Filtering process and circuit water with pile cloth media
Pile cloth filtration is not limited to municipal wastewater treatment. Wherever precipitated metal hydroxides, oxidised iron, manganese dioxide or fine process particles have to be removed from a water stream, the submerged pile filter cloth provides separation in the low micrometre range — without a filter bed, without a backwash tank and with a clearly defined wear part.
Typical solids loads in industry
The suitability of pile cloth filtration depends less on the industry than on the character of the particles to be separated. The following loads occur regularly in industrial water circuits.
Metal hydroxides from neutralisation
After lime or caustic precipitation, zinc, nickel, copper, chromium or aluminium are present as fine hydroxide flocs. These flocs are light, compressible and difficult for conventional sand filters — in the pile structure of the filter cloth they are embedded within the fibre layer instead of merely being deposited on a surface.
Iron and manganese dioxide
Oxidised iron (Fe(OH)₃) and manganese dioxide following permanganate or aeration oxidation form finely dispersed particles in the low micrometre range. They are the classic application for microfibre and supermicrofibre cloths.
Precipitation and flocculation solids
Sulphate, fluoride or phosphate precipitation produces solids loads that fluctuate strongly. The pile cloth filter responds through suction frequency rather than through a plant shutdown — the filter area stays in operation while one segment is being cleaned.
Fine particles in circuit water
Cooling circuits, wash water and rinse water carry abrasion, scale, paint and pigment particles. Without retention these particles travel through pumps, nozzles and heat exchangers, causing wear and deposit build-up.
Documented separation performance instead of marketing claims
In an industrial process water circuit, the separation of manganese dioxide after permanganate dosing was measured in parallel operation — one segment with a microfibre pile cloth from another supplier, one segment with the R+F microfibre cloth. The measured inlet and outlet values are documented in full.
Why pile cloth in an industrial circuit
No filter bed, no backwash tank
Cleaning is performed by suction from the cloth surface during operation. No backwash pumps, no backwash water storage and no bed regeneration are required.
Low rinse water share
Only a small share of the throughput is returned to pre-treatment as suction water. That matters in particular where process water is recirculated or reused.
Compact footprint
Submerged disc and drum filters achieve a high filter area per unit of floor space. Existing tanks and channels can often be reused.
Replaceable wear part
The filter cloth is the actual consumable. It can be replaced segment by segment — without intervening in the machine, drive or suction system.
Media selection for industrial waters
Besides the separation limit, chemical compatibility of the fibre material is the decisive criterion in industrial duties.
Standard 10 µm
Polyamide pile cloth for high, well-flocculating solids loads and robust circuit water duties. Not suitable for chlorinated media.
Product detailsBioactive 5 µm
PET microfibre with a silver finish (patent pending) against biofilm formation — useful in warm, nutrient-rich circuits. PET is chlorine resistant.
Product detailsSupermicrofiber 2.5 µm
Finest PET pile structure for hydroxide flocs and manganese dioxide where the effluent should be as particle-free as possible.
Product detailsPolyamide is not chlorine resistant. Where chlorine, hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide is used in the circuit, a PET-based cloth must be selected. For aggressive media, please send us a water analysis — we assess material compatibility before making a recommendation.
What we need for a sizing assessment
Industrial waters cannot be covered by a standard case. With the following information we can give a sound media and area recommendation — and say openly when pile cloth filtration is not the right process.
- Solids concentration in the inlet and its range of fluctuation
- Chemical compatibility: pH range, temperature, oxidants, chlorine, solvents
- Particle character: precipitated flocs, abrasive solids, oil and grease content
- Permissible rinse water share and return route for the suction water
- Target value in the effluent — turbidity, TSS or residual metal content
- Existing machine: disc or drum filter, segment geometry, mounting type
Have your water circuit assessed
Send us a water analysis, throughput and machine type. You will receive an assessment of media selection, required filter area and the expected rinse water share.