Experience with belt filter presses in the pulp and paper industry [Sludge handling practices]

A recent review of belt filter pressing in the pulp and paper industry has revealed a total of 24 operating installations. Conditioning requirements, machine capacities, and cake consistencies have been found to vary with the nature of the sludge solids, feed consistencies, and machine configurations. Although mechanical reliability has been variable, the only major continuing operating problem common to most of the units has been belt life. A number of commonly applied measures have extended representative belt life to 3 or 4 months. In the absence of frequent mechanical problems or severe sludge variability, typical operator attention requirements have been found to be 1-2 hours per shift.