Plate and Frame Filter Press

A plate and frame filter press separates solids from liquids by pumping slurry into sealed filter chambers formed by alternating plates and frames. The liquid passes through the filter cloth, and the solids collect as a cake that can be discharged, composted, or recovered.

For fertilizer producers, the filter press serves three practical purposes: dewatering high-moisture manure slurry, removing suspended solids from process streams, and producing a cleaner liquid for reuse or discharge. LANE Machinery supplies plate and frame filter presses with polypropylene or stainless steel plates, hydraulic closure, automatic control, and filter areas from 1 to 200 square meters.

Product Overview

The LANE plate and frame filter press is a pressure-driven solid-liquid separation machine designed for continuous fertilizer plant operation.

The standard system includes:

• Alternating filter plates and frames with replaceable filter cloth.
• Hydraulic closure system.
• Slurry feed pump connection and feed port.
• Filtrate collection channels.
• Manual or PLC-controlled operating cycle.
• Optional automatic plate shifter, cloth washing, and drip tray.

The machine can be supplied as a single unit or integrated into a complete fertilizer production line with dewatering, composting, granulation, and wastewater treatment systems.

Features and Advantages

High cake dryness

• Pressure-driven filtration compresses the solids into a dense cake.
• Manure and sludge cake can be handled with a loader or conveyor.
• Lower moisture in the cake reduces drying energy downstream.
• Improves the solid content entering composting or granulation.

Corrosion-resistant construction

• Polypropylene filter plates as standard.
• SS316L plates and contact parts for chloride, acid, and aggressive chemistry.
• Food-grade and chemical-resistant filter cloth options.
• Material certificates available for traceability.

Wide filter area range

• Filter areas from 1 to 200 square meters.
• Plate sizes from small laboratory units to industrial 800 by 800 mm and larger.
• Configurations for low, medium, and high solids content.
• Modular plate packs for future capacity expansion.

Hydraulic closure and automation

• Hydraulic cylinder closes and holds the plate pack under pressure.
• PLC control sequences feeding, pressure, and plate opening.
• Automatic plate shifter reduces manual labor.
• Safety interlocks prevent opening under pressure.

Easy cloth maintenance

• Filter cloth is replaceable without replacing the full plate.
• Open delivery or closed delivery filtrate options.
• Optional automatic cloth washing reduces labor.
• Cloth type can be matched to particle size and chemical compatibility.

Safe and reliable operation

• Pressure gauges and relief protection on the feed line.
• Corrosion-resistant feed pump compatibility.
• Low energy consumption compared with thermal drying.
• Remote monitoring available for troubleshooting.

Working Principle

The working principle of a plate and frame filter press is physical separation under pressure.

1. The hydraulic cylinder closes the plate pack and holds the frames in position.
2. Slurry is pumped into the feed port under controlled pressure.
3. The slurry fills the sealed filter chambers formed by the plates and frames.
4. Liquid passes through the filter cloth and leaves through the filtrate channels.
5. Solid particles are retained on the cloth and build into a filter cake.
6. When the chamber is full, the feed stops and the remaining liquid drains.
7. The hydraulic system opens the plate pack.
8. The cake is discharged and the cloth is cleaned for the next cycle.

The filtration pressure, feed concentration, and cake thickness determine the cycle time and the final cake moisture.

Application in a Fertilizer Production Line

The filter press is most often installed at three points in a fertilizer plant.

For manure and organic raw material dewatering:

Poultry or livestock manure slurry -> Plate and frame filter press -> Solid cake -> Composting
                                                     |
                                                     -> Liquid -> Treatment or reuse

For process stream separation:

Reactor or process tank -> Plate and frame filter press -> Clean liquid -> Storage or filling
                                                     |
                                                     -> Filter cake -> Recovery or disposal

In these configurations:

• The filter press reduces moisture before composting, which shortens the fermentation cycle and lowers drying energy.
• It removes suspended solids from process liquids before storage and filling.
• It protects downstream pumps, nozzles, and irrigation equipment.
• It produces a cleaner liquid for water reuse or discharge compliance.
• It recovers solids that can be returned to the product or sold as a by-product.

LANE supplies the filter press as a single machine or as part of a complete line with dewatering, fermentation, granulation, and filling systems.

Application Scope

• Animal and poultry manure slurry dewatering.
• Biogas digestate and fermentation residue.
• Organic fertilizer raw material preparation.
• Phosphogypsum and gypsum slurry separation.
• Liquid NPK and water-soluble fertilizer clarification.
• Suspended solids removal from process water.
• Sludge dewatering in fertilizer plant wastewater treatment.
• Chemical slurries and precipitated salt recovery.

Technical Specifications

Quality, Standards, and Certification

LANE manufactures plate and frame filter presses under an ISO 9001 quality management system and can supply CE-certified equipment with stainless steel material certificates.

For pressure-rated applications, the filter press and piping design can follow customer-specified codes including ASME Section VIII, PED, or GB/T 150. Hydrostatic testing and third-party inspection by SGS or BV are available.

For liquid fertilizer products exported to the European Union, the final product must meet Regulation (EU) 2019/1009. The filter press supports contaminant control and product consistency, and we recommend independent certification of the final product by the relevant authority.

Why Choose LANE Machinery

Henan Lane Heavy Industry Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. is a fertilizer equipment manufacturer with more than 20 years of engineering experience. LANE has delivered equipment and production lines to clients in more than 50 countries and supplied machines for a 100,000 tons per year national fertilizer project in Africa.

For filter press projects, our engineers review the slurry type, solids content, particle size, chemical compatibility, and target cake moisture, then recommend the correct plate material, cloth, filter area, and automation level. LANE provides one-stop service from selection and process design to overseas installation, commissioning, operator training, remote video guidance, and after-sales support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a plate and frame filter press do?

A plate and frame filter press separates solids from liquids by pumping slurry into sealed filter chambers. The liquid passes through the filter cloth, and the solids collect as a cake that can be discharged or recovered.

Can it dewater chicken and livestock manure?

Yes. Manure slurry with high moisture can be conditioned and pumped into the filter press, producing a drier cake and a cleaner liquid. The cake is easier to handle, compost, or transport.

What is the difference between a plate and frame and a membrane filter press?

A plate and frame filter press forms a cake by pressure filtration. A membrane filter press adds a flexible membrane that squeezes the cake after filtration, which can reduce moisture further. LANE recommends the type based on the slurry and target cake.

How do I choose the filter area?

Filter area is selected from the slurry volume, solids content, cycle time, and target cake dryness. LANE engineers calculate the required area from the process data before recommending a model.

What materials are suitable for the plates?

Polypropylene is suitable for most fertilizer and manure applications. SS316L is recommended for chloride, acid, and aggressive chemical streams. The filter cloth is selected based on particle size and chemical compatibility.

Can the filter press be automated?

Yes. PLC control, automatic plate shifting, pressure monitoring, and optional cloth washing reduce manual labor and improve cycle consistency.

What is the warranty?

LANE provides a five-year warranty, spare parts support, and overseas installation and commissioning services.

Get a Quote for Your Plate and Frame Filter Press

Tell LANE your slurry type, solids content, flow rate, particle size, temperature, and target cake moisture. Our engineering team will recommend the correct plate material, filter cloth, filter area, and automation level, then provide a technical data sheet and quotation.