Disc filter control systems and methods

A disc filter system for dewatering fiber suspension, the disc filter system comprising:

• a disc filter comprising:
• a vessel comprising an inlet positioned in a wall of the vessel, the inlet being configured to introduce a fiber suspension into the vessel;
• a rotor shaft comprising a shaft axis of rotation;
• a variable speed drive operatively coupled to the rotor shaft and configured to rotate the rotor shaft about the shaft axis of rotation;
• and
• at least one filter element coupled to the rotor shaft wherein the at least one filter element rotates with the rotor shaft about the shaft axis of rotation;
• a control system comprising a processor, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable and executable instructions stored on the memory module, wherein:
• the control system is communicatively coupled to the variable speed drive and a torque measurement device operable to measure a torque on the variable speed drive;
• and
• the machine readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the disc filter system to automatically:
• measure the torque on the variable speed drive;
• and
• adjust a rotational speed of the rotor shaft, via the variable speed drive, from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed that is non-zero and different from the first rotational speed based on the torque on the variable speed drive.