What are strainers?
Strainers are devices used in piping systems to remove solid particles and debris from flowing fluids. They are designed to trap unwanted contaminants, such as dirt, scale, rust, and other solids, preventing them from damaging downstream equipment or affecting the quality of the fluid. They are commonly installed upstream of sensitive equipment, such as pumps, valves, meters, and heat exchangers, to protect them from clogging or damage.
Key Features:
- Construction: Consist of a perforated or mesh-lined basket or screen enclosed within a housing. The housing may be made of materials such as cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, or plastic, depending on the application and the type of fluid being filtered.
- Operation: When fluid flows through the piping system, it enters the strainer housing, where the solid particles are captured by the screen or basket. The filtered fluid then exits through an outlet port, leaving behind the trapped contaminants.
- Types: There are several types of strainers available, including simplex (single-basket), duplex (dual-basket), and Y-strainers. Simplex strainers are used for applications where temporary shutdowns for cleaning are acceptable, while duplex strainers allow for continuous operation by diverting flow between two baskets. Y-strainers have a Y-shaped body and are particularly suitable for applications with limited space or low flow rates.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Periodic cleaning and maintenance are essential to ensure the proper functioning of strainers. Depending on the type and the nature of the contaminants, cleaning may involve removing the basket or screen, rinsing it with water or solvent, and reinstalling it in the housing.
Uses:
Strainers find application across a wide range of industries and processes where the removal of solid particles from flowing fluids is essential. Some common applications include:
- Water Treatment: They are used in municipal water treatment plants and industrial water systems to remove suspended solids, debris, and sediment from raw water before it enters the treatment process.
- Petrochemical Industry: In refineries and petrochemical plants, they are installed in pipelines to protect pumps, compressors, and other equipment from damage caused by contaminants such as rust, scale, and catalyst fines.
- Chemical Processing: They play a crucial role in chemical processing plants by removing solid particles and impurities from process fluids, ensuring the purity and quality of chemical products.
- Oil and Gas Industry: Are used in upstream and downstream oil and gas operations to remove sand, scale, and other debris from production fluids, as well as to protect instrumentation and control valves from fouling.
- Power Generation: They are installed in power plants, including fossil fuel, nuclear, and renewable energy facilities, to protect boilers, condensers, turbines, and heat exchangers from damage caused by debris and sediment in cooling water and steam systems.
Description:
- Available materials: Carbon Steel, CF8, CF8M, CF3M, Cast Iron, SS304, SS316
- Class: 125 to 300
- Nominal Pressure: PN6 to PN25
- Size: ½” to 32”.
- Ends: Buttweld, Flanged, Socket weld, Threaded
