Agitated Nutsche Filter is a closed vessel designed to separate solid and liquid by  filtration under pressure or vacuum or in combination of both. The resulting wet cake can be re-slurried and washed thoroughly with water or solvent. The discharge of wet cake is automatic. Drying of wet cake is also possible when drying features are incorporated. The closed system ensures  odourless contamination free and non-polluting working conditions maintaining product purity and hygiene. Agitated Nutsche Filters are extensively used in CHEMICAL, HERBAL, PHARMA, AGRO CHEMICAL & FOOD Industries.

DESCRIPTION
Agitated Nutsche Filter consists of a cylindrical shell with a welded dished end at the top and a flat welded end at the bottom. The vessel is divided into two compartments by means of a perforated plate, provided with suitable filter cloth. The base plate is having arrangement of bolting bar to hold the filter cloth. Suitable support mesh is provided under filter cloth to facilitate the flow of filtrate. An agitator of unique design and rigid and in “S” curved provided inside the vessel to perform the movements of vertical and rotational directions simultaneously, by means of push buttons switches/PLC. and to take the high torque generated during solid discharge and re-slurring operation. 

OPERATION
Slurry is fed into the top compartment from where filtrate passes into the lower chamber en route to receiver. Solids are deposited on the filtering media in the top compartment and take the shape of cake of a uniform thickness. The agitator pushes the solid content in the slurry upwards by keeping it under suspension till maximum possible filtrate passes through the filter bed. It then seals the cracks in the cake, which develops after most of the filtrate has passed through, by smoothening the top surface of the cake.

Agitated Nutsche Filter Dryer also squeezes out some of the moisture in the cake by slightly pressing the cake uniformly with the help of specially designed blades. After the separation of solvent/mother liquor and if the cake requires washing, the entire cake can be re-slurried and agitated, so that all the particles forming the cake can be exposed to wash liquor and be thoroughly washed through the specially designed agitator. This improves quality of the finished products. After washing and removal of wash liquor, the cake can be discharged through a quick opening side discharge door, by rotating and lowering agitator in the discharge direction. No manual handling is required.

Process Steps

• Filtration
• Washing of Filter Cake
• Repeat mix or washing of the cake
• Convection drying of the cake
• Smoothing with compression of the cake
•  Fully Automatic discharge of the wet or dried cake.

Advantages

• The equipment is functionally safe and easy to operate.
• No manual handling.
• Through washing of cake.
• Toxic and hazardous material can be processed.
• Product purity maintained
• Blending of product possible before discharging.
• Complete automation.
• Combining filtration, washing, re-slurry and drying in a fully enclosed automated unit thus reduction of capital and operating costs.
• Large quantities can be processed faster than the conventional systems.
• Heat transfer surface can be provided on the vessel wall by providing jacket or limpet.