Filtration has been used to purify various substances, from water to molten material, for thousands of years. As time goes on, demand for filtered products continues to grow, meaning you are probably looking to increase the capacity of your operation.
Fortunately, components like candle filters were developed to help you achieve just that. Best of all, candle filters can be fabricated from various materials, such as a porous metal filter.
That said, what exactly is a candle filter, and why should you consider one that is constructed out of a porous metal filter?
W.S. Tyler has been weaving tailored wire mesh solutions into a wide range of industries for over 150 years. We strive to help you leverage the capabilities of woven wire mesh to produce products that will meet and exceed customer expectations.
With that, this article was written to establish a core understanding of porous metal candle filters. It will cover:
- The definition of a candle filter
- The porous metal filter specifications used to construct candle filters
- The advantages of using porous metal candle filters
What Is a Candle Filter?
Candle filters are sintered porous metal filters designed to remove specific particles from various substances, such as liquids and gases. Typically made from 316 stainless steel, these filters utilize a sintered multilayer woven wire mesh laminate, referred to as POROSTAR, to deliver staple filtration to high-capacity applications.
To that end, multiple candle filters are used at a time and can be used to filter both low and high-viscosity fluids.
What Specifications Are Used To Make Porous Metal Candle Filters?
With POROSTAR specifically, there are four specifications that can be used: POROSTAR standard, POROSTAR light, POROSTAR Hiflo, and POROSTAR Combi. That said, POROSTAR standard and POROSTAR Hiflo are predominantly used to fabricate porous metal candle filters.
The POROSTAR standard specification is designed for systems with unbalanced loads and is fabricated with either a 5- or 6-layer configuration.
The 5-layer configuration goes as followed: protection layer, filter layer, protection layer, support layer, support layer. The 6-layer configuration goes as followed: protection layer, filtration layer, protection layer, support layer, support layer, drainage layer.
The POROSTAR Hiflo specification is designed to offer superior flow capacity, especially when filter pressure is minimal. It has a 4-layer configuration, each layer with a pore size ranging from 20mm to 100mm.
For a more in-depth breakdown of all the POROSTAR specifications , read the following article:
What Are the Advantages of Using Porous Metal Candle Filters?
Candle filters are commonly outfitted with materials such as ceramic, expanded wire, perforated plate, and sintered wire mesh. This leaves us with the question: what makes sintered porous metal filter media stand out?
First and foremost, its 316 stainless steel construction grants the candle filter the ability to be reused dozens of times. The durability of the material translates to being able to be backflushed and cleaned, resulting in an extended lifespan.
Its stainless steel properties also mean porous metal candle filters can maintain optimal when subjected to extreme heat and highly corrosive environments.
Now, it should be noted that virtually every aspect of the mesh specification used to construct these filters can be customized to accommodate your needs. This, in conjunction to the precise properties of the material, helps system operators maintain lower pressure drop.
All of this, in turn, ultimately feeds into porous metal candle filters having lower maintenance costs.
Implement a Specification Backed by Particle Analysis
Porous metal candle filters are filter components constructed using a sinter wire mesh laminate such as W.S. Tyler’s POROSTAR. When using POROSTAR, the POROSTAR standard and POROSTAR hiflo speciation are more widely used; however, there a four specifications to choose from.
There are many avenues you can take to select a specification that performs. Sending a sample of the particles you are attempting to filter out to a lab is possibly the best way to implement a specification backed by scientific data.
Having worked in both the woven wire and particle analysis for over 150 years, W.S.Tyler strive to be your one-stop-shop for creating industry-leading wire mesh solutions that will help you stand out in the market.
To learn how analyzing the size of the particles begin filtered can benefit your wire mesh journey, read the following article: