Objective The main objective of this project is to develop electro-acoustically aided ceramic filtration method for the mineral industry. By the electro-acoustically aided methods the capacity of deliquoring can be increased 7-10 fold, the dry solid content of the filter cake can be raised by about 10 %, energy consumption can be as low as 0.02-0.03 kWh/kg separated liquid. This energy consumption is only two times higher compared to the conventional mechanical filtration and only 10 % of energy consumption in thermal drying. Besides, this technology meet the increasing challenges of both cleaner technologies and a cleaner environment. This method will be used firstly for the extremely fine Copper- and Titanium oxide suspensions, which average particle size is between 0.1-100 micrometers. In different experimental stages the following basic research and development work will be done: * Electro-acoustic properties of suspensions will be determined * New filtration device, which utilizes the effects of electric and ultrasonic fields * Ultrasonic transducers designed and manufactured for the studied suspensions and for the developed filtration device * Computer controlled generators to guide and control ultrasonic transducers * Suitable electrode material for the studied suspensions and electrode placement for the ceramic filter media * Operation parameters dealing with the electric and ultrasonic fields will be determined for the suspensions to be studied (acoustic connection, intensity level, frequency, intensity of electric field, AC/DC-field, pulsating field) The consortium is complementary and capable to realize this project based on a long term co-operation in previous basic studies dealing with electro-acoustic deliquoring. VTT Energy (Finland, coordinator) has carried out comprehensive basic and applied research dealing with electro-acoustically aided filtration. Loughborough University of Technology (England) has carried out comprehensive basic research in electro-acoustic membrane separation processes. Instituto de Acustica (Spain) has a long experience in acoustics for different applications. Outokumpu Mintec Ltd. (Finland) has a long and comprehensive experience in designing and manufacturing of ceramic solid/liquid separation equipments. Langford Electronics Ltd. (England) has a long and comprehensive experience on manufacturing of ultrasonic transducers and computer controlled electronics for the ultrasonic transducers. It is expected that the proposed electro-acoustic method can be tested in PILOT-scale I year after the completion of this project and method is expected to be commercialised 1-2 years after the completion of the PILOT-phase. The markets for filtration & separation equipments inside the European Union during 1995 will be 2600 MECU and short term (3 years) potential of the market increase will be 15 %. The same figures for USA and Japan markets are 1700 MECU, 600 MECU and market increases 27 % and 15 %. Medium term (6 years) potential of the market increase will be inside the European Union 24 %, in USA 64 % and in Japan 20 %. The direct economic impact by the sales on the electro-acoustic ceramic deliquoring equipment market to be realised by Outokumpu Mintec Ltd. and Langford Ltd- in the life time of the technology will be 600 MECU after the commercialisation of the technology (year 2000). Brite/EuRam III Areas covered by the proposal are 1.1.1 2.2.1 and 1.1.2. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringceramics Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0101 - Incorporation of new technologies into production systems Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Technical Research Centre of Finland EU contribution No data Address Biologinkuja 02044 Espoo - VTT Finland See on map Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address SERRANO, 144 28006 MADRID See on map Total cost No data LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Ashby Road LOUGHBOROUGH See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Langford Electronics Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Crown Road Unit 23 B30 3HY Birmingham See on map Total cost No data Outokumpu Mintec Oy Finland EU contribution No data Address 2 C,Mustionkatu 2 C 20750 Turku See on map Total cost No data