Water filtration systems are increasingly guided by the principles of pre-treatment, which allows you to protect sanitary equipment from contamination. In industry, for such purposes, treatment plants are used almost at the sources of water intake. In domestic conditions, the modern technological level allows us to limit ourselves to only a washing filter - of course, if we are not talking about the water supply system of a country house from an artesian well. But in this case, such a device will not be superfluous.
Device assignment
The filter is used to clean water flows from mechanical insoluble impurities in pipeline systems of hot and cold supply. In industrial conditions, the principle of operation of flushing devices can also be applied to the maintenance of technical oils, compressed air and liquid hydrocarbons. Eachmodels have their own temperature and gauge limitations. The household washing filter for mechanical cleaning remains operational at a temperature of the transported medium not higher than 110 ° C, while the pressure can be within 10 bar. As for the specific impurities that are not allowed into the channel by devices of this type, they include particles of sand, clay, rust, colloidal compounds, etc.
Filter design features
A typical device has a body and a bulb, which are usually made of special metal alloys - for example, nickel-plated brass. Although the use of high-strength plastics is also allowed. Between the body and the flask there is an annular gasket, as well as a connecting rod in the form of a threaded connection. Direct tasks of the washing filter are performed by cylindrical filter elements made of stainless alloys. Moreover, depending on the model of cleaning membranes, there may be several - different stages of cleaning from point to coarse. Of the functional structural components, a branch pipe for connecting to a pipeline and a pressure gauge for measuring and indicating pressure can be distinguished. Among the distinguishing features are the following:
- Double filter element system allows cleaning of 250-1000 µm particles.
- Thanks to multi-stage cleaning, cascade filtration with different wash intervals is possible.
- With optional drainfaucet allows back and forward flushing of the device.
Types of instrument
Filters differ in the nature of cleaning and tolerances for use in different communication systems. Thus, it is possible to single out a fine washing filter, coarse cleaning devices and combined devices with the above-mentioned multi-stage membrane system. There are also modifications that specialize in additional effects - ionization, softening, aeration and disinfection. There are also automated filters, in which, based on the set parameters, certain operating modes are switched on at certain intervals with different degrees of cleaning or washing. Such devices contain in the design a special drive with a control panel and a timer. If we talk about differences in terms of application in different communications, then there are models for heating systems, water supply and pipelines with the provision of process fluids.
How self-cleaning models work
Almost all washer models support the self-cleaning function. It was made possible by the design of the flask, some versions of which have a drain hole at the bottom. In normal filtration mode, this hole is closed, but when a sufficient amount of dirt accumulates in the flask, it opens through a special valve under water pressure. Moreover, the pressure can be so high that the self-cleaning backwash filter does notit is simply emptied, namely washed from the inside. After the operation, the valve restores its original position, and the valve closes. At the same time, the self-cleaning function does not mean at all that the device does not require user intervention in the operational process. At a minimum, the filter elements or absorbent media need to be updated periodically, depending on the type of appliance.
Installation rules
Installation is carried out at a point in the pipeline, which must be located on a horizontal section and has a free approach. Moreover, the position of the filter itself will be vertical - with a drain oriented downwards. It should also be ensured that the place of operation of the water flush filter does not involve any physical stress, such as stretching, compression, bending or torsion. For power support at the tie-in point, it will not be superfluous to provide support elements or compensators that minimize vibration loads on the device from the pipeline line. Before and after the installation point, shut-off valves should also be inserted, which will allow you to stop the flow of water without hassle and perform the necessary technical operations with the filter.
Features of the operational process
For each model, there are individual temperature and pressure values that are acceptable for the workflow. They should be adhered to and at least not exceed the above limits. The level of contamination of the filters should also be checked periodically. Each device has its own cleaning principle andfill indicator. It is desirable to control these data in manual mode, even if the system provides for an automatic principle of operation. It is also recommended to monitor the structural integrity of the flushing filter with its approach channels, branch pipes and shut-off and measuring valves. The slightest leak during depressurization will make the cleaning process ineffective and may lead to an accident in the circuit.
Replacing filters
The standard filtration consumable for such devices is a mesh membrane. Despite the ability to self-clean, it does not eliminate the need for regular updating of this element. Firstly, filling the filter with large particles can damage the design of the mesh, and secondly, small elements often get stuck in the cells and are not removed by the water jet. Therefore, the washing filter for water purification with a decrease in throughput must be disassembled and checked for clogging and damage to the mesh. If it is in poor condition, it must be replaced. The operation is performed without much effort - just remove the clips from the old mesh, remove it and install a new filtration component in the vacant place.
Conclusion
Special devices for mechanical water treatment are quite rare today. Manufacturers strive to focus their products on several tasks at once, providing for the possibility of chemical and biological water treatment. In this context, a wash filter can be considered asan outdated and low-functional solution, but optimization for a specific task has its advantages. Among them are the small size of the device, its structural simplicity and cleaning efficiency - both fine and coarse. And this is not to mention the low financial costs for the purchase and maintenance of filters of this type.
