Case Histories

Beverage Manufacturer Replaces Disposable Filter Media with Permanent Stainless Steel Media

Problem:
A client in the beverage industry uses large volumes of 40 mesh ( 400 micron ) and 20 mesh ( 800 micron ) polypropylene fabri-basket filter bags ( 510 sq. inches per bag ) to filter beverage concentrate prior to filling IBC's. The product in each IBC is worth IR£200,000 ( €300,000 )

The filters are insurance filters to prevent foreign bodies such as pieces of gasket and miscellaneous debris form getting into the product. They use large numbers of bags that can be cleaned in place.

The bags are very porous with a high percentage of free open area and have a large volume in which to accommodate solids. We must give them stainless steel media with sufficient surface area to handle the flow rates and low ΔP.

They must be:

• Free draining
• Robust
• Suitable for C.I.P.
• 3116L stainless steel for 150psiG

Duty Details:
Flow rate: 17,000 LPH ( 75 US gpm )
Fluid: Beverage concentrate
Viscosity: Up to 5,000 centipoise
Solids Loading: Trace Solids
Retention rating: 380 890 micron required
Line Size: 3"

Solution:
After detailed discussion and comparisons between what they are currently using and the possible alternatives we offered them RPA straight - through 3" SR3336 units complete with viton A ( food grade ) gaskets and tricluster ( for maximum filter area and backwash diffusion ) slotted wedgewire elements.

Result:
We detailed all the possible benefits and backdraws of the units and concluded that they would need 1 or possibly 2 units for each line.
They ordered 10 lines in total.
The following details the process used to sell the technology and convince them to buy.