Looking for Troubleshooting Tips for Your Belt Filter Press?

Possibility 1

The solids content of the feed may be higher than you initially thought. Try testing the incoming feed for solids content to confirm.

Let the team at Micronics – and trusted NFM® filter belt brand – help you in optimizing your belt press operation.

Possibility 2

There may be a build-up of solids in various locations on the belt press. Often neglected are the filtrate catch trays beneath the gravity zone of the press. A build-up here will prevent free drainage of the sludge before it enters the wedge zone, and this will lead to belt flooding and extrusion from the sides of the belt. Also, check that the scraper blades have even pressure across the width of the belt. Uneven contact due to wear or build-up behind the blade can prevent it from doing the important job of separating the bulk of solids from the filter belt. If the blade has worn unevenly, knock off any burrs that have developed with a file when the press is down and safe to work on.

Possibility 3

Blinding of the Belt fabric may be the culprit. This can be caused by excess polymer in the flocculated sludge, a high-fat content in the sludge, or because the belt washing system is operating sub-optimally. If you pour clean water over the filter belt and it does not drain, the belt is likely blinded.

Possibility 4

As the hydraulic loading on the machine increases, there is increasing turbulence in the feed pipework system, which can cause the flocculent to break up. When the turbulence threshold is exceeded, this shows up as sudden flooding of the belt with an increasing flow rate. While it would be unusual for this issue to arise if the plant has operated properly in the past, process changes can produce a more fragile flocculent that breaks up in high-shear conditions.

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