Liquid Filter Bags for Oil and Gas Processing – Meeting Industry Demands
Filter bags remove impurities from liquids that would otherwise damage or interfere with a desired process. They strain out unwanted sand, sediment and foreign material for a consistently cleaner final product.
They are also hygienically superior to basket strainers due to their inside-out flow dynamics. Felt filter bags are available in several materials for fluid compatibility and in a variety of nominal rated micron ratings. Cost-Effective Filtration Solutions
Filtration isn’t just a Cinderella technology that can be left out of the picture. It is essential for reducing contamination in gas processing operations. This can help reduce downtime and maintenance costs, and ensure that the product being produced is consistent and reliable. Properly specified filtration systems can also lower operating costs and increase productivity.
Whether it’s for removing fine aerosols from compressor outlet gas, contaminating liquids from condensate or treating the waste water from hydraulic fracturing, oil and gas processors require robust filter solutions to ensure their operations run smoothly and efficiently. These can include removing solid particulates from the resulting stream, as well as dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
Bag filters are a great option for these applications, as they are typically disposable and easily replaced. They are also ideal for filtering out sand and other debris from the fluid stream. This helps to keep equipment from becoming clogged and can prevent the need for costly repairs and replacements.
Many liquid bags are constructed from woven materials, but nonwoven technologies have made their way into this industry as well. These fabrics are created by combining different types of fibers, such as needle felts, various forms of carded nonwovens, meltblown polypropylene or spunbonded webs. This blending allows for more depth-retention filtration and can provide higher performance than conventional sewn felt bags.
Liquid bag filters are available in both standard and high-temperature ratings to suit a variety of applications. The most common versions are made of polyester or polypropylene, with a range of micron ratings and construction options. These include the traditional sewn version, which features a galvanized steel or stainless-steel ring sewn into the top of the bag, as well as seamless designs that feature a plastic liner and a sealed closure.
The fracking process uses huge amounts of water, and much of it returns to the surface as flowback. This wastewater may contain sodium, heavy metals, magnesium, barium, calcium or radioactive material and must be filtered and treated before being reused for more fracking or disposed of. Filtration systems that use these disposable liquid bag filters can minimize the amount of contaminated water returned to the surface, which can help conserve water and improve ecological sustainability. Versatility
Bag filters are versatile and relatively inexpensive industrial filtration solutions. They offer a simple design that keeps waste contained in the filter, while preventing contamination of the process liquid. They are available in depth and surface types with micron ratings up to 0.5. Several different fabrics are used to manufacture them.
The fabric’s rating, type and quality determine the liquid filter bags’ performance. Liquid Filter Bag
Typical materials include woven mono- and multi-filament fabrics, meltblown non-woven polypropylene, nylon and porous PTFE film. The combination of these fibers offers a wide range of depth ratings and filter sizes. In addition, external treatments can be added to increase the fabric’s stability and endurance. For example, calendering is a high-pressure treatment that presses the fabric with rollers to flatten it and give it greater stability. Napping is a scraping process that raises the surface fibers, enabling them to better collect particulate.In general, bag filter media is selected based on a number of factors, including gas stream chemistry and temperature; particle size and concentrations in the feedstock; abrasion resistance; permeability; dew point requirements; and a clean pressure drop not to exceed 2 psi d/b. The proper selection of the generic fiber and its treatment increases the bag’s life, reducing change-out frequency and maintenance costs.
Regardless of the type of filter, it is important to carefully track combined operating costs rather than focusing solely on upfront expenses. For instance, cartridges typically outperform bags in both efficiency and filter-life, but require a higher initial investment. In addition, the cleaning in place (CIP) process imposes additional costs, which must be factored into your overall filtration budget.
The use of liquid filter bags allows you to control your operating and disposal costs while delivering the highest level of filtration. To learn more about the many uses for these versatile and durable products, please contact Strainrite. We can provide you with all the information needed to make an informed decision. We offer a variety of bags for oil and gas processing, including those for frac tanks and salt water disposal wells. For low oil content applications, our EVP bags will do the trick. When you need to remove larger quantities of contaminant, our BRB and Visc-MA bags will handle the job. Environmentally Friendly
A key benefit of liquid filter bags is their ability to reduce the amount of solid material that is trapped within a system. While other filtration techniques tend to collect solids on the outside of equipment, bag filters capture them on the inside of the device, thereby decreasing the likelihood that those contaminants could clog or damage the system. This helps prevent the need for costly cleaning or replacements, as well as keeping the liquid flowing at maximum efficiency.
Liquid filter bags are made from a porous woven or felted fabric that allows water to pass through it while trapping larger contaminant particles. This type of filtration is ideal for applications where it’s important to avoid solid precipitation or clogging (as can occur with other filter methods such as membrane filters). Additionally, bag filter fabrics are often constructed from nonwoven materials, which help reduce the risk of chemical contamination or additives that may otherwise affect fluid flow.
The global market for liquid and air filter bags is divided into several sectors based on end user industries and geographical regions. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals is the largest segment, accounting for more than 31.0% of the market’s revenue in 2017. This is due to their wide use for removing dust and other unwanted foreign substances from machinery. The oil and gas, mining, steel and power, and water treatment industries are other large segments in the liquid and air filter bags industry.
In terms of geography, Asia-Pacific is the dominant region for these products, with more than 29.0% of the market’s revenue in 2017 due to their use in industrial applications. The growth of the region’s manufacturing sector and need for clean indoor air contribute to this.
Strainrite offers a full line of bag filter housings and welded filter bags for oil and gas processing. Our bags are made with high quality woven felt and are available in industry standard sizes with poly snap rings and poly or metal flanges. We also offer high performance dual-flow, absolute rated bag filter cartridges that provide superior gel-like particle retention for even the most challenging liquids and gases. Safety
Aside from saving money on filtration equipment, the safety features of liquid filter bags for oil and gas processing provide additional financial savings. Unlike other filter products, bag filters do not require a complex system of mechanical or chemical cleaning to maintain proper performance. Filter bags are disposable, which reduces labor and downtime while minimizing the need for replacement parts and waste disposal costs.
Felt and mesh liquid bag filters are made of porous woven fabric that allows water to pass through while trapping larger contaminants. They can be constructed with an internal lining that adds strength or chemical resistance. In addition, they can be equipped with metal snap rings or poly flanges for easy installation and a positive seal.
Polypropylene felt and polyester mesh filter bags offer a variety of micron removal efficiencies from 5-800 microns. Welded and sewn options are available for all sizes. The welded design utilizes cutting edge welding technology to bond needle punched felt textile fabrics, which offers superior strength and durability. The patented polypropylene microfiber material provides higher efficiencies with lower micron ratings compared to conventional felt materials.
High Performance DURAGAF liquid filter bags are designed for extended life. Featuring an inner layer of needle punched felt for prefiltration, they extend the life of standard felt media by 2-5 times. This results in reduced operating costs through less consumables, downtime for change-out labor and storage costs. The DURAGAF is available in polypropylene (code POXL) and polyester (code PXL).
Bag, fume and pleated air filters are designed for welding smoke, tobacco smoke diesel exhaust, oil mist and plastic dust applications. They can be installed in ductwork or HVAC systems for industrial, commercial, food processing and telecommunications applications. Available in 115 to 6,000 cfm airflow capacities.
The Sure-Weld line of welded polyester felt liquid filter bags from Strainrite uses the latest in welded filter technology to bond needle punched textile fabrics. These welded bag filters are stronger and more durable than traditional sewn and snap ring bags. They also feature a tri-seal poly flange for a positive seal.