SP
Three-screw stainless steel screw press for sludge dewatering in an industrial hall
Operation & Maintenance

Back-Pressure Adjustment

Setting final cake compression at the discharge

The back-pressure device at the discharge end controls how hard the cake is compressed before it leaves the machine. More back pressure raises cake solids up to a point; too much can extrude solids into the filtrate or overload the drive.

How back pressure shapes the cake

As sludge reaches the discharge end, the narrowing screw pitch and the back-pressure plate or cone form a plug of cake that seals the machine and allows compression. Increasing back pressure tightens this plug, squeezing out more water and raising cake solids. Beyond an optimum, further pressure forces fine solids back through the screen into the filtrate and increases screw torque without improving dryness.

Tuning back pressure

  1. 1
    Confirm polymer and screw speed are already set

    Back pressure is the final trim, not the first control.

  2. 2
    Increase back pressure in small increments

    Watch cake solids rise and filtrate stay clear.

  3. 3
    Stop when filtrate starts to cloud or torque climbs

    That marks the practical maximum; back off slightly.

Close-up of self-cleaning ring disc filter elements of a multi-disc screw press
RF Series Screw Press

Self-Cleaning Ring Disc Filter Elements

Fixed and moving stainless steel rings form the filtration gaps and keep them clear continuously — no filter cloth, no clogging.

Explore the RF series
Engineering Assessment

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Our engineering team provides application-specific screw press sizing and selection — based on your sludge type, flow rate, and dewatering targets.