Strainer Selection: Protecting Downstream Equipment

Pumps, heat exchangers, and other sensitive equipment fail fast when process water contains particles that should be filtered out.

A strainer is the first line of defence, capturing suspended solids before they reach downstream equipment. Choose wrong and the strainer either clogs constantly or lets particles through.

What strainer selection has to get right

Choosing a protection strainer is a balance of four variables:

• Filtration degree: the particle size the strainer must stop.
• Dirt-holding capacity: solids volume the element retains before a clean is needed.
• Flow and pressure drop: protecting the equipment without starving it of flow.
• Cleaning and maintenance: how the element is cleaned, and how often.

No single strainer delivers outstanding results on all four variables. The right choice depends on your water source, your particle load and the component you are protecting.

Why selection is an engineering decision

A misspecified strainer results in downtime, efficiency loss, and equipment wear. Our dolphin filter series includes strainer solutions for different needs:

• k-phin is recommended for coarser solids and demanding intake conditions, thanks to its sturdy, removable basket of perforated or microperforated stainless-steel sheet.
• optimum is recommended as a protective filter in closed-circuit systems or in process water with a moderately low amount of suspended solids, reaching finer filtration degrees.

As your engineering partner, we support you in selecting a strainer tailored around your specific operating conditions, delivering a complete system, filter skid, or customised single strainer units.

Need the right strainer for your application?

Tell us what you are protecting and your operating conditions, and we will engineer the right strainer solution.