Membrane Filter Elements
Status: 06/2001/01 Operating Manual 45
Fault Cause
Leaking of all
chambers
• Often occurs with new cloths
• Poor sealing characteristic of the cloths
• Geometrical defect in the filter press
• Insufficient closing force
• Lack of pressure control by the hydraulic unit
• High counter-pressure in the filtrate discharge
Unequal cake
washing results
• Unequal cake composition
• Unequal cake thickness
• Incorrect membrane squeezing pressure
• Wash water short circuits
• Pressure fluctuations in the feeding area
• Unequal counter-pressures in the discharge canals
Bent filter elements • Differential pressures during filtration
• Temperature is too high
• Extreme temperature jumps during operation
• Chambers overfilled
Deformed sealing
edges
• Excessive closing force
• Closing force not equivalent to operating pressure/
temperature
• Temperature is too high
• Dirty sealing edges
• Insufficient support of head/tail (end) plate
• Insufficient, reciprocal support as a result of insufficient
lateral stability
Membrane
overstretching/
cracking
• Poor cake build-up
• Temperature is too high or too low
• Squeezing pressure rise is too rapid
• Chemical attack by suspension, washing or squeeze
medium
• Incorrect choice of materials
• Incorrect choice of membrane type
