 50 and the filter screens 46 and 48 define a number of peripheral holes 58 in which bolts 60 are received for securing the filter screens and the surrounding screen frame 50 to the filter body 52 within the recess 54.
  • the filter screens 46 and 48 define central apertures 55 and 57, respectively, which are in register with the inlet port 42 of the filter part 42 when the filter plate is assembled.
  • a stainless steel boss 62 in the form of a ring is located on an outer side of the second filter screen 48 and secured by means of screws 64 to the base support formation 56 of the filter body thereby enhancing the structural rigidity of the filter plate and lining the central apertures of the filter screens.
  • Each of the filter plates has a pair of support brackets 66 which extend from opposite sides of the filter body and which are located on the beams 14 at opposite sides of the filter plate for supporting the filter plate thereon, in use.
  • the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 are sandwiched between the filter plates 26.1 and 26.2 in a closed compressed condition of the filter press, with the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 abutting the end support plates 22 and 34, respectively.
  • the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 are identical to the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5, with the only difference being that the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 each define a single inwardly extending recess formation in which a single set of filter screens 46 and 48, is located. As such, the same reference numerals are used to designate those features of the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 which are the same as the features of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5.
  • the filter plates are sandwiched between the end support plates 22 and 34 and abut one another in an arrangement wherein the inlet ports 42 and the outlet ports 44 of the filter plates are in register and together define elongate passages along which water can flow. More specifically, an inlet passage 90 is defined for effluent water and four outlet passes 92 are defined for filtered water.
  • an inlet pipe (not shown) carrying effluent water is connected to the inlet passage 90 and four outlets pipes (not shown) for carrying filtered water, are connected to the outlet passages 92.
  • seals are located between the filter plates.
  • each of the filter plates 26 includes a number of rubber O-ring seals 68 which line the outlet ports 44 at opposite sides thereof and which are seated in grooves 70 provided for this purpose.
  • each filter plate includes a rubber ring seal 72 which surround the recess 54 and which has an octagonal profile when viewed in plan view and which is seated in a groove 74 provided for this purpose on one side of the filter plate.
  • the seals 68 and 72 are interposed between adjacent filter plates thereby forming a fluid-tight seal between the filter plates.
  • the filter recess of each filter plate forms an enclosed filter chamber with the filter recess of an adjacent filter plate.
  • the filter recesses 54 of adjacent filter plates 26 thus face each other and form filter chambers in the closed compressed condition of the filter press 10.
  • each filter plate 26 defines four internal water flow channels 88 which extend between the recess 54 and a particular outlet port 44 thereby to allow for the flow of filtered water from the filter chamber into the outlet port 44.
  • Each filter plate 26 includes an electrical connector designated generally by the reference numeral 76 at an upper end of the filter plate, which is connected to each set of filter screen elements 46 and 48.
  • Each electrical connector 76 includes an electrical connection rod 78, a connection boss 80 defining an internal screw thread and a pair of connecting screws 82 which pass through holes defined in each filter screen 46 and 48 and in the screen frame 50 and which are screwed into the connecting boss 80.
  • the electrical connection rod 78 includes a nut 84 and washers 86.1 and 86.2 which provide for the connection of the electrical connecting rod 78 to an electrical power source.
  • the connection boss 80 and the connecting screws 82 are of electrically-conductive material.
  • the filter chambers Prior to using the filter press 10, the filter chambers are charged with sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is pumped along with water through the filter press thereby causing the sphagnum moss to attach itself to the filter screen elements 48 thereby coating each of the filter screens 48 with a layer of sphagnum moss.
  • the sphagnum moss acts as a filter medium trapping and removing contaminant micro-particles from the effluent water which are too small to be trapped by the filter screens 46 and 48.
  • An electrical charge is applied to the filter screens and thereby the sphagnum moss, enhancing the ability of the sphagnum moss to attract and separate oppositely-charged contaminant micro-particles from effluent water which are too small to be trapped by the filter screens.
  • the honeycomb structure of the sphagnum moss effectively polishes the water by trapping contaminant micro-particles in the spaces defined in the moss. Furthermore, by applying an electrical charge to the filter screens, oppositely-charged micro- particles are attracted to and become attached to the filter screens.
  • a pipe carrying the effluent water to be filtered is connected to the inlet port 42 of the filter plate 26.1 and four outlet pipes are connected to the outlet ports 34 of the filter plate 26.1 for carrying filtered water from the filter press.
  • effluent water to be filtered enters the inlet port 42 of the filter plate 26.1 and is pumped along the inlet passage 90 into the filter chambers defined between adjacent filter plates. After passing through the layer of sphagnum moss and the filter screens 48 and 46, filtered water is allowed to flow into the outlet ports 44 via the channels 88.
  • the flow path for effluent water through the filter plates is shown by the arrows in Figure 15.
  • the effluent water will be pre-treated by passing the effluent water through a charging device including electrically-charged plates which impart an electrical charge to contaminant micro-particles in the effluent water. More specifically, the charge imparted to the contaminant micro-particles in the effluent water will be opposite to that applied to the filter screen elements in the filter plates of the filter press, thereby to enhance the attraction of oppositely- charged particles by the filter screen elements and the sphagnum moss in the filter press.
  • the effluent water prior to entering the filer press 10, the effluent water will be treated with singlet oxygen which has the effect of causing contaminant micro-particles to coagulate in the effluent water, increasing the size of the contaminant particles thereby increasing the effectiveness of the sphagnum moss in trapping and removing the contaminant particles from the effluent water.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)

Abstract

A filter press (10) for treating effluent water, comprises a press frame (12) including two support beams (14), a front end plate (18), a rear end plate (22). The press (10) includes six filter plates (26) that are moveably supported on the beams (14). The press (10) includes a pressing plate (34) and a piston/cylinder mechanism (28) which exerts a force on the pressing plate (34) for displacing the filter plates into a closed compressed condition. Each filter plate has a central inlet port for effluent water and four peripheral outlet ports for filtered water; and a pair of electrically-conductive filter screens located between the filter ports for filtering contaminants from effluent water. A layer of sphagnum moss which serves as a filter medium is located on the filter screens. The press (10) includes an electrical connector coupled to the filter screens and connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screens and the sphagnum moss.

Description

THE TREATMENT OF CONTAMINATED LIQUID
FIELD OF INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to the treatment of contaminated liquid.
It relates particularly to a process for treating contaminated liquid and to a filter press apparatus and a filter plate for use in the treatment of contaminated liquid.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid, including
a press frame; a stack of substantially planar filter plates that are supported on the press frame in adjacent parallel relationship wherein the plates are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plates, each filter plate including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to act as a filter medium, each filter plate including electrical connection means which is coupled to the filter screen element and which is connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screen element and thereby also to the sphagnum moss in the filter recess, in use ; and
press means that is operable to exert a force on the filter plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and the filter recesses of the filter plates are closed off by adjacent filter plates to form enclosed filter chambers and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another.
The inlet port of each filter plate may be disposed centrally and the outlet port thereof may be disposed peripherally.
At least parts of the outlet ports of the filter plates may be aligned so as to define a continuous outlet passage for filtered contaminated liquid, when the filter plates are in their closed compressed condition.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a filter plate for use with a filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid, the filter press apparatus including a press frame on which the filter plate and a number of similar filter plates can be supported in an adjacent parallel relationship wherein the plates are displaceable relative to one another; and press means that is operable to exert a force on the filer plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another, the filter plate having a substantially planar configuration and including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to act as a filter medium, each filter plate including electrical connection means which is coupled to the filter screen element and which is connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screen element and thereby also to the sphagnum moss in the filter recess, in use, the filter recess of the filter plate being closed off by an adjacent filter plate so as to form an enclosed fluid-tight filter chamber.
The inlet port of each filter plate may be disposed centrally, with the outlet port thereof being disposed peripherally.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a process for treating contaminated liquid which includes filtering the contaminated liquid in a filtration apparatus using sphagnum moss as a filter medium.
The process may include applying an electrical charge to the sphagnum moss thereby to ionize the sphagnum moss to enhance its ability to attract oppositely- charged contaminant particles in the contaminated liquid for separating said particles from the contaminated liquid. The process may include treating contaminated liquid in a filter press apparatus wherein sphagnum moss is located in the filter chambers of the filter press apparatus.
The process may include treating contaminated liquid in the filter press apparatus as defined and described hereinabove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features of a non-limiting example of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation of a filter press apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic end view of one end of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows a schematic top plan view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 shows a schematic end view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , sectioned along section line IV - IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a schematic end view of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , sectioned along section line V - V of Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a schematic end view of an opposite end of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 7 shows a schematic exploded side elevation of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 8 shows a schematic fragmentary side elevation of a filter plate of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 9 shows an exploded schematic end elevation of the filter plate of Figure 8, sectioned along section line IX - IX of Figure 9;
Figures 10 A and 10 B show a schematic side elevation and an end elevation, respectively, of a filter frame of a filter screen element of the filter plate of Figure 8;
Figure 11 shows a schematic enlarged fragmentary end elevation showing detail XI of Figure 9;
Figure 12 shows a schematic side elevation of a fully assembled filter plate of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 13 shows a schematic exploded end elevation of the filter plate of Figure 8, sectioned along section line XIII-XIII of Figure 8;
Figure 14 shows a detail XIV of Figure 13; and
Figure 15 shows a schematic plan view of the filter plates of the filter press apparatus of Figure 1 , illustrating the flow path of water through the filter plates. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, a filter press in accordance with the invention, for treating effluent water, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The filter press 10 comprises a press frame designated generally by the reference numeral 12, which includes two horizontally-spaced support beams 14, a front stanchion comprising two support legs 16.1 and 16.2, a front end support plate 18 which is fixed to the legs 16.1 and 16.2, a rear stanchion including a pair of support legs 20.1 and 20.2, and a rear end support plate 22 which is fixed to the legs 20.1 and 20.2. The support beams 14 are of round bar and have screw- threaded end regions which are received in holes defined for this purpose in the front and rear support plates 18 and 22, the beams being secured to the end support plates by means of nuts 24. The filter press 10 further includes six filter plates 26.1 , 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5 and 26.6 that are located between and suspended on the longitudinal beams 14 between the front and rear stanchions. The filter plates are vertically orientated and supported on the beams 14 in an arrangement wherein the filter plates are horizontally displaceable along the beams.
The filter press 10 includes press means in the form of a hydraulically-actuated closing piston/cylinder 28 which is operable to compress the filter plates into a closed compressed condition (as is shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings) by displacing the filter plates towards the rear end support plate 22. The piston/cylinder mechanism 28 comprises a cylinder 30 and a piston 32. The filter press 10 includes a pressing plate 34 which is connected to a distal end of the piston 32 and which is supported on the support beams 14 so as to be horizontally displaceable along the beams. More particularly, the pressing plate 34 includes a pair of laterally-extending support arms 36.1 and 36.2 which define spindles on which rollers 38 are supported, the rollers providing for displacement of the pressing plate 34 along the beams 14. The rollers 38 have concave rolling surfaces which conform to the round shape of the beams 14. The pressing plate further includes an additional pair of straight rollers 44 supporting the pressing plate 34 on the support beams.
Each of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 has a planar configuration and includes a centrally-located inlet port 42 for effluent water and four peripherally situated outlet ports 44 for filtered effluent water. Each of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 includes two sets of filter screens wherein each set comprises a first filter screen 46 and a second filter screen 48. The filter screens are of stainless steel mesh with the first screen 46 defining larger holes than the second screen 48. In a typical example for the treatment of effluent water, the first screen 46 defines apertures of 2mm, whereas the second filter screen 48 defines apertures of 2 microns. The filter screens are held in a stainless steel screen frame 50. The stainless steel material of the filter screens and of the screen frame 50 is electrically conductive, the purpose of which will be explained in further detail hereinafter.
Each filter plate 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 includes a plastics filter body 52 in which the filter screens 46 and 48 are held and which defines the inlet port 42 and the outlet ports 44. Each filter body 52 has a square configuration when viewed in plan view and defines back-to-back filter recesses 54 in which the sets of filter screen elements are located. Each filter recess 54 has an octagonal profile when viewed in plan view. An inner side of each recess formation 54 is defined by a base support formation 56 which has a grooved surface profile. When fully assembled, the first filter screen 46 abuts the base support formation 56 and the second filter screen 48 abuts an outer side of the first filter screen 46. The screen frame 50 and the filter screens 46 and 48 define a number of peripheral holes 58 in which bolts 60 are received for securing the filter screens and the surrounding screen frame 50 to the filter body 52 within the recess 54. The filter screens 46 and 48 define central apertures 55 and 57, respectively, which are in register with the inlet port 42 of the filter part 42 when the filter plate is assembled. A stainless steel boss 62 in the form of a ring is located on an outer side of the second filter screen 48 and secured by means of screws 64 to the base support formation 56 of the filter body thereby enhancing the structural rigidity of the filter plate and lining the central apertures of the filter screens.
Each of the filter plates has a pair of support brackets 66 which extend from opposite sides of the filter body and which are located on the beams 14 at opposite sides of the filter plate for supporting the filter plate thereon, in use. The filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5 are sandwiched between the filter plates 26.1 and 26.2 in a closed compressed condition of the filter press, with the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 abutting the end support plates 22 and 34, respectively. The filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 are identical to the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5, with the only difference being that the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 each define a single inwardly extending recess formation in which a single set of filter screens 46 and 48, is located. As such, the same reference numerals are used to designate those features of the filter plates 26.1 and 26.6 which are the same as the features of the filter plates 26.2, 26.3, 26.4 and 26.5.
In the closed compressed condition of the filter press, the filter plates are sandwiched between the end support plates 22 and 34 and abut one another in an arrangement wherein the inlet ports 42 and the outlet ports 44 of the filter plates are in register and together define elongate passages along which water can flow. More specifically, an inlet passage 90 is defined for effluent water and four outlet passes 92 are defined for filtered water. In use, an inlet pipe (not shown) carrying effluent water is connected to the inlet passage 90 and four outlets pipes (not shown) for carrying filtered water, are connected to the outlet passages 92. In order to provide fluid-tight seals between the inlet ports and the outlet ports of the filter plates, seals are located between the filter plates. More specifically, each of the filter plates 26 includes a number of rubber O-ring seals 68 which line the outlet ports 44 at opposite sides thereof and which are seated in grooves 70 provided for this purpose. Furthermore, each filter plate includes a rubber ring seal 72 which surround the recess 54 and which has an octagonal profile when viewed in plan view and which is seated in a groove 74 provided for this purpose on one side of the filter plate. In use, the seals 68 and 72 are interposed between adjacent filter plates thereby forming a fluid-tight seal between the filter plates. In the closed compressed condition of the filter press 10, the filter recess of each filter plate forms an enclosed filter chamber with the filter recess of an adjacent filter plate. The filter recesses 54 of adjacent filter plates 26 thus face each other and form filter chambers in the closed compressed condition of the filter press 10.
The filter body of each filter plate 26 defines four internal water flow channels 88 which extend between the recess 54 and a particular outlet port 44 thereby to allow for the flow of filtered water from the filter chamber into the outlet port 44.
Each filter plate 26 includes an electrical connector designated generally by the reference numeral 76 at an upper end of the filter plate, which is connected to each set of filter screen elements 46 and 48. Each electrical connector 76 includes an electrical connection rod 78, a connection boss 80 defining an internal screw thread and a pair of connecting screws 82 which pass through holes defined in each filter screen 46 and 48 and in the screen frame 50 and which are screwed into the connecting boss 80. The electrical connection rod 78 includes a nut 84 and washers 86.1 and 86.2 which provide for the connection of the electrical connecting rod 78 to an electrical power source. The connection boss 80 and the connecting screws 82 are of electrically-conductive material.
Prior to using the filter press 10, the filter chambers are charged with sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is pumped along with water through the filter press thereby causing the sphagnum moss to attach itself to the filter screen elements 48 thereby coating each of the filter screens 48 with a layer of sphagnum moss. The sphagnum moss acts as a filter medium trapping and removing contaminant micro-particles from the effluent water which are too small to be trapped by the filter screens 46 and 48. An electrical charge is applied to the filter screens and thereby the sphagnum moss, enhancing the ability of the sphagnum moss to attract and separate oppositely-charged contaminant micro-particles from effluent water which are too small to be trapped by the filter screens. The honeycomb structure of the sphagnum moss effectively polishes the water by trapping contaminant micro-particles in the spaces defined in the moss. Furthermore, by applying an electrical charge to the filter screens, oppositely-charged micro- particles are attracted to and become attached to the filter screens. A pipe carrying the effluent water to be filtered is connected to the inlet port 42 of the filter plate 26.1 and four outlet pipes are connected to the outlet ports 34 of the filter plate 26.1 for carrying filtered water from the filter press. As such, effluent water to be filtered enters the inlet port 42 of the filter plate 26.1 and is pumped along the inlet passage 90 into the filter chambers defined between adjacent filter plates. After passing through the layer of sphagnum moss and the filter screens 48 and 46, filtered water is allowed to flow into the outlet ports 44 via the channels 88. The flow path for effluent water through the filter plates is shown by the arrows in Figure 15.
The applicant envisages that in a process for treating contaminated liquid using the filter press 10, the effluent water will be pre-treated by passing the effluent water through a charging device including electrically-charged plates which impart an electrical charge to contaminant micro-particles in the effluent water. More specifically, the charge imparted to the contaminant micro-particles in the effluent water will be opposite to that applied to the filter screen elements in the filter plates of the filter press, thereby to enhance the attraction of oppositely- charged particles by the filter screen elements and the sphagnum moss in the filter press. The applicant further envisages that prior to entering the filer press 10, the effluent water will be treated with singlet oxygen which has the effect of causing contaminant micro-particles to coagulate in the effluent water, increasing the size of the contaminant particles thereby increasing the effectiveness of the sphagnum moss in trapping and removing the contaminant particles from the effluent water.

Claims

Claims:
1. A filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid, including a press frame; a stack of substantially planar filter plates that are supported on the press frame in adjacent parallel relationship wherein the plates are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plates, each filter plate including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to act as a filter medium, each filter plate including electrical connection means which is coupled to the filter screen element and which is connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screen element and thereby also to the sphagnum moss in the filter recess, in use ; and press means that is operable to exert a force on the filter plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and the filter recesses of the filter plates are closed off by adjacent filter plates to form enclosed filter chambers and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another.
2. The filter press apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inlet port of each filter plate is disposed centrally and the outlet port thereof is disposed peripherally.
3. The filter press apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least parts of the outlet ports of the filter plates are aligned so as to define a continuous outlet passage for filtered contaminated liquid, when the filter plates are in their closed compressed condition.
4. A filter plate for use with a filter press apparatus for treating contaminated liquid, the filter press apparatus including a press frame on which the filter plate and a number of similar filter plates can be supported in an adjacent parallel relationship wherein the plates are displaceable relative to one another; and press means that is operable to exert a force on the filer plates for displacing the filter plates between a closed compressed condition wherein adjacent filter plates abut one another in a fluid-tight arrangement and an open released condition wherein the filter plates are spaced from one another, the filter plate having a substantially planar configuration and including a filter body having an inlet port for contaminated liquid and an outlet port for filtered liquid and including a filter screen element of electrically-conductive material that is located between the inlet and outlet ports, the filter body having sealing means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter body of an adjacent filter plate, the filter body defining a filter recess in which the filter screen element is located and in which sphagnum moss can be located to act as a filter medium, each filter plate including electrical connection means which is coupled to the filter screen element and which is connectable to an electrical power source for applying an electrical charge to the filter screen element and thereby also to the sphagnum moss in the filter recess, in use, the filter recess of the filter plate being closed off by an adjacent filter plate so as to form an enclosed fluid-tight filter chamber.
5. The filter plate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inlet port of each filter plate is disposed centrally, with the outlet port thereof being disposed peripherally.
6. A process for treating contaminated liquid which includes filtering the contaminated liquid in a filtration apparatus using sphagnum moss as a filter medium.
7. The process as claimed in claim 6, which includes applying an electrical charge to the sphagnum moss thereby to ionize the sphagnum moss to enhance its ability to attract oppositely-charged contaminant particles in the contaminated liquid for separating said particles from the contaminated liquid.
8. The process as claimed in claim 7, which includes treating contaminated liquid in a filter press apparatus wherein sphagnum moss is located in the filter chambers of the filter press apparatus.
9. The process as claimed in claim 8, which includes treating contaminated liquid in the filter press apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3.
PCT/IB2005/000210 2004-01-28 2005-01-28 The treatment of contaminated liquid WO2005075047A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA200400688 2004-01-28
ZA2004/0688 2004-01-28

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102836582A (en) * 2012-08-14 2012-12-26 佛山市金凯地过滤设备有限公司 Filter plate set and press filter using filter plate set
CN104801079A (en) * 2014-01-28 2015-07-29 国立中山大学 Filter plate of filter press and manufacturing method thereof
CN104984574A (en) * 2015-07-21 2015-10-21 张志通 Continuous electromechanical filter press
CN113185027A (en) * 2021-05-06 2021-07-30 瑞盛环境股份有限公司 Novel vertical advanced oxidation tower for industrial wastewater treatment and treatment process thereof

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US1926115A (en) * 1932-10-07 1933-09-12 Vacuum Oil Company Inc Filter press
US4861481A (en) * 1986-04-28 1989-08-29 Allen Iii Ralph S Multi-functional filtering medium
US5178769A (en) * 1990-10-31 1993-01-12 Hydrocarbon Filtration Systems Inc. Filter for removing liquid hydrocarbons from water and process of removing gaseous and/or hydrocarbons from water
DE10007438C1 (en) * 2000-02-18 2001-06-07 Hoesch & Soehne Eberhard Filter press for filtering suspensions has electrodes for producing an electrical field formed from the pressing fluid chamber filled in the filtration operation with an electrically conducting pressing fluid

Patent Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1926115A (en) * 1932-10-07 1933-09-12 Vacuum Oil Company Inc Filter press
US4861481A (en) * 1986-04-28 1989-08-29 Allen Iii Ralph S Multi-functional filtering medium
US5178769A (en) * 1990-10-31 1993-01-12 Hydrocarbon Filtration Systems Inc. Filter for removing liquid hydrocarbons from water and process of removing gaseous and/or hydrocarbons from water
DE10007438C1 (en) * 2000-02-18 2001-06-07 Hoesch & Soehne Eberhard Filter press for filtering suspensions has electrodes for producing an electrical field formed from the pressing fluid chamber filled in the filtration operation with an electrically conducting pressing fluid

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102836582A (en) * 2012-08-14 2012-12-26 佛山市金凯地过滤设备有限公司 Filter plate set and press filter using filter plate set
CN104801079A (en) * 2014-01-28 2015-07-29 国立中山大学 Filter plate of filter press and manufacturing method thereof
CN104984574A (en) * 2015-07-21 2015-10-21 张志通 Continuous electromechanical filter press
CN113185027A (en) * 2021-05-06 2021-07-30 瑞盛环境股份有限公司 Novel vertical advanced oxidation tower for industrial wastewater treatment and treatment process thereof
CN113185027B (en) * 2021-05-06 2021-12-21 瑞盛环境股份有限公司 Vertical advanced oxidation tower for industrial wastewater treatment and treatment process thereof

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