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Dewatering

Dewatering

From liquid sludge to efficient waste reduction

Efficient dewatering is an essential step in industrial water treatment. By substantially lowering the water content of sludge streams, transport and processing costs are reduced considerably, and storage and handling become simpler and safer. PCA Water offers robust technologies that convert liquid sludge into a compact sludge cake with a high dry solids content.

Kamerfilterpers 2

What is dewatering?
Why invest in it?
How does it work?
Applications
FAQ
Contact us

What is dewatering?

Dewatering is the mechanical separation of liquids and solids to drastically reduce the water content of sludge. Unlike conventional settling, where particles simply settle out, water is actively removed from the sludge mass by means of pressure, vacuum or centrifugal force.

Untreated industrial sludge often consists largely of water. Substantially reducing this volume produces a compact residual fraction that is easier to store, transport and process.

Why invest in mechanical dewatering?

Mechanical dewatering delivers both economic and operational benefits.

Cost and space savings

 By substantially reducing sludge volume, less storage space, fewer transport movements and lower disposal and processing costs are required.

Further water recovery

Depending on its quality, the separated filtrate can be treated further and then reused. This allows additional water to be recovered and total water consumption to be reduced.

How does the process work?

Dewatering combines chemical pre-treatment with mechanical separation and takes place in three steps.

1. Pre-treatment

Sludge retains water at a microscopic level. By adding coagulants and flocculants (polymers) in a mixing tank, fine particles agglomerate into larger, stable flocs. This releases bound water and increases dewatering efficiency.

2. Mechanical separation

Depending on the chosen technology, a specific separating force is applied:

  • Chamber filter press: a high-pressure pump forces the sludge into closed chambers. The water passes through filter cloths, while the solid fraction is retained.
  • Vacuum belt filter: negative pressure draws the water through a (moving) filter cloth while the sludge is transported continuously.
  • Centrifuge: rapid rotation separates solid and liquid phases based on differences in density.

3. Cake formation and discharge

Once maximum dewatering has been reached, the solid fraction is discharged as sludge cake into a collection skip or onto a conveyor belt. The end result is a compact, dry mass ready for further processing or disposal.

PCA dewatering technologies

Chamber filter press: maximum dewatering

The chamber filter press is a proven solution for applications requiring high cake dryness.

PCA RENSON 300dpi 11
  • Pressure up to 15 bar: higher pressure results in a drier sludge cake.
  • Tailor-made: available in manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic versions.
  • Reliability: suitable for batch or continuous processes with varying sludge compositions.

Vacuum belt filter: continuous processing

An efficient solution for the continuous separation of liquid and solid fractions.

Vacuum belt filter pca water
  • Continuous operation: suitable for larger flow rates with constant output.
  • Stable process: constant negative pressure ensures reliable operation.
  • Drawback: higher energy consumption

Centrifuge: 
compact and fast

A suitable choice where space is limited or rapid separation is required.

GEA Sludge Decanter Pro
  • High separating force: uses centrifugal acceleration for efficient phase separation.
  • Compact design: small footprint with high capacity.
  • Drawback: higher energy consumption

In which applications do we use it?

Dewatering is applied in industrial processes where sludge volumes must be reduced efficiently to make transport, storage and processing more economical and practical. Depending on the sludge composition, the required dry solids content and the process requirements, we select the most suitable dewatering technology.

Physico-chemical water treatment

Dewatering of chemical sludge from precipitation, coagulation and flocculation processes.

Biological water treatment

Thickening and dewatering of biological surplus sludge to reduce disposal costs.

Metal-bearing wastewater

Treatment of sludge streams containing metals such as iron, zinc, copper, nickel and chromium after chemical removal.

Process industry and manufacturing

Dewatering of sludge from production processes requiring efficient solid-liquid separation.

FAQ: frequently asked questions

How much space does a dewatering installation take up?

That varies by technology. Centrifuges, for example, have a compact footprint, while other systems may require more space.

What happens to the water removed from the sludge?

The filtrate is usually returned to the water treatment plant or treated further before it can be reused, if required.

Can dewatering reduce sludge processing costs?

Yes. By substantially reducing the sludge volume, the costs of transport, storage and external processing fall considerably.

Stop paying to dispose of water.

Our experts design a robust solution that minimises your sludge volume and integrates seamlessly into your existing treatment line.

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