Marco Mietta, Head of R&..

jYat SaatiTech SpA, Italy discusses a

new system to test monofilament
pass particle

woven meshes, using a single-

counting method.

ne of the main

put onto a derivation of the main circuit

properties

with subsequently

of woven

The testing flow rate is 60 ml/min

tion is their precise

corresponding

and geometrical

surface of the filter (i.e. the crossing

opening that assures selective particle

to lcm3/cm2min

at the

speed is 1 cm/mm).

cut off. The woven media should filter

all the contaminant

reduced flow rate).

meshes used in filtra-

The final 40mg/l concentration

particles larger than

the contaminant

of

is obtained by mixing

its pore size and practically none of the

the primary flow of pure water with

smaller dimensions.

another smaller flow of contaminated

SaatiTech S.p.A.,

a manufacturer

and

water streaming from a secondary tank

distributor

of precision woven meshes

in which it is shaken by mechanical

throughout

the world, has developed a

ultrasonic mixers.

and

new in house testing system (Figure 1)

RESULTS

to evaluate the filtration efficiency of

synthetic monofilament

woven meshes

As the contaminant is not homogenous

by particle counting. This enables the

in size but covers an assigned dimen-

checking of filtration efficiency for

internal production

sional range, the filtration efficiency can

purposes at SaatiTech.

thickness up to 300 microns. It is inserted

be expressed in relation to the particle size

in an hydraulic circuit filled with water,

as shown in the examples below.

THE EQUIPMENT

contaminated

A testing machine using the particle

of latex beads, whose sizes range from 2 to

counting technique

is not at all an

by an assigned concentration

I20 microns (see the distribution

curve

A first result is displayed in Figure 4. In

this case, the points of the filtration curves
are simply calculated by the ratio of the

shown in Figure 2). All these conditions are

counts of all particles larger than the

particle counting are carried out on the

quite general and the wide-range

assigned value. It may be useful to evaluate

final product (like a filter cartridge)

contaminant

innovation. Many of the tests performed

by

calling

for well defined values of working flow

rate, concentration
geometry

of contaminant

so as to exactly reproduce

and
the

items with different mesh openings.

As described in Figure 3, SaatiTechs
testing machine is based on a single-pass
configuration

real filter life.

of

sizes allow SaatiTech to test

(where every contaminant

the response of the filter working in a fluid

with a wide contaminant
distribution

dimensional

(2).

In this case, comparison

with a non-

woven mesh clearly shows the difference:

particle passes only once through the filter).

the more uniform pore size of the woven

order to test the woven filter media instead

After being counted before and after the

mesh ensures a better result especially for

of a finished product. The media is tested in

filter (I), the particles are totally removed

contaminant particles larger than the

general conditions,

by a set of 0.1 micron rated filters.

nominal size of the mesh (i.e. 21 pm).

SaatiTech has optimized the system in

reproduceable

giving significant and

results showing what could

be defined as the average behaviour of the

filter mesh.
The objective is to understand correctly

Although a differential pressure gauge is

The second result, shown in Figure 5,

put in the circuit, the test is normally quite

describes the rate of filtration efficiency in

short (30 minutes) and the pressure drop

relation to a set of 2-I.tm wide ranges of

does not show relevant changes. The two

particle sizes. In this case, every single rate

the average mean value of filtration

Hiac-Royce,

efficiency much more than to study the

counters work simultaneously

filter life and the saturation (these values

programmable

depend on the final use of the filter). The

They are placed online which means that

example, the range 18-2Opm),

chosen shape for the sample is a simple, flat

the entire flow rate passes through the

those referring

disk with a POmm diameter and a fabric

media (in larger systems, they are normally

an assigned size (e.g. 18 pm).

26

March

2000

laser diode array particle

with 8

channels (particle sizes).

of filtration efficiency is calculated upon the

upstream and downstream particle numbers
ranking onlyin a specific range (for
instead of

to all particles larger than

Filtration+SeparaOion

1,

from cmn~

couij&

vs. mwtxclesize rangg

(Sample: SAATIFIL@ PE$ M/13)

From SaatiTechs point of view, it is

interesting

to simulate the response

filter against particles

as large as the pore

size, in order to understand

effectiveness

of the

the true

of the monofilament

woven

can be tested include items with pore sizes

NOTES

ranging from 30-40 microns down to the

Note (1): Starting from these counts, the

practical limit of synthetic woven meshes,

Filtration Efficiency [%] is simply

calculated as 100 * (Nl -N2) / Nl

which is near 5 microns.

The testing conditions are as general as

Note (2): In this case, the level of

mesh, which, in theory, should allow a

possible, because the main goal is to test the

information

very sharp cut-off near its nominal

filter media as itself (flat sample of woven

obtained by the so called Beta-Ratio

is the same as the one

opening, due to its accurate and consistent

mesh) apart from the possible final use of

which is usually used in association with

geometry.

the product, which in theory might remain

the results of a fine-grade dust

unknown as far as SaatiTech is concerned.

contamination.

18 / 13, although the filtration efficiency

All this information

particle size, Beta-Ratio

value is not so high when taking into

offer the customer woven filter media with

the ratio Nl /N2, where Nl and N2 are

consideration

a filtration behaviour which is always well

respectively

aligned to the declared filter rating and

downstream cumulative particle counts

As demonstrated

geometrical

for Saatifil@ PES

particles below the average

pore size (18 pm), it becomes

allows SaatiTech to

Referring

to an assigned
is defined as

the upstream and

much higher when approaching this limit

makes it possible to calibrate its entire

(no. of all particles having an equal or

and then practically reaches 100% when the

family of low-pore-size

larger dimension than indicated).

particle dimension is larger than the widest

according to practical testing results, which

pore of the mesh.

are very close to the final application.

CONCLUSIONS

ACKNOWEDCMENTS

filter meshes

Contact: Saatikh
SaatiTech has developed a new system to

SaatiTech wishes to thankA.E.A.

test its monofilament

A.M. Instruments

woven meshes, using

the single-pass particle counting method.

The most interesting

range of products that

Filtration+Separation

Srl and

Srl for the equipment

and the particle counters.

SpA, Via Como 14,1-22070,

Veniano, Ita+;
Tel: i-39 031 891333;
Fax: i-39 031 890482;
E-mail: info@atitech.saati.it;
www.saati.it/saatitech

March

2000

27