¿Cómo instalar, depurar y poner en funcionamiento un filtro prensa de forma segura?

As modern infrastructure projects continue to expand—including building construction, bridge foundation works, mining, tunneling, and municipal engineering—large volumes of slurry and construction mud are generated during the piling process. Direct discharge of this wastewater can cause serious environmental pollution and often fails to meet local environmental regulations.

A filtro prensa is one of the most effective dewatering solutions for separating solids from slurry before disposal or recycling. To ensure reliable performance, long service life, and operator safety, proper installation, commissioning, and operation are essential.

This guide explains how to install, debug, and safely operate a filter press.

 

¿Cómo instalar un filtro prensa?

Proper installation is the foundation for safe and efficient operation.

1. Transport and Lifting

Durante las operaciones de carga y descarga, levante la estructura por los extremos de las dos vigas. Figura 1).

2. Foundation Installation

The filter press should be installed horizontally on a concrete foundation, and secondary grouting is requested.

Please Note:

• The support under the end plate should be fixed using screws.
• The support under the cylinder does NOT need to be fixed and does NOT need to be buried by concrete to ensure the beam is flexible during working.
• There should be about 1 meter (3.3 ft) around the structure for workers’ operations.
• En Instalación de filtros prensa debe estar lejos de la corrosión, la lluvia y el sol.

3. Electrical Connection

• Ensure the 3-phase power is properly installed.
• The motor on the hydraulic station should run CLOCKWISE.

4. Fill Hydraulic Oil

Fill 76 # or 46 # hydraulic oil into the tank.

Requirements:

• Maintain an oil level approximately 40 mm below the tank opening.
• During first-time operation, operate the hydraulic cylinder several times to remove trapped air.
• Refill hydraulic oil if necessary after the cylinder cycles.
• Release the pressure gauge during the initial closing process to vent air from the hydraulic system.

5. Install the Feed Pipeline

The feeding pipe should include a backflow pipe, shut-off valve, and pressure meter.
Nota: Ensure all high-pressure and low-pressure hydraulic pipelines are connected correctly.

6. Install Filter Cloths

Filter cloths should be installed flatly.

7. Connect the Feed Pump

If using a pneumatic diaphragm pump or screw pump as feeding pumps:

(1)Pneumatic diaphragm pump: the air pressure should be more than 0.8 MPa, and there must be a relief valve. The pump can be directly connected with the slurry tank and the inlet of the filter press. And there should be a pressure meter (0-1.2 MPa) in order to observe the feeding pressure.
(2)Screw pumps or other sludge pumps: return valve and backflow pipe are also necessary, and there should also be a pressure meter (0-1.2 MPa).

8. Final Inspection

After installation, please check whether the filtering system and pipelines meet the requirements. After confirmation, the product can be used.

Nota: For Manual Jack Filter Press, no need to consider steps 1, 2, 3, and 1, 2, 4.

¿Cómo depurar el filtro prensa?

Commissioning should only be performed after installation has been completed.

Preparación para la depuración

• Please check whether the fasteners whether in good condition and if circuits of oil and electricity circuits are correctly installed.
• Please check that all driving parts are working smoothly and that the high- and low-pressure oil pipelines are installed correctly.
• Please confirm the cloths are installed flatly.

Procedimientos seguros de depuración

• If the operator does not know the machine’s performance and operation rules, they must not operate the machine without authorization.
• Si se producen fugas o situaciones anormales (funcionamiento poco fiable, mucho ruido, vibraciones, etc.), apague la máquina inmediatamente y resuelva los problemas.
• Durante el trabajo, no está permitido examinar ni reparar.
• La máquina no debe trabajar con una presión de alimentación elevada.
• Por favor, no ajuste la válvula de alivio casualmente.

 

Medidas de seguridad durante el uso

Follow these operating precautions to ensure safe and reliable filtration.

1. Filter Plates: Always install the specified number of filter plates; Never operate the filter press with fewer plates than required.

2. Hydraulic Pressure: Hydraulic cylinder pressure must never exceed the rated operating pressure; Excessive pressure may damage hydraulic components and filter plates.

3. Valve Operation: Valves for filtered liquid, washing liquid, and compressed air must operate according to the procedures and must not turn on at the same time.

4. Slurry Temperature: The slurry temperature must be controlled under 80℃; if it’s beyond 80℃, please inform us in advance.

5. Moving Filter Plates: Al mover las placas, la fuerza debe ser uniforme y adecuada para evitar dañar las placas y las asas.

6. Cleaning After Filtration: After filtration, plates and cloths must be washed clean. There should be no residues on the surface; otherwise, it might cause deformation.

7. Filter Cloth Maintenance: The filter cloth must meet the requirements of the slurry; otherwise, the filtrate will not be clear, or the filtering speed will be too slow to get the best filtering effect. After a period of working, the filter cloth will be hard, and its performance might decrease, so it’s necessary to conduct a routine inspection. If clothes become hard, please neutralize, immerse, and wash it using the corresponding weak acid or alkali.

8. Hydraulic System Maintenance: Hydraulic parts, such as the oil tank, cylinder, oil pump, relief valve, etc., should perform some no-load running regularly. Normally, for the first use, the oil should be changed in one month. Then every 6 months, the oil should be changed one time. The filtering precision should be 20 um.

9. Lubrication: Keep the machine clean and properly lubricated; Apply grease to threaded components and use lubricating oil on the plate shifting and drive mechanisms; Avoid stepping on or striking inlet and outlet pipelines, as this may cause leakage at pipe joints.

 

Precauciones de seguridad

1. Los operarios deben estar formados para manejar la máquina.
   Operators must know the basic operation processes and daily maintenance of the filter press to avoid harm caused to workers and our product.
2. Please turn off the power after work and during maintenance.
   When a malfunction occurs, please turn off the power.
3. No desmonte el sistema hidráulico ni el sistema eléctrico sin formación.
   The electricity of the hydraulic system and electrical control system has high voltage; please do not disassemble them without authorization.
4. Please do not adjust the transducer’s position and meter’s parameters without authorization.
   No se permite ajustar la configuración de fábrica sin autorización. Es perjudicial para el filtro prensa.
5. Preste mucha atención a las piezas giratorias para evitar lesiones.
   No toque ninguna pieza giratoria mientras trabaja para evitar lesiones.
6. Por favor, use un dispositivo de protección relacionado
   En algunas situaciones especiales, los operarios deben llevar dispositivos de protección.

 

La tubería del filtro prensa

 

Procedimientos operativos

1. Cerrar y apretar las placas.
2. Open valve 4, shut off valve 3.
3. Apague la bomba de alimentación.
4. Observe the pressure during the whole filtration course. According to the on-site situation, please ensure the feeding pressure is under the rated pressure by adjusting the return valve.
5. Finally, the filtered liquid will be little, then please close the feeding pump. If the cake does not need washing, please discharge the cake.
6. When opening the plates, if the cake is not dry enough, the plates can also be closed and continue to work again.
7. Si la bomba neumática de membrana es la bomba de alimentación, no es necesario instalar el sistema de alivio.

 

Conclusión

Although filter presses vary in design and capacity, their installation, commissioning, and operating procedures are largely the same. Correct installation, regular maintenance, and safe operating practices not only improve filtration efficiency but also extend equipment life and reduce downtime.

If you would like to learn more about routine maintenance and troubleshooting, please refer to our Filter Press Maintenance Guide.