Inline Basket Strainer: Meeting Expected Designs and Performance
An inline basket strainer is designed to seize and remove particles and contaminants from process products like water, petroleum and various chemicals. Its main benefit is to safeguard the other important components like valve, pumps, spray nozzles and homogenizers present in the piping system. Basket strainers with in-line construction are models that can be easily installed into existing lines.
Basket strainers are ideal for large surface areas, and are now manufactured according to standard or custom specifications depending on client demands. The two basket strainer construction types are simplex and duplex. The simplex design refers to the use of one basket strainer, while the duplex classification means two basket strainers are attached and used alternatively to avoid operation downtime due to cleaning. Most inline basket strainers are produced using carbon or stainless steel material. These materials are proven to be reliable, durable, and easily maintained. Stainless steel is also known for having high corrosion and chemical resistance. Other common materials used in making the body or housing of basket strainers are brass, cast iron, bronze and forged steel.
An inline basket strainer product must fulfill certain design characteristics in order to be considered a high quality model. Strainers that are meant to be used in industrial applications must be engineered to become strong and robust. Its body design and screen must meet stringent process requirements in various manufacturing facilities for industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and petroleum.
The basket section of a strainer is the part responsible for holding the particles. Thus, the basket’s opening size should be large enough to maximize dirt holding capacity. However, the basket’s design and dimensions should not induce any kind of restriction to the flow of products.
Inline basket strainer models in the market today can have single length and double length configurations. The models also come with different straining elements such as wire mesh overscreens, wedge wire, pleated mesh, perforated basket and filter socks. In terms of connecting the basket strainer to the pipe network, the most common connection styles are flanged end and screwed. Operators who intend to use inline basket strainers for filtration of aggressive or corrosive fluids, should seriously consider getting units that have special protective coatings and linings that are made of rubber or PTFE.
High quality inline basket strainer units offer flexibility when it comes to installation. Aside from their main course filtration function, they are also made to provide low operating pressure drop. In terms of maintenance, the best models of basket strainer allow easy access for cleaning and repair. Therefore using this kind of strainer ultimately reduces maintenance costs.
To compare and rate one inline basket strainer product to another, operators should look into the testing and inspection standards that manufacturers make products undergo before selling them to the public. Inspection standards include evaluation of the strainer’s dimensions, the engineering methods used, and the material procurement process. Some of the important tests used to measure and predict the basket strainers’ performance during actual process applications include the magna flux test, radiography, the hydraulic test at a high working pressure environment, the seat leak test and the pressure drop versus flow rate test.