Pressure Leaf Filter

Other applications in the food industry are:

A large application is the filtration of catalyst, carbon black and bleaching earth in edible oil processing.

Horizontal pressure leaf filters are typically used when the filter cake is sticky and difficult to remove. The filter leave carrier must, therefore, be easily accessible. Upon opening of the cover the filter leaf assembly can be pulled out (hydraulically): the construction enables a rapid and easy removal of the leaves for cleaning and inspection. The Amafilter horizontal filter features also a unique closing and sealing system.

In the case of wet cake discharge, the filters are fitted with an oscillating sluice pipe, which is located above the leaves. The filter cake is discharged as concentrated slurry via the bottom cone.

For dry cake discharge of a pressure leaf filter, the filter cake is dried with compressed air, inert gas or steam, before the cake is discharged by a (pneumatic) vibrator connected directly to the reinforced upper side of the filter leaves. Removal of the cake is via a butterfly or slide valve, or a cake door.

A pressure leaf filter consists of filter leaves each made up from several layers of wire mesh. The inner layer is a coarse mesh for the discharge of the filtrate and support of the outer layers. Due to this unique construction, no deposit of filter-aid particles or impurities is possible inside the filter leaf as there is a constant flow in the coarse mesh and inside the tubular frame. A minimum pressure drop inside the leaves is guaranteed even at high filtration rates. The Amafilter design, originally under the Niagara brand, has been improved continuously over the last 50 years.