About this part
Filter cloths form the filtration surface in plate filter presses. Cloth selection balances filtration speed, cake release, filtrate clarity, and cloth life. Coal tailings filtration typically uses monofilament polypropylene cloths, with weave geometry tuned to the particle size distribution of the slurry. Cloth life ends with either fabric wear, persistent blinding that cannot be cleaned, or cake-release failure.
Compatible Equipment
Material Options
- Monofilament polypropylene
- Standard for coal tailings. Smooth surface, good cake release.
- Multifilament polypropylene
- Tighter filtration, slower flux, used when filtrate clarity matters.
- Staple-fiber blend
- Used when cake adhesion is needed (e.g. very fine cakes that would otherwise fall through).
- Polyamide
- Higher abrasion and impact resistance, used in heavy-duty filtration.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Cloth Materials | Polypropylene (mono, multi), polyamide, staple-fiber blend | |
| Weave Types | Plain, satin, twill | |
| Air Permeability | 2–100 | l/dm²/min @ 200 Pa |
| Form Factor | Plate-and-frame, recessed chamber, membrane |
Wear Factors
- Particle abrasiveness
- Cake-discharge mechanism (shaker vs flap)
- Chemical resistance to slurry pH
- Operating temperature
- Frequency of cleaning (high-pressure water, acid wash)
Replacement Notes
Cloths are typically replaced together as a set when filtration flux declines below acceptable, or when individual cloths fail and contaminate the filtrate. Cloth changeover is scheduled with major press maintenance shutdowns to minimize impact on plant availability.