FAQ - Filters
Clean process media help protect regulators, valves, analysers and measuring equipment. Below we answer frequently asked questions about instrumentation filters, high-pressure filters, coalescing filters and filtration components supplied by Ingenieursburo Gommer.
The range includes inline particulate filters, tee-type filters, high-pressure filters, coalescing filters, membrane filters, filter housings and replaceable filter elements. View Filters, Filter Housings and Filter Elements on the Gommer website.
Particles can damage regulator seats, scratch valve sealing surfaces, obstruct small orifices and contaminate analysers. Appropriate filtration can improve reliability and extend equipment life.
The housing contains process pressure and provides the connections. The element performs the actual separation. The housing is selected for pressure, temperature and compatibility; the element for filtration performance and contaminant type.
A micron is one thousandth of a millimetre. A micron rating describes the particle size associated with the filter's retention performance and must be interpreted together with whether the rating is nominal, absolute or based on a defined efficiency test.
A nominal rating indicates removal of a substantial percentage of particles around the stated size, while an absolute rating is tied to a more specific maximum-particle or efficiency criterion. Manufacturer definitions should always be checked.
No. Finer filtration usually increases pressure drop and can shorten service life when contamination load is high. The correct filter is fine enough to protect downstream equipment without creating unnecessary restriction.
The required filtration depends on regulator seat design and process cleanliness. Instrumentation regulators frequently benefit from a relatively fine particulate filter upstream. View Regulators on the Gommer website.
Sintered-metal elements are manufactured from metal particles bonded together to create a controlled porous structure. They are robust, temperature-resistant and can often be cleaned and reused.
Wire-mesh elements use woven metallic mesh to retain particles. They are typically used where relatively coarse filtration, low pressure drop and cleanability are important.
A coalescing filter removes fine liquid droplets from a gas stream. Small aerosol droplets combine within the filter medium into larger droplets that can drain from the housing.
Typical applications include removing oil aerosol, water droplets, compressor carry-over and fine liquid mist. A coalescing filter does not automatically remove all vapour-phase contaminants.
A membrane filter uses a thin selective porous membrane. In analyser systems it can separate a clean gas stream from entrained liquid and particulate contamination while keeping internal volume relatively small.
Every internal volume adds transport delay. A large filter housing in a very low-flow analytical line can significantly increase response time.
Consider contaminants present, downstream equipment sensitivity, required flow, acceptable pressure drop, element life and process cleanliness. Staged filtration may be preferable when both coarse and very fine contamination are present.
Pressure drop is the difference between inlet and outlet pressure caused by resistance through the housing and filter element. It increases with flow and generally rises as the element becomes contaminated.
Increasing differential pressure is a reliable indicator. A reduction in downstream flow or pressure can also indicate blockage.
It measures or signals the pressure difference across the filter element. Because contamination gradually increases resistance, differential pressure provides an indication of element loading.
A larger housing or element can reduce velocity and pressure drop and provide greater contaminant-holding capacity. However, excessive internal volume may be undesirable in analyser systems.
Normally as close as practical upstream of the sensitive equipment it protects. For systems containing liquid carry-over, separation or coalescing stages may need to precede fine particulate filtration.
Upstream filtration protects the regulator seat. Additional downstream filtration may be required when the process or regulator itself could introduce particles that would affect an analyser or critical component.
Depending on application, materials can include sintered stainless steel, stainless-steel mesh, glass microfibre, PTFE, cellulose and specialist polymer media.
Common choices include 316 stainless steel and brass. Selected ranges are also available in more corrosion-resistant materials such as Monel, Hastelloy, Inconel, Duplex and other alloys.
Yes. HIP and other manufacturers offer filters specifically designed for high-pressure and very-high-pressure systems. The housing, element and connections must all be rated for the required pressure.
Yes, provided materials, pressure rating and connections are suitable for the intended hydrogen service. High-pressure hydrogen applications require particular attention to material selection and overall system design.
Yes, but oxygen service requires appropriate materials together with specified cleaning and handling. Oxygen cleanliness must be requested explicitly.
Yes. High-purity designs may feature carefully controlled wetted surfaces, suitable filter media, reduced internal volume, clean packaging and high-integrity connections.
Yes, subject to material compatibility. For highly aggressive chemicals, housing material, filter media and seals must all be evaluated individually.
Metal mesh and some sintered-metal elements can often be cleaned. Disposable fibre or coalescing elements are normally replaced rather than cleaned.
There is no universal interval. Replacement depends on contaminant loading, flow, filter area and acceptable differential pressure. Condition-based replacement is preferable where practical.
Yes. Compact assemblies can combine filtration, isolation and pressure reduction, reducing field connections and simplifying installation. View Regulators and Valves and Fittings on the Gommer website.
The portfolio includes HOKE filtration products, HIP high-pressure components and Headline Filters, together with additional manufacturers where required by the application.
Depending on product and project, documentation can include material certificates, certificates of conformity, cleanliness documentation and pressure-test information.
Yes. Provide the medium, flow, operating pressure, temperature, contaminant type and downstream equipment that requires protection. The housing size, element material and filtration rating can then be evaluated.
Selecting a filter purely by micron size can produce poor results. Ingenieursburo Gommer can help assess filtration efficiency, pressure drop, contamination load, materials and downstream sensitivity.