Cartridge Filters
A cartridge filter is a type of filtration tool primarily used in liquid filtration, as well as sediment filtration. It is tasked with the job of making sure that dirt, debris and other impurities in fluid are caught and held inside it, rather than passing through and continuing to contaminate the surrounding liquid. Similar filters include bag filters, Y strainers and disc filters. First invented in the 1960’s, cartridge filters are useful in a wide variety of liquid and gaseous filtration applications alike.
Quick links to Cartridge Filters Information
Benefits of Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters are excellent investments for a number of reasons. First, they are incredibly easy to use. Straightforward, they require no difficult installation processes and they have no moving parts. Likewise, they are very easy to clean and/or dispose of. In addition, they are highly porous and effective. Typically, they filter anything between 5 and 10 micrometers in size and they are highly efficient during the filtration of any environments with contamination levels that are lower than 100 ppm. For more detailed information on cartridge filters, visit the websites of one or more of the many excellent filter providers listed on this page. To learn how your application might be served and to get information regarding pricing, call, email or fax one of those same experienced and reputable manufacturers.
Design of Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters are composed quite simply; they contain filter media, a filter, or receptacle that holds the filter media and end caps. The filter media can be made of any number of materials, depending on the requirements posed by the liquid that is being filtered, such as the size of the particles the liquid carries. If a filter is needed to catch larger particles, then it can be more porous, as its openings do not have to be as small. If, on the other hand, the materials that the filter must hold are rather small, then the filter media must be smaller as well. In the same way, the nature of the filter media chosen impacts the nature of the filter itself. For example, a highly permeable cartridge filter, or one that allows larger particles to pass through, has a higher flow rate than similar filters that stop and hold onto even the smallest of particles. Regardless, however, most often, the filter media is made up of some sort of polyester material. In addition, the media is always pleated, or tightly folded, so as to allow for greater amounts of media material to be used in a small space. Examples of filter media used in cartridge filters include: pleated polypropylene net, thermally bonded polypropylene microfibers, washed polypropylene yarn, polypropylene fleece, polyester felt activated charcoal, nylon, metal mesh, stainless steel mesh, woven mesh, cloth, paper and a variety of poly thermoplastics. The cartridge filter end caps are usually composed of a plastic and the media receptacle is usually made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The shapes, sizes and placements of cartridge filters are determined by their individual applications. For instance, when used in swimming pools, cartridge filters are almost always cylindrically shaped, smaller and placed strategically close to the water pump. Here, the filter is easily accessed, easily inspected and, if need be, easily removed. In general, though, cartridge filters are usually sized in length between 5 inches and 40 inches.
Types of Cartridge Filters
If and when a cartridge filter is removed, it is either done so for cleaning purposes or replacement purposes, depending on the design of the filter. Some cartridge filters, such as those that belong in pools, are designed to be reusable. To do so, users simply remove them, clean them, refill them with a new filter and then put them back. Reusable cartridge filters are especially useful in applications where there is less contamination for them to dredge up. This is why reusable filters are more popular with pools, which tend to have lower levels of residual contaminants. In other cases, however, filters can become much more dirty and more difficult to clean, not to mention difficult to access. In those cases, users tend to use cartridge filters that are disposable. Filters such as these, aka disposable filters, come prefilled with filter media that is only good for a certain number of uses.
Cartridge Filter Applications
Liquid filtration applications of cartridge filters include: hydraulic fluid filtration, chemical filtration, petrochemical filtration, cosmetics filtration, pharmaceutical filtration and water filtration. Meanwhile gaseous filtration applications include: dust and atmospheric dust removal, smoke and fume removal/containment and compressed air filtering. Of all their applications, cartridge filters are most popular for use in swimming pools, hot tubs and spas.