Pilot plant nutsche filters, filter dryers / vacuum dryer

After inertization is completed the slurry is fed into the vessel.

The slurry is filtered by pressurizing the vessel interior using Nitrogen and/or evacuating the area underneath the filter plate. Solids are retained by the filter cloth whereas the mother liquor passes thru the filter cake forming and thru the filter cloth and is discharged from the area underneath the filter plate.

Once the mother liquor has been filtered off the cake washing step is initiated. 

Prior to displacement washing the filter cake surface is smoothed using the agitator to prevent cracks in the filter cake.

After completion of the washing process the drying process is initiated. For efficient drying the filter dryer is typically evacuated in steps and heated up at the same time. During the drying process the product is agitated. The filter dryer is maintained under vacuum and at the maximum allowable temperature for the product until the final required product humidity level is reached.

After drying is completed the product is cooled down prior to discharging.

The dried and cooled product is discharged thru the side discharge valve. The product is transported to the discharge valve or thru the side discharge port into the isolator using the agitator.

Using spray balls a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto all product wetted internal surfaces for the internal cleaning of the equipment in between individual batches or for product change over. This provides for full and efficient cleaning of the filter dryer interior.