What is the Latest or Best Sludge Dewatering Technology?

It depends a little bit on what you will do with the paper.

You will need a considerable amount of water to pre- spread you sludge, when you go for sheet processing.

A felt is still used for high quality papers. Sieves seem to clog up easier.

Centrifuges are also very versatile. but again, not for each application.

We need to primarily get the water back. We need to use the sludge after it is de-watered. What is a felt?

A felt is fabric, thick fabric strong, almost like a fine very short hair carpet. It imprints its structure in the paper too. Printing paper has always a felt side and a different side, named different, depending on the finishing grade. I am talking about high quality paper, as used in printers and copiers. The felts I have worked with are 40 meters long by 5 meters wide and are moving with the paper. The paper dries and gets processed further into through roller -les ovens, the felt rols down and starts a new cycle- like a belt. Because of the structure the paper pulp doesn't stick in it. It "feels" a bit like short velvet.

Hi Oliverq1

I have, in the distant past had very good results with 'wedge wire screens'! The water will dissipate through the screen and sludge will slide down the top of the screen IF you get the angle right. Applying slight vibration to the screen may help but you must get the direction of the oscillations correct otherwise it will help to clog the screen.

Some people say that you can't take the pi** out of sh*t but you most certainly can with a wedge wire screen!

I would appreciate some more info regarding the screens. The oscillations / angles sound most interesting.

* A percolating type sand bed is the simplest of all. You may spread a raised fabric layer surface on sand layer to avoid sand contamination.

*The other option is to fill the sludge in raised fabric or velvet [synthetic] inner and go for hydro extraction.

* Filter press can also serve the purpose.

* As per the previous post suggestion, the sandwich type, sheet press using double layer endless blankets with calendering press rolls arrangement will do a continuous job.

You got to make some improvisations as per your need.

We are currently using centrifuges for dewatering sludge from bio-reactors and primary clarifiers in the pulp and paper industry. The company I work for manufactures these units and supplies them to a variety of industries.

Most interesting. Please supply contact details / website.

Contact me at robbie.diaz@andritz.com and we can discuss the matter further. We have been supplying centrifuges to various industries for quite a while and have a substantial installed base as references.

The manufacturers of each type of device (filter press, centrifuge, filter, etc ) will generally have test systems to run your product in for a precise analysis of your material. Caution, most companies may charge for the test runs.

I have an answer but it is a secret. I will comment thus: you can't get something for nothing. How important is it for you to recover that water? Every other question pales in comparison. In fact, every answer pales in comparison too.

jt

A filter press, due to the high fiber content.