FLSmidth releases ‘next generation’ disc filter

Designated the E-Disc, the new filter brings together the company’s long history in disc filter technology and the proven features of an extensive mineral processing oriented product range. The company said the result is a piece of equipment that provides optimum operational and capital cost solutions for paste backfill operations and significantly minimises maintenance issues normally associated with disc filters.
According to Steve Ware, FLSmidth’s global disc filter product manager, the design process started with extensive consultation with customers about the shortcomings of the then current range of disc filters.
“Time and again the primary concern with previous designs centred on maintenance and the inherent limitations of the slurry paddle agitation system,” he said.
“This input set the direction for the development of this new filter.”
He said common complaints centred on leaking stuffing boxes, paddle and filter vat abrasion wear rates and a general higher than acceptable maintenance rate for the paddle agitation system. Additional opportunities for improvement included a desire to reduce energy consumption, abrasion resistant filtrate pipes, disc guides to help prevent bag tears caused by disc clashes with scrapers and ensuring maximum filter media life.
The introduction of the eductor feed agitation system into disc filter design means a more compact design; no moving parts (ie fewer wear items); no seals/stuffing boxes to maintain and no deep trough in the filter vat to accommodate the paddle agitator (less access for maintenance is required resulting in lower installation costs); the elimination of the paddle agitator drive system (decreased energy consumption); agitation energy working to keep the pulp in suspension versus energy centralised in the vat paddle agitator area causing wear issues (decreased component wear); and increased and more effective mixing across the full surface of the disc (giving more uniform cake thickness).
Additionally, the design of the new E-Disc allows for a similar velocity gradient as the traditional paddle agitator and, for easy replacement, each eductor orifice can be independently removed via the groove coupling to the feed header.
The E-Disc Eductor feed agitation system is designed to be unique to each customer’s feed flow rate conditions. Changes to feed flow rate conditions are accommodated by altering the feed eductor orifice dimensions and the design of the process feed piping.  If wide fluctuations of the feed rate are expected a recirculation loop from the vat to the feed tank can be incorporated into the design.
The new E-Disc design is ideally suited to paste backfill applications and represents a true advance in disc filter technology.

For more information contact tel+61 (0)2 4320 4700; or email: david.williams@flsmidth.com