This presentation discusses a water filtration technology termed Fabric Media that is somewhat novel to the Australian market place and reports several recent mining industry installations._x000D_
Like many novel household cleaning products, the Fabric Media technology applies the science of active washable micro fibres as the means of capturing contaminant solid particles. The simple Fabric Media water filtration product offers several attractive attributes when compared to the more traditional media bed filtration processes such as sand filters, and barrier filters such as micro membranes._x000D_
A micro fibre based filtration media enables both superior adsorption for the contaminant and wash ability. Stronger adsorption capture enables a much higher flux and greater solids loading density for the filtration task, meaning that lower cost and smaller footprint equipment is available._x000D_
For Fabric Media water filters, a textile weave is selected that minimises the flow backpressure for a given particle size separation. Thus for an equivalent filtration performance this provides a much lower operating energy requirement, generally between 50 and 80 per cent less than for a sand filter._x000D_
A Fabric Media is not abrasive to itself or to the filter tank. The filtration performance remains constant and predictable. The equipment life is much longer and the asset value of the new filtration equipment should maintain throughout the project life._x000D_
Fibres are extremely mechanically robust and chemically inert. Fabric Media survives repetitive exposure to a rapid mechanical washing event providing high wash efficiency with minimum equipment off-line time for the backwash._x000D_
Dislodging captured contaminants by a high-speed mechanical agitation enables a minimum off-line time during backwash events. The vigorous backwash destroys adhering flocculant and eliminates the formation of mud balls, which can permanently foul sand filters. The mechanical agitation wash of the Fabric Media water filter ensures complete removal of grease and biofilm, which can adhere and block a membrane surface._x000D_
In comparison to sand filters and micro filtration membranes, the Fabric Media product is applicable to a significantly wider range of solids concentrations without permanent damage. The technology is very forgiving to excursion in plant control and is therefore considered a very operator-friendly concept._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Shipard, S and Morris, D, 2006. Water filtration - advantages of fabric media, in Proceedings Metallurgical Plant Design and Operating Strategies 2006, pp 176-187 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).