Industrial Filtration, Separation & Dust Collection calculator
Dewatered Sludge Volume Calculator
Estimate disposal volume from a measured dewatered cake composition. Enter retained dry solids, cake solids percentage and the wet cake bulk density.
What this calculator does
- Estimate disposal volume from a measured dewatered cake composition.
Formula used
- Wet cake mass = Retained dry solids × 100 ÷ Cake solids %
- Cake volume = Wet cake mass ÷ Measured wet cake density
- Retained water = Wet cake mass − Retained dry solids
Inputs explained
- Retained Dry Solids: Dry solids actually retained in the dewatered cake.
- Cake Dry Solids: Laboratory dry mass divided by wet cake mass.
- Measured Wet Cake Density: Wet cake bulk density measured at disposal condition.
How to use the result
- Best suited to sludge haulage planning, dewatering trial comparisons.
- Polymer demand, solids capture and container packing are not predicted.
Common questions
- Is cake solids the same as dewatering efficiency? No. It is dry solids as a percentage of wet cake mass.
- Can I assume water density for the cake? Use measured cake density. Mineral content and voids can materially change its bulk density.
- Where do escaped solids go? Exclude them from retained dry solids and reconcile them in the filtrate or centrate balance.
- Does this size the dewatering machine? No. Hydraulic load, feed solids and equipment-specific performance must be checked separately.
Last reviewed 2026-10-12.