Cartridge filtration is one of the most versatile forms of filtration. The standard size makes for many different types of manufactured filter cartridges. The most common size is 2½” OD x 1″ ID with lengths in increments of 10″ up to 40″ in length. The second most common size is 4½” OD x 10″ or 20″ long and are used when more dirt holding capability is needed. For our discussion here, we will stick to the 2½” outside diameter cartridge.
Filter cartridge housings accept single cartridges of to hundreds of cartridges. The housing is sized based on the flow rate, viscosity of liquid, filtration efficiency required and allowable clean differential pressure drop. Many customers will use existing pump pressure. It is important to know all the above information in order to properly size the filter housing.
We at High Purity Northwest skid mount filter housings in custom configurations to solve all sorts of filtration problems. Our skid packages may include pumps, motor/starters or full control panels. We then pick the appropriate cartridge based on the requirement. For instance, I had a customer at a hydroelectric dam that had a enormous amount of algae. We installed a filtration system with strainers and cartridge filters to protect a water cooled bearing. We found that simple string wound filter cartridges did the best job at holding large amounts of algae.
