Apparatus and method for removal of liquids

An apparatus for continuously removing liquid from a moist material which is advanced along a processing path, the apparatus comprising:

• a support;
• a first electrode arrangement coupled with said support, at least part of said first electrode arrangement being movable relative to said support;
• a second electrode arrangement coupled with said support;
• a movable transport element, at least part of which is disposed adjacent said second electrode arrangement, said transport element being movable relative to said support and in unison with at least the movable part of said first electrode arrangement, at least part of said transport element being liquid permeable;
• a working space between said first electrode arrangement and said transport element, so that said movement of said part of said first electrode arrangement which is movable and said transport element in unison continuously advances the moist material along the processing path, said first and second electrodes providing an electrical potential between them in said working space to effect flow of electrical current through the moist material while in the working space;
• and
• an acoustic transducer arrangement coupled with said support and disposed adjacent said working space for subjecting the moist material in said working space to an acoustic field concurrently with the moist material also being subjected to the electrical field;
• whereby at least part of said first electrode continuously moves along with the moist material in the processing path while the material is subjected to both an electrical and acoustical field in a continuous process, thereby providing continuous movement of the moist material with little sliding motion between the moist material and the electrode arrangements;
• and
• wherein said first electrode arrangement includes an anode roller and a first continuous, flexible belt which rides over the anode roller and which continuous belt is disposed between the anode roller and the working space, such that said first flexible belt contacts the moist material in said working space, said anode roller and said first continuous belt being movable relative to said support such that the entirety of the first electrode arrangement is movable relative to said support.