INSTRUCTION MANUAL

ROTARY DRUM VACCUM

FILTER

MASS INTERNATIONAL
[AN ISO 9001: 2015 CERTIFIED COMPANY]
Plot No. 459, Sector-2, Industrial Growth Centre,
HSIIDC, Saha-133104, Haryana Email: Web:
AIM:

To study the performance of a Rotary Drum Filter operating under Vacuum. To determine the specific
cake resistance ( ) for given slurry of CaCO3.

THEORY:

In a continuous Rotary Drum Filter, the feed, filtrate and cake move at steady constant rates. For any
particular element of the Filter surface, however, conditions are not steady but transient. The process
of filtration consists of cake formation, washing, drying and discharging. The cake thickness is not
allowed to increase to large values and therefore the filtration process can be conducted at a constant
rate using a constant pressure difference.

A Rotary drum vacuum filter consists of a cylindrical drum partly submerged in the feed slurry. At any
instant, a segment of the drum is in position and thus in contact with the slurry. Due to vacuum
applied inside the drum, the filtrate is drawn in through the filter medium and the cake is deposited on
the outer surface of the drum. As the drum rotates, this segment moves up where it is subjected to
dewatering, to washing and finally the cake is removed by the scrapper or doctor knife. The cake can
be loosened by application of slight positive air pressure. A full rotation of the drum is equivalent to a
complete batch cycle.
For one full rotation of the drum:
dt f v 
= V +R

A(P)  A
m
dV  (1)

Integrating

f
 v V 2 
t =  * + R V
m  (2)
A(P) A 2  Where t = time for cake formation


If tc = time for one full rotation of the drum

Then t = f tc (3)

f = fractional submergence
2
f = 360 (4)

(5)

Sin(90  0) OB
= OA
OA = drum radius
OB = distance between drum center and slurry surface
 Rate of filtration = V/tc

Neglecting the filter medium resistance Rm compared to the specific cake

Resistance , Eq 2 can be written as.

f  vV 2 
t =  (6)
A(P) 2A  


  f v
(7)
 V 2 
(P) =  * 
 2t  A 

Where  = viscosity of filtrate, N-s/m2

r

(P) = Pressure drop (vacuum gauge reading), N/m2

A = Drum area (=π DL), m2

D = Drum diameter, m
L = Drum Length, m
V = Volume of filtrate collected in 1 rev.
t = Time of cake formation, sec
= Specific cake resistance (m-2)

x f
v = *
(Assuming cake voidage is small)
1 x s

x = Mass fraction of solid in feed slurry.

 = Density of filtrate, kg/m3

f

 = Time density of solid (CaCO3) kg/m3

s
A plot of (P) vs. (V/A)2 shall yield a straight line with slope
 f
Slope =
2t
Slope  2  t
= 
f

DESCRIPTION:
The most common types of continuous vacuum filter are the rotary drum filter. A horizontal drum with
a slotted face turns at 08 RPM in an agitated slurry trough.
A filter medium, such as canvas, covers the face of drum, which is partly submerged in the liquid.
Under the slotted cylindrical face of the main drum is a second, smaller drum with a solid surface.
Between the two drums are radial partitions dividing the annular space into separate compartments,
each connected by an internal pipe to one hole in the rotating plate of the rotary valve Vacuum and air
are alternately applied to each compartment as the drum rotates.
The set-up consists of stainless steel ram moving in gunmetal brackets. The drum is divided
in 8 compartments, covered by a SS 304 mesh. A canvas filter is used for filtration. The whole
assembly is fitted with a SS trough in which an agitator is provided.
To make the unit a self-contained a slurry mixing and feed arrangement, receiver tanks, vacuum
pump, control panel are provided.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:
1 Electric Supply: 1 phase, 220 V AC, 3.5 kW.
2 Water supply.
3 Drain.
4 Slurry required to performing experiment.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1. Prepare slurry of CaCO3 in water by mixing 12kg CaCO3 in 0.108m3 of water (15 ltrs. Approx.)
in the feed tank.
2. Record the ambient temperature, drum diameter, drum length, submergence of drum in slurry
trough and RPM of the drum.
3. Allow the Slurry to pass through the filter and start the vacuum pump. Fix the pressure gauge

reading (P) at one value and record the filtrate collected in the receiver for known amount of
time. Record the volume of filtrate collected for the known amount of time at least 4 times at

the same (P) and take the average of the three concurrent readings.

4. Increase the (P) by slightly closing the air by pass line and repeat step 3

5. Repeat step 4 for at least 4 (P) .

 6. Allow air to enter the drum and stop the vacuum pump. Remove the cake deposited and wash
the filter assembly.
7. During steps 3-4-5, you may collect the wet cake deposited/rev of the drum

SPECIFICATION:
Filter Drum = Material SS, Dia. 250 mm, Length 350 mm.
Mesh = Material SS
Filter = Canvas Cloth
No. of Zones = 6 Nos.
Drive for Drum = FHP Crompton motor coupled to a Reduction gearbox
Trough = Material SS, Compatible capacity.
Trough Agitator = Material SS, driven by FHP Gear Motor
Slurry Tank = SS, Capacity 50 Liters.
Slurry Pump = Gear Pump with ½ HP Crompton motor.
Slurry Tank Agitator = SS Impeller with SS Shaft coupled to FHP
Crompton make motor and Reduction Gear Box
Filtrate Receiver = Material Stainless Steel, Capacity 12 Liters approx. (2
Nos.)
Vacuum Pump = Liquid Ring type coupled to a 1 HP, 2800 RPM, 3
phase, Make Promivac

Piping = GI and PVC size ½”

Control panel Comprises of Standard make On/Off switch, Mains Indicator etc. A good quality painted
rigid MS Structure is provided to support all the parts.
FORMULAE:

kg CaCO3
Conc. Of CaCO3 in water =
0.108m3 water
kg CaCO3
.
. . x =
0.108m water + kg CaCO
3
3

kg CaCO3
=
kg Slurry

. v = x f
. .
1 x 
s
Drum Area, A = πDL, m 2

Thickness of cake formed, Lc = Vv/A

Plot (P) , N/m2 vs (V/A)2 on a simple graph and measure the slope

 f
Slope =
2t

= Slope  2  t
.
. .  
f

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS:

Ambient temperature = To C
Drum diameter = D = 350mm
Drum length = L = 450mm
RPM of drum = 1.5
.
. . t = 40 sec/rev
OA = 175mm = D/2

OB = 65mm

. . . sin (90-θ) = OB/OA = 65/175 = 0.37

Submergence, f = 20/360 = 2 x 68.2 / 360 = 0.379

kg CaCO3
Conc. Of CaCO3 in water =
0.108m3 water
Properties of filtrate (water)

 =---------------------kg/m3 at ToC
f

 =---------------------N-s/m2 at Toc
f

Density of CaCO3,  = 2636.6 kg/m3

s

. v = x f
. .
1 x 
s

OBSERVATIONS:

Run No. (P) mmH g (P) kN/m2 Average Volumetric Time (sec) Rate of filtration
filtrate Collected (L) LPS V’

Run No. 1

(P) = --------mm Hg = -------/760 x 101.3 =----------------kN/m2

tc =-----------------sec/rev.
V/tc = V’ =-----------------------m3/s

. .
V = ------------
.

Drum Area, A= πDL =-----------------m2

Thickness of cake formed, Lc = Vv/A
Lc =----------------------m
V  2
=-----------------------(m3/m2)2
 
 A
t = ftc =----------------------sec
Run No. t sec V m3 /rev. (V/A) 2 (m3/m2)2 (P) Cake Thickness

(kN/m2) Lc,m per rev.

Plot (P) , N/m2 vs. (V/A) 2 on a simple graph and measure the slope.

Slope = ---------------
 f
Slope =
2t
Slope x 2 x t
 =  f
 =        (m 2 )
Also plot (Lc) vs (P)

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Proper cleaning is must of Drum and its clothes.

2. Feed slurry is filtered before feeding it into the tank.
3. Low flow is best for operating it.
4. Vacuum pump connections should be correct & properly tight.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

1. If the slurry is overflow from the drum slow down the feed inlet rate.
2. If the vacuum is not proper than check the vacuum and tight the screw which are on the
vacuum connecting plate.
3. For constant pressure operate the ball valves during experiment if it fluctuates.
 ROTATARY DRUM VACUUM FILTER

OBSERVATION & CALCUALATION:

Ambient temperature = 20oC

Drum diameter, D’ = 350mm
Drum length, L = 450mm
RPM of drum = 1.5

.
. . t = 40sec/rev

OA = d/2 = 175mm
OB = 65mm
sin (90-θ) = OB/OA = 65/175 = 0.37
Submergence, f = 20/360 = 2x68.2/360
= 0.3788
Conc. of CaCO3 in water = 12 kg/0.108 m3 of water
.
. . x = 12/ (108+12) = 0.1 kg CaCO3 / kg slurry

Properties of filtrate (water):

Density, f = 1000 kg/ at 20oC

Viscosity, f = 1.006 x 10-3 N-s/m2 at 20oC

Density of CaCO3 , s = 2636.6 kg/m3

.
. . v =x f / (1-x) s = 0.0421
OBSERVATIONS:

Run No. (P) MM (P) kN/ m2 Vol of filtrate Time (sec) Rate of filtration

Hg Collected (L) LPS, V’

1 190 25.32 1.3127 540 2.454 x 10-3

2 300 39.98 1.727 540 3.198 x 10-3

3 400 53.32 2.295 540 4.25 x 10-3

4 510 67.97 3.141 540 5.82 x 10-3

Run No. 1
(P) = 190mm Hg = 190/760 x 101.3= 25.32 kN/m2
tc = 40 sec per rev.

2.454  10 3
V’ = V/ tc = 2.454 x 10-6 m3/s
= 1000

= 2.454 x 10-6 tc
= 9.816 x 10-5 m3
Drum Area, A (=πDL) = π (350 x 10-3 x 450 x 10-3 )

9.816  10 5  0.0421
Thickness of cake formed, Lc (= Vv/A) =
0.4948
= 8.355 x 10-6 m

2
V  2  9.816  105 
= 3.9356 x 10-8 (m3/m2)2
 A  =  0.4948 
   

t = f tc =0.3788 x 40 = 15.15 sec

Run No. t sec V m3 /rev. (V/A) 2 (m3/m2)2 (P) Cake Thickness

(kN/m2) Lc,m per rev.

1 15.15 9.82 x 10-5 3.94 x 10-8 23.325 8.35 x 10-6

2 15.15 1.28 x 10-4 6.69 x 10-8 39.98 1.09 x 10-5

3 15.15 1.7 x 10-4 1.18 x 10-7 53.32 1.45 x 10-5

4 15.15 2.24 x 10-4 2.05 x 10-7 67.97 1.906 x 10-5

Plot (P) , N/m2 vs (V/A )2 on a simple graph and measure the slope

Slope = 2.44 x 1011

 f
Slope =
2t

Slope x 2 x t 2.44  1011  2  15.15

 =  f =
0.0421 1.006  10 3
= 1.746 x 1017 (m-2)

Also plot (Lc ) vs (P)