Industrial Basket Strainers: Applications and Selection Criteria
During liquid processing in industrial settings, there is always an unwanted matter which can compromise the integrity of the liquid product. This unwanted matter can be dirt, foreign particles or even clumps of the product. These particles can cause serious problems such as clogging, and equipment damage, which will eventually result to system downtime, and increased operating costs. Industrial basket strainers are suitable for removing impurities from paint, gasoline, chemicals, and other process fluids. These strainers are generally inexpensive solutions, which can effectively protect piping system equipment like meter pumps, spray nozzles, flow meters, condensers and heat exchangers.
Industrial basket strainers are popularly used in a wide range of applications especially those that involve water service systems like irrigation, condensate service, boiler feed pumps, and waste and water treatment. A steel mill is another common setting where basket strainers are most useful, particularly in cooling water for rolling mills and furnaces. Petrochemical production facilities also use basket strainers to lubricate oil, refining crude gasoline. In marine facilities, an industrial basket strainer can assist in filtrating seawater for cooling, cleaning and sanitary purposes. Other common industrial applications include paint, cement, ink, cosmetics, food processing pharmaceutical, and ceramics. Chemical plants and pulp paper production facilities require basket strainer for extensive water coatings and pigments filtration.
In selecting a strainer for specific applications, there are some common factors to always take into account. Some of these factors include the fluid or product to be stained, the pH level of such liquid, the flow rate in GPM, the working and maximum pressure in psi as well as the working and maximum temperature. The strainer’s design and material of construction are also important in determining the right basket strainer product to use. Industrial basket strainers’ material of construction varies depending on the company manufacturing them. The most usual material used for these devices are cast iron, carbon steel or stainless steel. Other considerations that are equally important in getting a specific industrial basket straining unit is the size of the solids, the size of the mesh, the size of the present pipeline and the kind of material the pipe is made from.
The size for a basket strainer’s screen opening is expected to be about 1/3 to 1/2 of the maximum size of the solids allowed to go through. On top of the standard basket strainer model, duplex basket straining models are also offered by several leading manufacturers. These models are composed of two strainers which take turns in blocking and removing unwanted particles in a process flow. Duplex industrial basket strainers are made for applications where flow cannot be shut down, for the purpose of cleaning or draining the strainer screen.
The best types of industrial basket strainers are the ones that tolerate a high pressure drop and require low maintenance. Strainers in industrial applications can vary when it comes to their required cleaning frequency. Some units need daily cleaning, while others weekly and even monthly. High quality basket strainers not only have high pressure rating, they also have quick opening covers, backwash connections and special durable coating. A number of manufacturers also provide fabricating options to clients to meet certain requirements or ratings.