Strainers arrest debris in pipes such as scale, rust, jointing agents and weld metal. This also protects equipment and processes. A strainer is a device that mechanically removes solids from a flowing fluid or gas in a pipeline by utilizing a perforated or mesh straining element. Pipe strainers are critical components in piping systems to protect costly equipment from potential damage caused by foreign particles carried by the process fluid. Therefore, piping strainers are also known as Strainer Filters.
To ensure premature equipment shutdown, you should install filters before pumps, load valves, control valves, meters, steam traps, turbines, compressors, solenoid valves, nozzles, pressure regulators, burners, unit heaters, and other sensitive equipment. The most common filter particle retention range is 1 inch to 40 microns.
STRAINER
The purpose of a strainer is to remove larger, unwanted suspended particles (larger than 40 microns) from a liquid, primarily to protect downstream equipment, like pumps, from damage. Depending on the application, they come in various shapes and sizes. However, one feature is essential. The strainer is designed for easy removal and cleaning. Fast cleaning requires less equipment downtime to ensure optimal functionality.
FILTER
Filters remove unwanted particles (smaller than 40 microns) from liquids and gasses. Filters are typically used when the liquid or gas passing through the system needs to be free of most contaminants, even those as small as a grain of sand. Many filters are reusable, while others need to be replaced periodically.
TYPES OF STRAINER FILTER
- PERMANENT STRAINERS. We will permanently install these filters in the piping system.
1.1 Y TYPE STRAINER. They are low-cost strainers in pressurized lines with low debris or foreign particle concentration. They can be installed horizontally or vertically with the filter element facing the ground. The retaining capacity of Y-Strainers is typically small, so You must clean them frequently.
- BASKET STRAINER. Basket Strainers are closed vessels with a filter screen inside them. Has a high capacity to retain foreign particles and is widely used. Basket strainers are used only in horizontal lines, primarily for liquid services with high flow capacity. Basket strainers can be independently supported like equipment in case their weight is more, or you can support them inline from pipe supports. They are often called T-Strainers.
- TEMPORARY STRAINERS
2.1 CONE TYPE STRAINER
- TRUNCATED CONE TYPE STRAINER
MATERIALS OF STRAINER FILTERS
STRAINER BODY can be made from:
- Forging
- Casting
- Fabrication
STRAINER FILTER INTERNAL MATERIALS
- Stainless steel
- Copper
- Aluminum
SCREENS FOR STRAINER FILTER
- PERFORATED SCREENS. Perforated screens or strainers are formed by punching many holes in a flat sheet of the required material using multiple punches. These are relatively coarse screens, and the hole size usually ranges from 0.8mm to 3.2mm.
- MESH SCREENS. The thin wire is formed in a grid or lattice arrangement. It is then usually superimposed on a perforated screen, which acts as a support cage for the mesh.
CONSIDERATIONS IN CHOOSING A STRAINER FILTER
- Flow rate.
- The dirtiness of the flowing fluid.
- Application requirements.
- Strainer orientation.
- Pressure loss.
MOISTURE SEPARATOR
Steam-operated equipment is used in numerous industrial processes and operations. While working with such equipment, the biggest concern is moisture, which can cause corrosion and the water hammer effect, as well as damage to expensive equipment like flow meters and control valves by deteriorating the internal components. To rectify dry air and use steam with maximum dryness, it becomes necessary to separate moisture from the perspective that may exist in water droplets. It is for this reason that a moisture separator is essential. Moisture is removed from gases by this machine. Condensate is drained away from the steam by removing entrained water particles. Steam-powered devices benefit significantly from it when it comes to improving efficiency and quality.
ADVANTAGES
- Installing moisture separators before equipment like flow meters and control valves can avoid damage to this costly equipment.
- Improves overall performance of the steam system.
- It ensures high heat transfer rates and operational reliability.
- No moving parts.
- 99% ef
- Compact design.
- Maintenance-free.
- Long life without replacement.
- Manual drain and auto drain facility.
- Bulk water is adequately separated and discharged.
- Removes moisture and condensate quickly, preventing damage to the compressed air system.
THREE BASIC TYPES OF MOISTURE SEPARATORS
- BAFFLE TYPE SEPARATOR. The baffle-type separator consists of one or more internal baffles that redirect the steam in different directions. It removes the heaviest condensate droplets from a control valve or steam trap station. It is the simplest separator to design and manufacture, but it also is the least efficient.
- CENTRIFUGAL TYPE SEPARATOR. A centrifugal separator uses centrifugal force to separate the condensate from the vapor. Steam is directed in a steam stream similar to a rotating cyclone. The heavier condensate is expelled to the wall of the separator and then drained by gravity to the condensate collection point. The steam pressure drop across this type of separator tends to be larger than in the other types because the velocity required for operation is more significant. It’s vital, therefore, to determine the effect a pressure drop might have on the rest of the system.
- MECHANICAL COALESCING MOISTURE SEPARATOR. The mechanical coalescing steam separator uses a two-step process. First, the steam is introduced into a stainless steel grid which causes the flow of steam to change direction. Next, the fine water particles combine (increasing their size and mass), fall by gravity to the bottom of the separator, and are discharged through a drainage device. Any droplets not removed are directed to a second, centrifugal stage. In the second stage, the deflector blades separate all condensate droplets from the steam stream and discharge them into a drain. In general, the technical coalescing separator is our preferred design. This is because it is not flow dependent and has a high efficiency factor.In addition, it has a relatively low-pressure drop compared to the other two models.
HOW MOISTURE SEPARATORS ARE USED
Everyday use of separators is to supply dry steam for direct steam heating applications such as rubber vulcanization, steam irons, or cooking processes with a steam cooker. Other applications may include atomization, catalysis processes, or meat curing processes. In these systems, the separator is installed immediately before the steam-using equipment to most effectively intercept entrained condensate before the steam is utilized.
In addition to direct steam heating, other applications greatly improved by separators include steam ejectors, turbines, and heaters used to generate superheated steam. Besides improving vapor quality, separators can provide additional benefits; remove excess fluid from the steam lines; separators also contribute to the reduction of water hammers and erosion caused by high-speed water droplets.
