Turbidity sensing filter apparatus, systems, and methods thereof

A replacement filter plate assembly [1] for a filter press, the filter press having a plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1] and at least one first turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] coupled to a first filter plate assembly [1] within the plurality of stackable filter e assemblies [1];

• wherein the at least one first turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a first filtrate drain opening [8a-d] communicating with a first filter chamber [14], and a first filtrate port [7, 13] or first filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of said first filter plate assembly [1], in order to determine a first level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said first filter plate assembly [1] independently of turbidity levels of filtrate [50] exiting other filter plate assemblies [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1], the replacement filter plate assembly [1] comprising:
• at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] coupled to the replacement filter plate assembly [1];
• wherein the at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] communicating with a filter chamber [14], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15], in order to determine a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said replacement filter plate assembly [1] independently of turbidity levels of filtrate [50] exiting other filter plate assemblies [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1].

A method of filtering slurry comprising:

• providing a filter press having a plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] communicating with a filter chamber [14], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15], in order to determine a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said at least one of said plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1] independently of turbidity levels of filtrate [50] exiting other filter plate assemblies [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• the
• at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] further comprising at least one optical emitter [24, 424] and at least one optical detector [28, 428];
• the at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] being located such that the at least one optical emitter [24,424] and the at least one optical detector [28,428] are configured to be at least partially exposed to a stream of filtrate [50] exiting a filter chamber [14] of the at least one of said plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• emitting electromagnetic radiation [32] from the at least one optical emitter [24, 424];
• allowing a stream of filtrate [50] to run between said at least one optical emitter [24, 424] and said at least one optical detector [28, 428];
• and
• determining, by the amount of electromagnetic radiation [32] received by the at least one optical detector [28, 428], a turbidity level of the filtrate [50] exiting said at least one of said plurality of stackable filter place assemblies [1], independently of turbidity levels of filtrate [50] exiting other filter plate assemblies [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1].