Klinkau America, Inc. manufactures a complete line of diaphragm filter plates in Fixed Welded - Standard, Fixed Welded (Empty Chamber), and Replaceable Overhanging (Empty Chamber) Design.
Diaphragm filter plates can be provided in sizes 470mm to 2000mm with and without stay-boss support in cake thicknesses up to 50mm (before squeeze).
The Klinkau diaphragm plate product line can be supplied in polypropylene, polypropylene modifications, EP (santoprene ), and PVDF diaphragm material.
Many thousands of Klinkau diaphragm plates in Fixed Welded - Standard, Fixed Welded (Empty Chamber) and Replaceable Overhanging (Empty Chamber) are in operation worldwide.
Fixed welded - standard design US patent Nr
The Klinkau fixed welded diaphragm plate product line includes corner or center feed arrangements.
The Klinkau fixed welded diaphragm plate is manufactured with a center core body plate and two molded diaphragm sections welded to each side of the center core body to form the complete filter plate.
The diaphragm have two defined hinge lines, i.e. one for the filtration phase and one for the squeezing phase; therefore risk of hinge failure has been minimized.
The movement of the diaphragm causes bending stresses, which can adversely affect the diaphragm`s ability to resist chemical attack. The Klinkau diaphragm plate has been designed to counteract the bending stresses by constructing a `` flexible area `` instead of a `` flexible point`` to diminish the surface tension. Due to the ``flexible area`` design, the diaphragm can be constructed thicker than most standards. This design offers greater physical strength and resistance to chemical attack.
The center core of the diaphragm plate is profiled to prevent the membrane from completely closing against the center core body. A distribution of the squeezing medium is possible through the whole area of the diaphragm at the beginning of the squeeze phase. This procedure guarantees a consistently even movement of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm is supported by the center core, i.e. it is supported inside to guarantee a controlled and gentle diaphragm movement during the filtration phase.
The well-rounded contour of the diaphragm allows unhindered movement of the diaphragm and better cake release.
The diaphragm plate can be supplied as an ``ALL`` diaphragm plate stack arrangement or as a ``mixed pack`` arrangement (diaphragm plates alternated with recess chamber or flush plates).
Klinkau GmbH + Co. developed the ``mixed pack`` arrangement in 1982 to provide an alternative solution to lower initial capital investment costs of the diaphragm plate package by approximately 25% without affecting the performance results.
Fixed Welded - ``Empty Chamber ``Design US Patent Nr.
The Klinkau ``Empty Chamber`` Diaphragm Filter Plate design was the next evolutionary advancement in polypropylene filter plate technology.
Many filtration processes differ in solids content and filtering characteristics that may cause the risk of uncontrolled filling of the chamber.
This uncontrolled chamber filling during the pressure filtration stage and/ or differential pressures may initiate insufficient chamber fillings or empty chambers. Subsequently, the risk of damage to the diaphragm is quite possible.
The goal of the ``Empty Chamber`` design was to take the risk out of premature diaphragm failures.
The ``Empty Chamber`` design was developed so the diaphragm would be adequately supported not only during the pressure filtration filling phase but as well as squeezing into the empty chamber. The design prevents an overstretching and consequently prevents damage to the diaphragm.
In 1991, the Klinkau organization received US- Patent Nr. 5.021.155 -Europe-patent Nr. 3 482 662 for the development of the ``Empty Chamber`` design in welded design.
Replaceable diaphragm - ``Empty Chamber`` Design
All of the advantages and experience of the many thousands of welded Klinkau diaphragm plates in operation were retained in the development of the Klinkau replaceable diaphragm plate.
The Klinkau replaceable diaphragm plate is a membrane plate in the ``Empty Chamber`` design with customer requested feed eye arrangement.
The diaphragm plate is supplied with a center body plate installed with full gasket sealing around the sealing surfaces and filtrate corner holes. The replaceable diaphragm are easily installed to the center body plate with stainless steel retaining rings and block/clip attachments for the top and bottom of the plate.
The design is available with or without stay-bosses and allows unrestrictive movement of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm can also be supplied with other core body plates such as ductile iron, aluminum, or stainless steel.
The replaceable diaphragm plate system incorporates diaphragm plates and companion recess chamber plates in the ``Mixed Pack`` design.
The Klinkau replaceable diaphragm has specific strength in the area of the sealing frame to take the closing pressures of the filter press.
The diaphragm has rubber-like flexibility in the piped areas of the filter plate.
The diaphragm can be easily replaced in a few minutes even after years of operation without taking the plate out of the filter press.
The Klinkau replaceable diaphragm plate can be used in any application where high filtration and squeeze pressure rates (up to 450psig) are required
