November Maintenance Tip of the Month: Keep Filter Plate Sealing Surfaces Clean

Maintenance Tip of the Month – November

Minimize costly potential press problems by regularly inspecting your filter plates and asking the important question, “Are My Plate Sealing Surfaces Clean and Free of Debris?”

Whatever your filter plate type – CGR, Recessed (NG), and Membrane Plates – the sealing surfaces are similar. And, solids trapped on or between the plates’ sealing surfaces will inevitably cause problems.

While many clients do adequately clean the cake from the chambers, they may overlook the sealing surfaces. Buildup on sealing surfaces will cause premature cloth and plate wear.

Did you know? Excessive buildup on the sealing surfaces can force a press frame out of its square position. This is not only dangerous to the equipment but it is a safety issue for operating personnel.

How can I tell if there is a problem with my plates’ sealing surfaces?

Press leaking during the feed cycle is normally the first sign of trouble. The trapped solids create a path for the slurry to escape the filter press, normally resulting in a mess. All slurries are abrasive to a certain extent; some slurries are particularly abrasive.

An abrasive slurry escaping the press will lead to a premature failure.  The abrasive material passing by the cloth and over the sealing surface will first wear the cloth and then eventually wear a groove in the polypropylene plates’ sealing surface. At this point, the plate will need a costly repair or complete replacement. Best to avoid getting to this point.

What can I do to ensure that my plate sealing surfaces are clean and free of debris?

Schedule regular maintenance for cloth cleaning. Your specific process and slurry will dictate at what intervals the filter cloth cleaning should be done.

Pro Tip: 

At each cloth changeout, do the following:

• clean drainage surfaces (drainage pips)
• clean filtrate ports
• clean filtrate discharges
• Inspect stay bosses
• For CGR plates, inspect CGR O-rings and perimeter gaskets for damage and wear.

Be Prepared. Stock up on Spare Parts Today!

For your CGR plates:

Micronics Air Hammer – for installing CGR cloths – Part #005752

O-Ring Cord Stock:

• 10mm – Part # 011041
• 8mm – Part # 011377
• 11mm – Viton – #ORVITON11

• 

  5-foot Red Standard Scraper – Part #006543

• Pounding (Caulking) Wedge – Part #006978

For your Non-Gasketed, Recessed plates:

• Dog Pegs, Red – Part # 026405
• Dog Pegs, Blue – Part # 026407
• Dog Pegs, Black –  Part # 026406
• Dog Peg Washer –  Part # 014450
• Zip Ties – Part # 006976

When asked, “Are My Plate Sealing Surfaces Clean and Free of Debris?,” we hope you will be able to answer, YES.

Pro Tip:  Being proactive and not reactive will ensure less production down time in your press operation! Unscheduled press downtime will typically cost  more than regularly scheduled maintenance.

Contact Us for assistance with expert field service or to ensure you are set with your replacement filter press cloth, filter plates, spare parts, and accessory needs.