How to Choose the Right Pleated Filter Cartridge?

As a core component of modern industrial filtration system, pleated filter cartridge is widely used in water treatment, food and medicine, chemical industry, electronic manufacturing and other fields. Its high efficiency filtration performance, long service life and adaptability make it an ideal choice for complex working conditions. However, improper selection of filter element may lead to low filtration efficiency, increased system energy consumption and even equipment damage. This article from the structure, material, performance parameters, application scenarios and other dimensions, to provide a set of scientific selection methodology, combined with examples of analysis, to help customers make accurate decisions.

What is the structure of pleated filter cartridge?

• Membrane: the core filter layer, the material includes polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc., responsible for intercepting impurities.
• Supporting skeleton: mostly made of stainless steel or polyester, to ensure the stability of the membrane and enhance pressure resistance.
• End cap: fix the membrane and the skeleton, the sealing interface design should be matched with the system.
• Filtration mechanism: the folded design maximizes the surface area of the membrane to form a multi-channel vortex, which improves the dirt-holding capacity (up to 15kg/branch) and reduces the pressure loss.

What materials are used for pleated filter cartridge?

1. Material Chemical compatibility Temperature range Applicable scenes

• PP Acid and alkali resistant, not resistant to strong oxidizing agents -10~60℃ Water treatment, air purification (low cost)
• PTFE Strong acid, alkali, organic solvents -200~260℃ High temperature/corrosive environments (e.g., chemical industry)
• PES Resistant to weak acids and alkalis, good hydrophilic ≤ 90℃ Medicine, food (high temperature sterilization)
• PVDF Ozone-resistant, Oxidizing agent -40~140℃ Chemical liquid filtration (oxidation-resistant demand)
• Nylon oil-resistant, weak acid and alkali, high mechanical strength ≤60℃ High-precision pharmaceutical filtration

2. Key factors for material selection

• Chemical compatibility: need to be non-reactive with filtration media (e.g. strong acids, solvents).
• Temperature and pressure: PTFE is preferred for high-temperature environments, and nylon is suitable for high-pressure scenarios.
• Hydrophobic/hydrophilic: PTFE (hydrophobic) for gas filtration, PES or nylon for aqueous solution.
• Performance Parameters: Precise Matching of Quantitative Indicators

Parameters of pleated filter cartridge

1. Filtration precision (0.1~100μm): choose according to the particle size of impurities, such as 0.1~1μm for drinking water and 0.3~10μm for air purification.
2. Flow rate and pressure loss: high flow rate scenarios (such as large flux water treatment) need to choose the flux ≥ 10m³/h cartridge, while the pressure loss needs to be ≤ 0.1MPa to reduce energy consumption.
3. Dirt-holding capacity: reflecting the life of the cartridge, positively correlated with the filtration area, multi-layer folding design can enhance the dirt-holding capacity by more than 30%.
4. Strength indicators: including axial load (anti-deformation), fatigue strength (vibration resistance), etc., stainless steel skeleton cartridge is more suitable for high-pressure pulse environment.

Case 1: A chemical plant needs to filter hydrochloric acid solution at 50℃, with a precision of 5μm and a flow rate of 20m³/h.

Case 2: Food factory aseptic filling line, need 0.2μm sterilization filtration.

What is the application for pleated filter cartridge?

1. Differences in industry requirements

• Water treatment: focus on chlorine resistance (PP material), low pressure loss design, such as reverse osmosis pretreatment.
• Food and medicine: need to comply with FDA/GB standards, non-toxic materials, can be autoclaved (PES/PVDF).
• Electronics industry: high precision (≤0.1μm) filtration to avoid particle contamination of chips.
• Chemical industry: corrosion resistance (PTFE), anti-explosion structure (stainless steel skeleton).

2. Response to special working conditions

• High temperature steam sterilization: choose PTFE or PES material to avoid membrane structure deformation.
• High-viscosity liquid: adopt gradient aperture design to reduce the risk of clogging.

Selection steps: from demand analysis to product verification

1 Systematic selection process

• Define the needs: media type, impurity characteristics, flow rate, temperature and pressure conditions.
• Initial selection of materials: according to chemical compatibility, temperature range to narrow the range.
• Matching parameters: Filtering precision, dirt holding capacity of the model to meet the standards.
• Verify fit: Check interface size (e.g., 2-inch NPT), installation space.
• Cost optimization: Compare life cycle costs to avoid excessive pursuit of high precision.

2 Recommended selection tools

• Parameter comparison table: Compare key indicators of different brands (e.g., 3M™, Pall®).
• Simulation software: Use CFD simulation to predict the relationship between pressure loss and flow.

Installation and Maintenance: Key Practices for Extended Life

1 Key Points for Proper Installation

• Seal Check: Use O-rings (silicone/EPDM) to ensure no leakage.
• Flow direction marking: Strictly follow the fluid direction marked on the cartridge.

2 Maintenance strategy

• Cleaning cycle: Backflushing is required when differential pressure rises by 20% (strong acids/alkalis are prohibited).
• Replacement standard: Replace immediately when the flow rate decreases by 30% or the accuracy is not up to standard.
• Storage standard: avoid light and moisture, unused cartridges need to be sealed packaging.

Common Misconceptions and Pit Avoidance Guide

Misconceptions: Blindly choose high-precision cartridge

• Correction: too high precision will increase pressure loss, according to the actual impurity particle size selection.
• Misunderstanding: Ignore the compatibility of materials and sterilization methods.
• Correction: steam sterilization need to choose high temperature resistant materials (such as PTFE).
• Myth: Decision-making is based on unit price rather than life cycle cost.
• Correction: Calculate the cost per cubic meter of filtration, high dirt-holding capacity cartridge may be more economical.

Future Trend: Technological Innovation and Intelligent Selection

• Material Innovation: Nano-fiber reinforced PP membrane can increase the flux by 80%.
• Intelligent monitoring: built-in sensor real-time feedback pressure loss, flow data.
• Customized service: 3D printing technology to achieve rapid production of non-standard size.

Conclusion

Choosing the right pleated filter cartridge requires comprehensive consideration of material properties, performance parameters, application scenarios and maintenance costs. Through the scientific selection process and accurate matching of parameters, users can significantly improve filtration efficiency, reduce system energy consumption and extend equipment life. With the development of material science and intelligent technology, pleated filter cartridge will show its irreplaceable value in more difficult working conditions.