Turbidity sensing filter apparatus, systems, and methods thereof

A replacement filter plate assembly [1] for a horizontal filter press, the horizontal filter press having a frame, a plurality of horizontally-stackable, vertically-disposed, and horizontally movable filter plate assemblies [1] supported by the frame;

• the filter plate assemblies [1] forming a plate stack which extends horizontally, the filter plate assemblies [1] each being configured to support a filter cloth;
• a first turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] coupled to a first filter plate assembly [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• and a second turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] coupled to a second filter plate assembly [1] within the plurality of stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• wherein the first filter plate assembly [1] and the second filter plate assembly [1] are configured to horizontally come into close proximity with each other, in order to form a filter cake and hold the filter cake therebetween;
• the first filter plate assembly [1] and the second filter plate assembly [1] being further configured to move horizontally away from each other, in order to release and vertically discharge said filter cake;
• wherein the first turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] of the first filter plate assembly [1] communicating with a filter chamber [14] of the first filter plate assembly [1], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of said first filter plate assembly [1];
• and
• wherein the second turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] of the second filter plate assembly [1] communicating with a filter chamber [14] of the second filter plate assembly [1], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of said second 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 a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said second filter plate assembly [1], the replacement filter plate assembly [1] comprising:
• a turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] coupled to the replacement filter plate assembly [1];
• wherein the turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] is positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] of the replacement filter plate assembly [1] communicating with a filter chamber [14] of the replacement filter plate assembly [1], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of the replacement filter plate assembly [1], in order to determine a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said replacement filter plate assembly [1] independently of a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting the first filter plate assembly [1] or the second filter plate assembly [1].

A retrofit unit [4, 5] for monitoring turbidity of a filtrate produced by a first filter plate assembly [1] within a plurality of horizontally stackable, vertically-disposed, and horizontally movable filter plate assemblies [1] of a horizontal filter press, or, for monitoring turbidity of a filtrate produced by a second filter plate assembly [1] within the plurality of horizontally stackable filter plate assemblies [1] of the horizontal filter press, and being configured for attachment to the first filter plate assembly [1] or to the second filter plate assembly [1];

• the horizontal filter press having a frame supporting said plurality of horizontally stackable filter plate assemblies [1];
• the plurality of horizontally stackable, vertically-disposed, and horizontally movable filter plate assemblies [1] forming a plate stack which extends horizontally;
• the filter plate assemblies [1] each being configured to support a filter cloth;
• the first filter plate assembly [1] having a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] communicating with a filter chamber [14], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15];
• the second filter plate assembly [1] having a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] communicating with a filter chamber [14], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15];
• wherein the first filter plate assembly [1] and the second filter plate assembly [1] are configured to horizontally come into close proximity with each other, in order to form a filter cake and hold the filter cake therebetween;
• the first filter plate assembly [1] and the second filter plate assembly [1] being further configured to move horizontally away from each other, in order to release and vertically discharge said filter cake;
• the retrofit unit [4, 5] comprising:
• at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] which is configured to be positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] of the first filter plate assembly [1] communicating with a filter chamber [14] of the first filter plate assembly [1], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of the first filter plate assembly [1];
• the at least one turbidity sensing module [20, 220, 320, 420] also being configured to be positioned between a filtrate drain opening [8a-d] of the second filter plate assembly [1] communicating with a filter chamber [14] of the second filter plate assembly [1], and a filtrate port [7, 13] or filtrate discharge tube [4g, 15] of the second filter plate assembly [1], in order to determine a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said first filter plate assembly [1] independently of a level of turbidity of filtrate [50] exiting said second filter plate assembly [1].