Cross-Flow Filtration gets its name because the majority of the feed flow travels tangentially across the surface of the filter, rather than into the filter. In cross flow filter, cake formation is limited by shear forces caused by high velocities parallel to the filtering surface.
High velocity is achieved by pumping through narrow channels. Short lengths of filter are required to minimize the pressure drop along the channel and to avoid differences in process conditions from one end to the other.
The filter cake is substantially washed away during the filtration process. This type of filtration is used with feeds containing a high proportion of small particle size solids (where the permeate is of most value) because solid material can quickly block (blind) the filter surface with dead-end filtration.
Type of Cross Flow Filtration: