Continuous fine filtration of surface waters
In many applications, coarse filtration is not enough. Plate-type heat exchangers with gap widths of less than 2 mm, chemical processes, or sensitive side streams require a significantly higher filtration quality for the cooling water. The PR-BW 100-FC is a self-cleaning fine filter used for filtering particles ranging from 50 to 1,000 µm in surface waters. With permissible volume flows of up to 12,000 m³/h, the system ensures continuous fine filtration and stable water quality in 24/7 operation.
Integration and operation
The active filter elements allow for automatic, low-maintenance continuous operation with the following advantages:
- No manual cleaning
- No regular replacement of filter baskets
- Reduced maintenance and labor costs
- High plant availability in 24/7 operation
- Low backwash losses and stable differential pressure
- Complete cleaning of all filter surfaces during every backwash process
The backwash flow, pressure loss, and debris storage capacity are tailored to the specific application during the design phase. This makes it possible to systematically optimize investment and operating costs.
Active filter elements as the technological core
Operating principle
This fine filter is the product of our proprietary expertise in the selection and design of special filter cartridges with an elastically adjustable filter gap. The gap remains exactly the same during the filtration process. In the backwash stage, the filter gap widens automatically due to flow reversal. Even trapped particles are completely dislodged and reliably removed. In contrast to conventional backwash filters, the active filter surface is fully regenerated. This keeps the filtration performance stable even with heavy fouling.
Typical scenario
After coarse filtration, a partial flow is diverted for applications requiring a finer degree of filtration, e.g. for operating plate-type heat exchangers. The PR-BW 100-FC reliably achieves the required degree of fine filtration in this side stream.
The system is equally suitable for new construction projects and for retrofit projects.
Key technical data
| Volume flow: | < 200–12,000 m³/h |
| Nominal diameters: | DN 100–DN 1,200 |
| Filter fineness: | 50–1,000 µm |
| Filter: | Active filter elements made of plastic or wedge wire screen made of stainless steel |
| Housing: | Rubber-lined steel or stainless steel |
| Maximum temperature: | 80 °C |
| Control: | PLC (programmable logic controller) |
| Special designs: | Upon request |
| Systems delivered: | 100 |
Compact by design. Efficient in operation.
Due to the high backwash efficiency of the active filter elements, lower backwash speeds can be used. This reduces the hydraulic requirements on the system and allows for a more compact design – even at higher volume flows. Rotatable housing halves allow for flexible adaptation to the existing pipe routing. This reduces the installation complexity and makes it easier to integrate the fine filter into existing cooling water systems.
System design
The PR-BW 100-FC is a self-cleaning fine filter for filtration tasks in the range of from 50 to 1,000 µm. Alternative filtration concepts are available for applications with larger gap widths or for exclusively coarse particle removal. Careful consideration of economic aspects may be necessary for very small plants.
Main application
The PR-BW 100-FC is used as a fine filter in cooling water circuits and in the pretreatment stage of membrane technology plants:
- In chemical plants with stricter water quality requirements
- Upstream of plate-type heat exchangers with gap widths of up to 1 mm
- In cooling water intake systems with upstream coarse filtration
- In partial flow applications to reduce the quantity of suspended particles
