Piping Strainers (or filters) arrest debris such as scale, rust, jointing compound, and weld metal in pipelines, protecting equipment and processes. A strainer is a device that provides a means of mechanically removing solids from a flowing fluid or gas in a pipeline by utilizing a perforated or mesh straining element. Pipe Strainers are very important components in piping systems to protect costly equipment from potential damage caused by foreign particles carried by the process fluid. Piping Strainers are also known as Strainer Filters.
Types of Pipes | Classification of ...
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Types of Pipes | Classification of Pipes (PDF)The following figure shows various types of pipe strainers normally used in Pump or Compressor Suction lines in the process piping industry.
Various types of Pump StrainersFig.1: Example of a typical StrainerTo ensure against the untimely shutdown of equipment, strainers should be installed ahead of pumps, loading valves, control valves, meters, steam traps, turbines, compressors, solenoid valves, nozzles, pressure regulators, burners, unit heaters, and other sensitive equipment. The most common range of strainer particle retention is 1 inch to 40 microns (0.00156 inches ).
Even though static equipment is normally not considered as that sensitive, still sometimes strainers are installed near the following equipment.
For the following sensitive and vibration-prone equipment use of a strainer is a must.
Depending on the use, two types of strainers are found in industries.
These strainers will be installed permanently in the piping system. Examples of permanent strainers are
This type of strainer got its name from the shape as it resembles the alphabet “Y”. They are low-cost strainers and are used in pressurized lines with low debris or foreign particle concentration. They can be installed in horizontal or vertical lines keeping the filtering element towards the ground. As the retaining capacity of Y-Strainers (Fig. 2) are normally small, they must be cleaned frequently.
Fig. 2: Figure showing an example of a typical Y-type StrainerBasket Strainers or Bucket Strainers are closed vessels with a filter screen inside them. They have a high capacity to retain foreign particles and are hence widely used. Basket strainers (Fig. 3) are used only in horizontal lines; mostly for liquid services with high flow capacity. Bucket strainers can be independently supported like equipment in case their weight is more, or they can be supported inline from pipe supports. As they resemble the alphabet “T” of the English language, they are often termed as T-Strainers.
Basket Strainers are of three types
Basket filters can be easily cleaned by opening the top cover. Duplex Basket strainers are cleaned online when the pipeline is in operation simply by diverting the flow to the other filter.
Automatic strainers have self-cleaning baskets that are controlled by using pressure drop settings or times; Hence, the cleaning operation is never interrupted.
Temporary strainers are used for a small period of time. Examples of temporary strainers are
Refer to Fig. 4 which shows typical cone and truncated cone-type temporary strainers.
Fig. 4: Typical Temporary StrainersStrainers or filters are normally designed following the below-mentioned International Standards:
Depending on the pipe strainer type, symbols for pipe strainers are also different. Common pipe strainer symbols are shown below in Fig. 5.
Fig. 5: Pipe Strainer SymbolsThe body of the strainer can be made from
Common materials used for the strainer body are iron, steel, stainless steel, bronze, chrome molly, and plastics.
Strainers internal must be corrosion resistant and they have to be in contact with dirt or debris continuously. Common materials used are
Strainers are connected to piping by the following end connection types
Two types of screens used in strainers :
Perforated screens or strainers are formed by punching a large number of holes in a flat sheet of the required material using multiple punches. These are relatively coarse screens and hole sizes typically range from 0.8 mm to 3.2 mm
Fine wire is formed into a grid or mesh arrangement. This is then commonly layered over a perforated screen, which acts as a support cage for the mesh.
While selecting the proper mesh size the following factors must be considered.
Nowadays various strainer options are available to the user like
The success of a specific type of pipe strainer solely depends on the proper selection of the piping strainer. The main parameters that affect the piping strainer selection process are:
Note that, purchasing a spare pipe strainer is always a good engineering practice to avoid unnecessary delays in cleaning and installation for line operation.
Dimensions of pipe strainers vary with respect to flange rating, end connection, and pipe strainer types. For flanged piping strainers, with an increase in flange rating the dimension and weight increase. Normally, the pipe strainer dimensions are vendor specific. This is the reason during the initial stages of piping design the length of piping strainers is kept as hold in piping isometrics. Later, when the specific vendor data is available the same is updated in piping isometrics and adjustments are made in piping length. The following table provides some typical pipe strainer dimensions and weights for Y-type and Basket-type strainers as samples. However, Final vendor details need to be verified.
Pipe Size (Inch)Pressure ratingY Type Strainer Length- Flange face to Flange Face (mm)Y Type Pipe Strainer Weight (Kg)Basket Strainer Length- Flange face to Flange Face (mm)Basket Pipe Strainer Weight (Kg)1/2″1501703 3/4″1501703.522471″1501855.522513.51-1/2″15027010240192″1502751631527.53″1503603036546.54″15043550445706″150560926001678″15065518071531010″15088034085555012″1509703851015600 1/2″3001753.5 – –3/4″3001754.52247.51″3001956.523214.51-1/2″30027511.524521.52″3003151832129.53″30040535.5375494″30049065.5455926″3005821256202258″30073023374040510″30091042089065512″30010704451050700Table 1: Pipe Strainer dimensionsNowadays, the terms filter and strainer are used interchangeably in industries. However, there are differences between the two. The main differences between a Filter and a Strainer are tabulated belowFilterStrainerA device that eliminates unwanted particles from the fluid is known as a filter.Strainer also serves the same function.The filtering medium in a filter is normally disposable.Strainer uses a Reusable filter that is used again after cleaning.The Filters normally filter out smaller particles (smaller than 40 microns).Strainers remove comparatively larger particles ( larger than 40 microns)Normally filters remove elements invisible to the naked eye.Dirt removed by strainers is visible.Filters remove particles by obstruction as well as chemical action.Strainers remove particles by construction only.Filters use soft media on hard surfaces to remove contaminants.Strainers use hard mesh or rigid materials to remove debris.Table 2: Filters vs Strainers
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