Do you have heavy sediment or large volume of scale, debris, sand, or grit needing to be removed from your water filtration system? Selecting the right mesh filter element for your sediment filter or separator starts with having a good understanding of what is on the market and what they remove from water.
Click here to get more.
Water mesh filter elements are specifically designed to remove large volumes of sediment. In this blog, we will be going over four things to consider when selecting a mesh filter element.
Housing Selection
Part of selecting an element is determining what housing you have or need. If you already have one installed, the size is listed on the inlet and outlet. When installing a new one, knowing the desired flow rate greatly helps! Check out our &#;What is the Typical Household Water Flow Rate&#; blog for more on determining flow rates.
Flow rates in sediment filters and separators have a wide flow rate overlap between sizes. For example, a 1&#; filter housing has a flow rate of 1-25 GPM and a 1-1/2&#; filter housing has a flow rate of 10-50 GPM. If your flow rate is within the range, it&#;s best to go with a smaller size to ensure the centrifugal force is adequate to separate the sand from the water. That would mean that if your desired flow rate is 20 GPM a 1&#; filter housing would be more effective.
Element Type
Elements come in two different styles, filter and separator. They both work the same way, the difference being that separators allow for more sediment to build up before it needs to be purged. Our "Understanding Sediment Filters & Separators" blog goes over the difference in more detail.
Depending on the size of the housing the filter may look different. For 1&#; housings the filters look the same between filters and separators whereas for a 1-1/2&#; and 2&#; housing, the filter has a shorter screened area and a stem holding the filter part up which gives room for the sediment to build up at the bottom. The image shows a filter element on the left and a separator element on the right for a 1-1/2" or 2" housing.
Mesh Material
There are two main mesh materials, polyester and stainless steel. Polyester mesh is manufactured from non-corrosive material and is ultraviolet stabilized / weather resistant. Stainless steel mesh is manufactured from 316 stainless steel and is non-corrosive and durable.
Stainless steel will hold up better to sharp sediment and particles as they won&#;t rip the material. In the past polyester was the more economical option but that has changed making them both very economical options.
Mesh Size
Selecting the mesh size required is determined by what needs to be removed from the water. When talking about filtration there is different terminology that defines the size of things that will be removed. The equivalency chart below shows the comparison between the different terminologies.
The opening is the size of space between material that water and particles can pass through. The number of openings in one square inch of screen is called the mesh size. The micron rating is the distance between filter media. &#;Water Filters &#; The Basics on Micron Ratings&#; goes over this in more detail.
When using a sediment filter or separator as a pre-filter for other water filtration products, make sure that the mesh size is equivalent to a larger micron rating. For example if your filter is 80 micron you would want to use a mesh size of 140 or smaller.
To give you an idea of some common sizes, scale may be removed by using a 24 mesh element whereas sand is smaller and would require a mesh element with a 100 rating or even higher.
Determining the amount of sand / sediment that needs to be removed will help determine the element that is right for you. No matter which element you choose it can be removed and cleaned with a soft brush. Soaking the element in 50/50 bleach and water solution will help remove stains caused by iron, etc. Be sure to rinse the element thoroughly before it is installed again. Now you have a better understanding of what goes into choosing a water mesh filter element and what the options are.
Have further questions about this subject?
Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more.
One of the pillars of Jason Mills&#; knit fabrics product line is polyester mesh. This versatile material is used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, ranging from the aerospace and automotive sectors to the marine and medical sectors as well as the indoor and outdoor recreational trade.
The following article provides an overview of polyester mesh, discussing its properties, advantages, and applications. It also outlines the differences between polyester and nylon mesh and the importance of fabric finishing and treatment in achieving a particular end-use outcome or performance.
An Overview of Polyester Mesh Fabric
The term &#;knit mesh fabric&#; is a general expression used to describe material that is constructed with an open hole structure through the process of knitting (as opposed to weaving which is separate operation). Beyond this broad characteristic, the design of a specific knit mesh material can vary from others in regard to yarn, material weight, aperture opening, width, color, and finish. Polyester yarn is one of the most commonly used fibers in the manufacture of knit mesh fabric.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Huaqiang.
Polyester consists of flexible, synthetic polymer fibers created through a chemical reaction between alcohol, carboxylic acid, and a petroleum byproduct. The resulting fibers are then stretched and oriented together to form a strong yarn that naturally repels water, resists staining, ultraviolet degradation, and holds up to frequent use. (Please note, water-resistance and other properties inherent in polyester yarn must be enhanced within the finishing process if it is necessary for the performance of the material. This is discussed in greater detail below.)
&#;
&#;
Properties and Advantages of Polyester Mesh Fabric
Compared to other mesh materials, polyester fabric exhibits a number of advantageous properties that make it suitable for use in a variety of industrial, commercial, and recreational applications, such as:
- Ease of use and accessibility. Polyester is a common fiber available at most textile manufacturing facilities. When treated with a light resin the mesh material is easy to install (sew) and clean, thus reducing excess time and labor required for its integration and maintenance.
- Dimensional stability. Polyester fibers demonstrate good elasticity, which allows the material to return to its original shape after it is stretched by up to 5&#;6%. It&#;s important to note that mechanical stretch is different from fiber stretch. One can design hi-stretch material using dimensionally stable yarns.
- Durability. Polyester mesh fabric is highly resilient, offering inherent resistance to damage and degradation stemming from acidic and alkaline chemicals, corrosion, flames, heat, light, mold and mildew, and wear. Factors such a yarn weight (denier), entanglement, and filament count all are critical in determining durability.
- Hydrophobicity: Polyester mesh is hydrophobic&#;i.e., tends to repel water&#;which translates to superior pigment absorption (meaning easier dyeing operations- as opposed to type 6 or 66 nylon) and drying times (meaning better moisture-wicking properties).
Altogether, these characteristics suit the material for use in a wide range of applications, including ones involving outdoor and demanding environmental conditions.
Fabric Applications
As indicated above, polyester mesh fabric is highly versatile. Some of the industries that regularly employ the material for their parts and products include:
The exact properties exhibited by the polyester mesh fabric employed depend on the needs of the application and industry.
Knit mesh fabric is most commonly made from either polyester or nylon yarns. While the two synthetic polymers share some properties&#;e.g., lightweight, durability, and tear resistance&#;there are several key distinctions that make them suitable for different applications.
- Nylon has a smoother and softer feel than polyester, which in some situations makes it more ideal for use in applications requiring high aesthetic quality or user comfort. But, as noted above, other factors such as a high filament count can make polyester just as drapey as soft nylon.
- Nylon is hydrophilic (absorbs water), while polyester is hydrophobic (repels water). As such, the former is more likely to be bogged down with water in high-moisture or high-humidity environments, while the latter dries quickly in marine and aquatic settings.
- Nylon fibers are innately resistant to wear from bending and stretching, while polyester fibers are inherently resistant to heat and UV rays. These qualities make nylon mesh more suitable for applications where the material will be regularly subjected to bending and stretching, and polyester mesh more suitable for end uses where stability is key and for environments exposed to heat and sunlight. And again, it needs to be noted that these inherent qualities are basic at best. Finishing and treatment are key to performance. See below.
The Importance of Fabric Finishing and Treatment
The functional and aesthetic properties demonstrated by a polyester mesh fabric are dependent upon many factors. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the final stages of textile production, otherwise known as &#;the finish&#;. The finish is typically a topically applied chemical that is set by heat during the process called framing. Once completed, these processes can affect the texture, weight, firmness, colorfastness, and resistances (UV, fire, etc.) of the final material.
As indicated above, the properties exhibited by a fully finished and treated polyester mesh fabric vary depending on the needs of the application and the industry. Some examples include:
- Antibacterial finishes: Topically applied anti-microbial finishes eliminate bacterial growth on the surface of the fabric. Bacteria growth creates odor and is also responsible for various healthcare-associated infections. This makes the need for these types of finishes essential for equipment used in the medical and healthcare industries. They are also suitable for sporting equipment as they minimize the spread of odor-causing bacteria.
- Anti-static finishes: In operations involving sensitive electrical and electronic components, it is important to minimize the buildup of static charge. Fabrics with anti-static coatings reduce the risk of employees and equipment producing static discharge that impacts the integrity of the components.
- UV resistant finishes: Untreated material exposed to UV rays fades and degrades over time. As such, polyester mesh intended for use in outdoor environments (e.g., recreational equipment) requires the addition of UV inhibitors to the fabric finish or dye formulation to retain the original integrity.
- Fire Resistant finishes: One of the most commonly used finishes; used to achieve FR compliance in the automotive industry, aeronautical industry, and architectural interior industry (think curtains and indoor rec areas).
Jason Mills: The Experts in Polyester Mesh Fabric Solutions
Polyester knit mesh is a material solution that finds use across a wide range of industrial, commercial, and recreational sectors. Its strength, stability, and durability make it well-suited for many applications. For customers looking for high-quality polyester mesh fabric, the team at Jason Mills is here to help.
At Jason Mills, we specialize in the manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution of industrial polyester and nylon knit mesh. We offer a broad selection of standard textiles and custom-tailored fabric solutions for customers with highly specific or unique needs. For additional information about our standard and custom textiles, contact us or request a quote today.
Share this:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Polyester Filter Mesh.
All Comments ( 0 )