1. What is Cake Discharge Rate?

Definition: Cake Discharge Rate measures the quantity of dry solids being discharged from a dewatering system per unit time.

Purpose: It helps wastewater treatment professionals monitor and optimize dewatering processes like centrifuges, belt presses, or filter presses.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( C_d \) — Cake discharge rate (kg/s)
• \( S_f \) — Sludge feed rate (kg/s)
• \( R \) — Solid recovery (decimal between 0-1)

Explanation: The sludge feed rate is multiplied by the fraction of solids recovered to determine the dry solids discharge rate.

3. Importance of Cake Discharge Rate

Details: Monitoring this rate helps assess dewatering equipment performance, optimize polymer dosage, and ensure proper solids handling capacity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the sludge feed rate in kg/s and solid recovery as a decimal (0.6 = 60%). Solid recovery typically ranges 0.5-0.95 depending on process.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is typical solid recovery in dewatering?
A: Most systems achieve 60-90% recovery (0.6-0.9 decimal), depending on sludge type and dewatering method.

Q2: How do I measure sludge feed rate?
A: Use flow meters on feed lines or calculate from known volumes and processing times.

Q3: Why is my cake discharge rate lower than expected?
A: Possible causes include low solids concentration in feed, poor flocculation, or equipment issues.

Q4: Can I use this for different dewatering equipment?
A: Yes, the formula applies to centrifuges, belt presses, filter presses, and other mechanical dewatering systems.

Q5: How does this relate to cake solids percentage?
A: Cake discharge rate measures quantity, while cake solids percentage measures quality (dryness) of the discharged cake.