Filter Press Demoisturizing of Peat Slurry Without Thermal Drying

The patent replaces thermal drying processes with a mechanical filtration system using a filter press. The filter press uses mechanical pressure to force water through porous membranes, separating liquid water from peat material without requiring thermal energy input. This substitution of mechanical filtration for thermal drying directly resolves the contradiction by achieving moisture reduction through mechanical means rather than thermal energy consumption.

The patent employs porous membranes in the filter press system that allow water molecules to pass through while retaining peat material. These porous materials enable selective separation based on molecular size and properties, allowing efficient water removal without thermal input. The porous structure facilitates the mechanical filtration process that replaces energy-intensive thermal drying.

The patent combines mechanical filtration (filter press) with thermal drying in a sequential two-stage process. The filter press first removes the bulk of free water mechanically, then a thermal dryer removes residual moisture to achieve the required below 15% moisture content for combustion. This merging of mechanical and thermal processes allows cost-effective operation while achieving the necessary moisture reduction level that neither process could achieve alone efficiently.

The filter press performs preliminary water removal before the thermal drying step. By mechanically removing the majority of water content first, the subsequent thermal drying process only needs to handle residual moisture, significantly reducing the energy input and operational costs compared to thermal drying alone. This preliminary mechanical action prepares the material for more efficient final drying.

The patent replaces natural air drying with a mechanical filter press system that actively forces water removal through applied pressure. This mechanical intervention accelerates the water removal process from years (natural air drying) to hours or minutes (mechanical filtration), dramatically increasing productivity while achieving the same moisture content reduction goal. The mechanical system overcomes the limitations of passive evaporation.

The filter press utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic pressure systems to force water through the peat material and porous membranes. This pressurized fluid system enables rapid water extraction that cannot be achieved through passive air drying alone, reducing processing time from years to a fraction of that time while maintaining effective moisture removal.