Cartridge Filtration

A Cartridge Filter in water purification plant is a piece of tubular filtration equipment which can be used in various different industries for an array of filtration requirements. A cartridge is basically encased with the housing also called casing which is used to remove the unwanted particles, pollutants and chemicals from liquids. A cartridge when exposed to water, liquid or any solvent, it flows inside the casing and passes through the filter elements to filter the pure water from impurities. Cartridge filters have the ability to remove the submicron particles as well.

The filtration process in cartridge filter water purification takes place by applying the pressure, thereby creating a passage for clarified water and it retains the unwanted pollutants and particles until the filter is saturated and becomes necessary to carry out its substitution by new ones. The saturation point of the pressure in the filtration process is measured by the difference in pressure at the inlet and the exit points. If the pressure difference exceed a limit established in the operation, the substitution is made, since the energy cost of continuing to operate those cartridges does not compensate.

Some of the basic systems of cartridge filters which are commonly used are :

• Wound cartridge filters - Drinking water, boilers, washing machines, pre-filtration in water treatment, sea water desalination, chemical process of water
• Melt-Blown cartridge filters - Water treatment, pre-filtration of pure water, fine chemicals, reverse osmosis, sea water desalination, beverages, solvents and cosmetics.
• Activated carbon cartridge filters - Potable water, washing machines, anti-chlorine treatment, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, pre-treatment for reverse osmosis units.
• Stainless steel cartridge filters - Drinking water, washing machines, boilers, pre-filtration for pumps, irrigation systems, industrial system protection.
• Pleated cartridge filters - Drinking water, boilers, washing machines, pre-filtration of water pumps, irrigation systems, protection of industrial installations.
• Oil-block cartridge filters - Oil and gas industry, marine ballast and bilge water treatment systems, surface water, other industrial applications.

Cartridge Filtration technique in water purification process is widely used in the elimination of particulates and contaminant compounds contained in the water. Their main applications are in Waste Water Treatment Plants in advanced Water Treatment process and also in pre-treatments in Desalination and Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTP). The advantages of using cartridge are they occupy a little space, economic and cost efficient, highly effective, liberty to choose the kind of pore filtration to be used and are easy to maintain.