Abstract: The invention discloses an improved method and apparatus for utilizing the principal of dewatering and drying a liquid/solid slurry. Unlike the prior known method of consecutive material thickening, filtering, crushing and then subsequent drying which is achieved by means of an appropriate apparatus for each of the above enumerated process steps, in the present invention all these process steps are achieved with only one apparatus.The apparatus for the implementation of this method comprises consecutively connected filter press, feeding-compressing container with pressure feed chamber and a built-in heat exchanger and vacuum collector with a vacuum pump. The apparatus for carrying out the method is compact, has low energy consumption, and environmental cleanliness. The method ensures that the separated liquid phase can be used as a heat carrier for industrial and municipal needs. In addition, the process of the invention is fully automated.

Abstract: The invention discloses an improved method, and apparatus for utilizing the method, for dewatering and drying a liquid/solid slurry. Unlike the prior known method of consecutive material thickening, filtering, crushing and then subsequent drying achieved with an appropriate for each process apparatus, in the present invention all these processes are achieved with only one apparatus.The apparatus for the implementation of this method comprises consecutively connected filter press, feeding-compressing container with pressure feed chamber and an inbuilt heat exchanger and vacuum collector with a vacuum pump. The advantages of using this apparatus and method are its compactness, limited space required, low energy consumption, environmental cleanliness and the fact that the separated liquid phase can be used as a heat carrier for industrial and municipal needs. In addition, the disclosed process if fully automated.