PRINCIPAL TYPES OF HYDRAULIC OIL FILTRATION MEDIA
In the filtration world, the media is a term used to any material used to filter particles/contaminants out of a fluid flow. There are four principal types used to remove particles/contaminants in hydraulic applications;
Synthetic Filtration Media
As a high efficiency media, synthetic fibers are handcrafted, straight, rounded and provide the minimum resistance to flow. Their coherent shape ensures for control of the fiber size and deploy pattern along the media to create the smoothest, least inhibited fluid flow. Coherence of fiber shape allows the maximum amount of contaminant-catching surface area and specific pore size control. The result is media with foreseeable filtration efficiencies removing mentioned contaminants and maximum dirt holding capacity.
Cellulose Filtration Media
Cellulose fibers are basically wood fibers and held together by resin. Cellulose often has lower beta ratings, that means there are smaller pores in the media. Fibers are disordered in both shape and size. Smaller media pores cause more flow resistance, obtained higher pressure drop. While cellulose provides effective filtration for a wide range of petroleum-base fluids, in specific applications it results in poor filtration performance as compared to synthetic media.
Water Absorbing Filtration Media
Water absorbing media quickly and effectively removes free water from hydraulic oil. Using super-absorbing polymer technology with a high affinity for water absorbing, this media relieves many of the problems associated with water contamination found in fluids.
Wire-Mesh and Chrome Felt Filtration Media
Wire-mesh media consists of stainless steel, epoxy-coated wire mesh available in mesh sizes:
100 mesh allows 150 microns
200 mesh allows 74 microns
325 mesh allows 44 microns
400 mesh allows 37 microns
Metal fibers allows 20 to down till 5 microns.
Commonly, wire-mesh filters will be applied to catch very large particulates that would rip up a normal filter. Also, this media beneficial as a coarse filter in viscous fluid applications.