Getting to Know Cartridge Filters
Getting to Know Cartridge Filters
Getting to Know Cartridge Filters: Cartridge filters are generally used for prefiltration in pure water systems. In such systems, the makeup water passes through the cartridge filters to remove suspended contaminants rated in the range of one micron and five microns. A micron is 1 millionth of a meter or 0.00003937 inches. As a comparison, the width of a human hair is greater than 27 microns.
Cartridge Filter Basics
Cartridge filters themselves are complex systems. Some basic information helpful to understanding them include:
- the different types of cartridge filters available
- the differences between surface filters and depth filters
- pore size ratings
- how to exchange cartridges
- how operating variables affect filtration
- the use of carbon filter cartridges
- Pleated Cartridge filter products
- Depth Cartridge filter products
Cartridge Filtration
The next step in getting to know cartridge filters is to understand the process of filtration. Filtration is the process or removing suspended particles from a substance such as a fluid, liquid, or gas by passing the substance through a porous or semi-permeable medium. The substance passes through, but the suspended particles are trapped in the medium. Suspended particles are classified as any undissolved, solid matter. (Examples are sand, silt, clay, and even particles that come from the piping itself, such as rust.) Filtration can also remove bacteria from a liquid.
There are several different types of cartridge filters. Cartridge filters come in different sizes (diameter and length), different media designs (string-wound, pleated, melt-blown, etc.), different materials of construction (cotton, polypropylene, etc.), different pore size ratings (nominal and absolute), and different end connection designs (Code O, Code F, etc.).