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Darlami, et al.

controlled heat flow into the mechanical dewatering food processing, and the ceramic industry, for
operations, thereby accelerating moisture removal. removing moisture from solids and reducing waste
While the concept of applying heat in dewatering is not volume. Selecting an appropriate dewatering machine
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entirely new, TAMD introduces a novel approach by requires careful consideration of several performance
optimizing specific operating conditions, i.e., maintaining parameters to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness,
temperatures below 100°C and pressures under and sustainability. The key factors to evaluate
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3000 kPa. This careful regulation ensures that the liquid include technologies implemented, moisture reduction
remains in its liquid state, preventing phase change efficiency, energy consumption, processing capacity,
and excessive energy consumption. By reducing the operational and maintenance costs, environmental
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energy required for moisture removal, TAMD presents impact, and adaptability to different materials. The
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a significant opportunity for industries to improve parameters involved in the performance evaluation of
process efficiency, minimize environmental impact, dewatering machines are:
and decrease operational costs, making it a promising (i) Technologies implemented: The technologies
solution for various applications, including wastewater implemented for dewatering in agricultural,
treatment, agriculture, and industrial processing. industrial, and water treatment plants vary across
Sludge dewatering equipment has been specifically different fields based on machine design, dewatering
designed to handle its challenging properties, such process, and chemicals used. This will alter the
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as compressibility and fine particle size. These performance of the machines in terms of time and
characteristics result in dense filter cakes, making the energy consumption, moisture reduction, machine
sludge resistant to settling and compression. Therefore, size, operational and maintenance costs, as well as
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effective dewatering requires applying compressive machine capacity.
forces directly to the solid phase. Commonly used (ii) Moisture reduction efficiency: The primary
equipment includes membrane plate presses, belt filters, function of a dewatering machine is to extract water
and decanter centrifuges. To enhance performance, from solids efficiently. The final moisture content
chemical pre-treatment and the selection of appropriate of the processed material determines its usability,
filter cloth are often necessary. While filter presses transport costs, and subsequent processing needs.
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typically produce drier solids, the choice of equipment Machines such as filter presses and centrifuges offer
ultimately depends on factors including desired dryness, high efficiency in moisture reduction. However, the
process requirements, and cost. A previous study effectiveness varies based on the material properties,
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demonstrated the importance of establishing a reliable particle size distribution, and binding forces of the
dewatering index to optimize the dewatering process. water.
Few studies have focused on the correlation between (iii) Energy consumption: Energy efficiency is a critical
the conditioning index and the dewatering efficiency. 13 factor in dewatering processes, as excessive energy
Significant advancements in biodigestate treatment consumption increases operational costs and
have been achieved through extensive research, environmental impact. Centrifugal dewatering
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technological innovations, and large-scale infrastructure systems typically require more energy due to high-
development. In contrast, Nepal’s efforts in this field have speed rotations, whereas belt presses and screw
been limited to small-scale surveys, preliminary studies, presses operate at lower energy demands. In
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and localized research. This lack of comprehensive data addition, integrating energy recovery systems, such
and large-scale implementation hampers the effective as heat exchangers, can further optimize energy use
design, strategic planning, and successful execution of in thermal drying applications. 40
bioslurry dewatering and wastewater treatment projects. (iv) Processing capacity and throughput: The ability
As a result, challenges persist in ensuring the smooth of a dewatering machine to handle large volumes
operation, long-term sustainability, and scalability of of material per unit time is essential for industrial-
these initiatives. scale applications. High-capacity machines, such as
vacuum belt filters, can process significant amounts
4. Performance parameters of dewatering of slurry continuously, whereas batch-operated
machines filter presses may have limitations in throughput.
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The selection of a machine should align with the
Dewatering machines are essential in various required production rate and the variability of input
industries, including wastewater treatment, mining, feed consistency.

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 58 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025130093