Filter press question

[jimsudz]

First some info: I draw off into dumping station, hose goes under concrete floor 7' to finishing kitchen. I'm running short bank 7" west fab (first time),I ran hot water off the preheater with a cup of DE, ,placed a heatlamp on the press. My first draw was about a gallon ran through the press fine (pushed excess water out, pumped clear syrup into canner).Second draw about 3/4 gallon ,pumped up to 60# then down to about 20# (cold syrup in hose, need to put pipe insulation on hose). Next draw was the same,forth was little harder pumped up to 80-90# then went down to 20-30# still clear syrup.On the last draw about 1/2 gallon I add 1/2 cup of DE the press went right up to 100#and dropped to about 10#,syrup seemed to be cloudy not really sure I ran it into the canner. The pressure dropped so fast I thought I blew a hole in the papers, after pulling the press apart every thing looked fine. Why would I get cloudy syrup? What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any help.

[Brent]

I would suggest you have the filter press beside the evap and take the water step out of the process. Put the DE in the dump station and recirculate through the press and back into the dump tank until it runs clear, then switch a valve to pump it under the floor to the canning room. With the press beside the evap it will be easier to keep it warm.
The cloudiness ... must have a pin-hole in the paper somewhere .... or the 100 lb surge opened the gap in the plates and some went around the DE cake. I found we blew papers every time we hit 80 lb. There may be some differences in the strengths of papers ... your mileage may differ.

Keep in mind if the area of the filter is 7 x 7 = 49 sq in x 100 psi and you get 4900 lb pressure on EACH plate set. The used press we had showed signs that the previous owner hammered the clamping wing nut style handles !!!!!