Excellent durability of sintered mesh screens for high temperature applications

Sintered metal media have shown excellent particle removal efficiency, consistent filtration performance, suitable backwash capability, and long on-stream service. The sintered mesh filters offer particulate hold efficiency of 99.9% using surface or depth media. Considering the filtration efficiency, other essential factors are corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, cake release and prolong on-stream service life. These factors are critical to conducting successful, economical operations. The service life of such filter systems will be based on mesh’s particulate holding capacity and related pressure drop. This accumulating cake can be regularly removed by using a blowback cycle. The suitability of the blowback cycle and filter pressure drop recovery is a major function of the properties of the accumulating particles in the cake and filter media.

Sintered metal mesh can be considered as semi-permanent media. A benefit of the metallic filters is their welability to hardware to acquire strong sealed joints. The media can withstand pressure spikes without any evidence of media migration. The inherent toughness of the metal filters fives continuous, back pulsed service for long periods. For elevated temperature applications, other factors considered are creep-fatigue interactions and high temperature corrosion mechanisms. Filters with sintered mesh are economical that need minimal operator intervention and occasional maintenance.

Filters with permanent structure of sintered mesh can be cleaned in numerous ways without media migration. The selection of suitable corrosion resistant alloy for particle elimination assures liquid purity or gas separation. In-situ cleaning of process filters is performed by using liquid or gas backwash. Chemical cleaning with compatible materials or ultrasonic cleaning in a detergent solution will eliminate insoluble contaminants from inside the filter media. Sintered mesh screens are made using variety of corrosion resistant alloys such as Stainless steel 316l, 304l, Hastelloy B, C22, C276, Inconel 600, 625, Monel 400 and Nickel 200.

Filters equipped with sintered mesh screens can serve up to 950oC depending on alloy type and service conditions. The sintered metal elements can be supplied to withstand differential pressures above 210 bar. These elements create permanent media to deal with pressure spikes without media migration. Single or multi-layered construction are used with every layer consisted of widely different diameter fibers to attain required performance such as pressure drop, filtration efficiency, particle loading capacity and media strength. Sintered multi-layered mesh screens have a gradual design to hold dirt particles better and hence providing longer life. The ultimate filter rating is determined by the weight per used layer, the fiber composition of the layer and combination of innumerable layers. The availability of a high porous structure provides higher permeability and hence minimum pressure drop.

The characteristics of metal fiber filters, produced from different metal alloys, for gas filtration applications enable the use in extensive conditions such as high temperature, high pressure and corrosive conditions. The major advantages of sintered metal filters are: strength, high pressure and temperature capabilities, high thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, cleanability and prolong service life.