Energy efficient filtration
April 30th 2007 The new Ultra-Filter industrial range from Donaldson has energy efficiency to the fore.
The flow rate of the compressed air filter covers the range from 35 - 1100m3/h and achieves its efficiency gains through a reduced pressure drop across the filter housing. This is due to the use of new media for the filter and coatings and newly designed ducting that encourages better flow through the filter housing.
Theses advances are patented by Donaldson and signal a major achievement in balancing the diametrically opposed aims of energy efficiency and high levels of filtration efficacy. The question is: how to achieve the desired quality level stipulated in the ISO 8573-1 Standard most economically? Traditionally, if filters are effective, then they have a high pressure drop that increases the energy used by a compressor, but the new design enables lower pressure drops while retaining necessary levels of filtration.
Put into figures: Common market filters demonstrate a pressure loss of 450 to 500 mbar in wetted condition, with the new Ultra-Filters this is only around 250 mbar. This halving can also be calculated approximately in euro and cent: With a flow rate of 1100m3/h the user saves more than 1500 euros per annum on energy costs, if the differential pressure is just 200 mbar lower – severalfold the cost of the whole filter. The investment therefore pays for itself within a few months even including replacing an existing filter housing.
The Ultra-Filter has an economiser that informs the user when is the optimum time to change the filter. The calculation looks at element cost which decreases over time, against energy cost which increases over time. Between these two figures there is an ideal time to change the filter that offers the best value for money.
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