For natural gas and oil companies, removing debris and other impurities during production is important. Because of this, strainers are vital to the process of natural gas and oil filtration. Strainers being used in this industry are primarily made of materials such as copper and aluminum because they are resistant to corrosion. There are 4 common types of strainers used for oil and gas filtration. They are simplex strainers, y strainers, duplex strainers, and automatic strainers. Each different type of strainer has its own advantages when being used.
Strainers are designed to remove large contaminants (defined as 40-microns or greater) from the material being processed. The ratio of mesh to microns changes depending on the number of gaps within one linear inch. For example, 60-mesh strainers typically catch particles around 240-microns, and 100-mesh strainers catch particles sized at 150-microns.
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Simplex Strainers
Simplex strainers are one type of strainer commonly used in oil and gas processing. They are considered a type of basket strainer and are permanent in application. The body of this type of strainer can be made out of a number of different materials, most commonly iron, steel, and stainless steel. The basket or filter element of the strainer is made out of stainless steel with a number of different filtration grades available.
There are a number of different advantages to using this type of strainer. The easy-to-open design of the strainer provides for simple maintenance. Simplex strainers also have a large particle holding capacity with less pressure drop over the length of the filter element.
At Eaton, Simplex Industrial Basket Strainers are designed to be used where it is possible for the line to be shut down for short periods of time to allow for maintenance. Eaton’s standard cast pipeline strainers meet a number of high standards. These include ISO 9001-2008 quality management, reduced purge volumes due to their ultra-low discharge strainer technology, and appropriately sized parts to meet any flow rate and retention requirement. To learn more, check out our website.
Y Strainers
Another commonly used strainer, Y (wye) strainers are named for their shape and are designed to be temporary in application, unless the liquid being filtered has a low concentration of contaminants. The body of this type of strainer is typically composed of iron, steel, or stainless steel, with other compositions being possible. The filter element, a sieve, is made of stainless steel.
The advantages of this type of strainer lie in the price, as Y strainers are commonly low cost. Maintenance for this type of strainer can be a little tricky, and particle retention capacity is low.
These strainers are most commonly used for pressurized lines or suction-type systems.
Duplex Strainers
Another basket type filter or strainer, duplex strainers are permanent in application. The body of duplex filters are most commonly comprised of iron, steel, or stainless steel, though duplex strainers made of other materials are available. The filter or basket of the strainer is made of stainless steel.
One of the biggest advantages of duplex strainers is their ease of maintenance. Not only do duplex strainers have an easy-open design, they are also able to be cleaned individually while one strainer stays on standby. In addition to an easier maintenance, duplex strainers have high particle holding capacity, which provides less pressure drop through the strainer. To get more specifications, peruse our selection of duplex strainers here.
Eaton’s Duplex Industrial Basket Strainer is able to operate on a continuous basis, never requiring the line to stop for maintenance tasks to be performed. This is due to the two baskets being used, which operate independently of one another. Once one of the baskets becomes full, the flow is channeled to the other basket, allowing the full basket to be removed and cleaned out. The design of Duplex Industrial Basket Strainer makes it a great option for applications where lines cannot be shut down for maintenance to take place. Visit our site to learn more.
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Automatic Strainers
Finally, automatic strainers have baskets that are self-cleaning. This type of strainer is permanent in application. The body of the strainer is typically made out of materials such as iron, steel, stainless steel, and other specified materials. The filter or basket of the strainer is made of stainless steel.
The main advantage of using an automatic strainer is their self-cleaning capabilities. Because of the automatic nature of the strainer, the cleaning process is never interrupted. Instead, self-cleaning is controlled in a number of different ways, most commonly timers, pressure drop settings, or manually. Contact us today to find out your options.
Applications of Oil & Gas Strainers
Gas and oil strainers can be utilized in a number of different areas. Most commonly, strainers are used either in upstream or downstream applications.
Upstream applications include those for drilling oil. Strainers are used in the derrick/mast, drawworks and top drive. They are also used in mud/fuel tanks and within power/pump stations and within the shaker unit.
Within downstream applications, strainers are typically used in hydrocracking and filtration applications.
Benefits of Using Strainers in Oil and Gas Pipelines
Strainers are designed to capture solid particles and other solid contaminants within a liquid and stop them from continuing through the system. When functioning properly, strainers help prevent potential damage to other parts of the system, including engines, pumps, nozzles, and heat exchangers. With better performing strainers, cost of ownership decreases while lifecycle of the equipment being used is extended, benefitting producers in the long run.