Key elements to consider in liquid filtration

Selecting filtration equipment is the result of many considerations. Installed costs must be weighed against operating costs while waste disposal costs must be considered. Is continuous flow necessary or can the filtration equipment be operated intermittently? Such factors need consideration to ensure the right filtration method is implemented for the application.

When selecting a filter for a particular application, the following criteria should be considered:

  • What is the quality of filtrationrequired?
  • What are the conditions (flow, pressure, temperature) of the process?
  • Is it a continuous or batch process?How large is the batch volume?
  • What are the material characteristics of the solids being removed? (How large are the particles? Is the material hazardous? Can the material being removed be recycled back into the process stream at another point?)
  • What are the waste disposal costs? How often do bags or cartridges need to be replaced? Can the waste volume be reduced or eliminated by switching to a different filtration method?
  • What are the labor and downtime costs for filter or cartridge replacement? Can downtime be minimized by switching to a different filtration method?

Disposal costs for used bags and cartridges are about half of the purchase price. And with hazardous liquids, disposal cost can easily exceed the purchase price. When comparing a bag or cartridge filtration system with a self-cleaning system with permanent, fixed media, these disposal costs should be included in the comparison.

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