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Coalescence filter: what is it and how does it work?

Written by Cindy Vargas | Sep 29, 2020 2:25:40 PM

What are coalescence filters and how do they work? Why are they increasingly used for the filtration of oil mists coming from industrial mechanical processing?

Coalescence filters represent the new frontier in terms of filtration plants intended for the purification of the oil mists produced during particular processes. These filters exploit the physical principle of coalescence, i.e. a phenomenon whereby drops of a usually oily liquid tend to come together, creating a unique and easily identifiable mass which can consequently be eliminated.

To better understand this concept, just think of simple oil dispersed in water. The drops of oi will tend to aggregate autonomously, creating a single large stain of this substance on the surface. If the mixture were to be stirred and stirred again, the same oil particles will again tend to aggregate into a larger one. This is the physical of coalescence used in the construction of special filtration systems.

 

How do coalescence filters work:

  • The operating principle at the basis of coalescence filters originates from the physical reaction highlighted above. These systems, designed with the utmost care and attention by experts in the field, provide for the creation of special filters to eliminate the oil mists produced during some processes..

    Therefore, these systems have a well-structured operating principle.

    • First of all, the particles of oil, suspended in the air flow, in the mist or in the steam produced during mechanical processings, will enter the filter.
    • Inside the systems, they are retained by particular internal surfaces which, made with specific materials, bring the droplets to aggregate into other larger ones, thus taking advantage of the coalescence principle explained above.
    • The larger drops held on these particular surfaces reach a considerable weight which leads them to fall into special collection tanks.
    • Once aggregated and reunited, they can be used again in the production cycle.
    • The filtered air will be put back into circulation in the environment and will be cleaned and purified of any oily particles previously present.

In this way coalescence filters will ensure optimal efficiencies in terms of separation even when dealing with truly microscopic particles, emission values lower than the limits established by the law and will also allow a recovery of the liquid which, being reusable, will contribute to reducing waste borne by the companies