PILOT TESTING = EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES
Following lab scale testing, some of our clients wish to conduct pilot scale testing at their site to ensure compatibility with actual process conditions. In this case, DrM’s field service representative will work closely with our client’s personnel. Our pilot scale candle filter units are typically connected directly to the client’s filtration process.
DrM has a wide range of pilot filters to meet all possible process requirements. Cake washing, slurry or dry cake discharge and Heel Volume Filtration are available as process possibilities on our pilot filters. The available filter area range of these units is from 0.16 m2 to 50 m2 in surface area. Our pilot filters are available in a wide array of materials of construction and are fully equipped, self-standing units either with manual or fully automatic operation with control system. Most are available from our inventory on short notice.
An air-driven diaphragm pump can be included in the rental unit. The filtrate flow rate must be monitored with a scale or a calibrated drum. In addition, filter cake thickness must be measured and cake samples taken for subsequent moisture assay. The majority of our pilot filters can be operated both as a dry cake FUNDABAC® filter or as a thickened slurry discharge CONTIBAC® filter. For the thickener mode of operation, a conical bottom is used instead of a sliding gate valve. The conical bottom has a ball valve for the concentrated underflow.
Our pilot scale filter systems are not only available for testing and scale-up purposes. New and used units are also available for purchase for low-volume production scenarios or use at your own testing facility.