Coalescer With Drainage Effect

BY ROBERTA PRANDI

The new Viledon hydroMaxx coalescer pre-filter from Freudenberg Filtration Technologies is an upgrade of the existing Viledon Compact F 45 R filter, featuring the same reversed pocket filter design with drainage effect on the front of the filter.

This design is composed of Freudenberg’s self-produced permanently water-repellent filter medium, from which water drops simply roll off, the company said. With this design, the individual filter pockets face forward with the closed side facing in the direction of airflow.

Freudenberg said that this design enables an optimum drainage effect with additional deposition of dust particles. Unlike a traditional pocket filter, water is not retained by the filter but forms into droplets and rolls off, washing away the dust at the same time. This reverse-mounting technique for the pre-filter ensures that water and dust are removed well before reaching the downstream fine filter with a good safety distance.

The new Viledon hydroMaxx product line includes some upgrades, including a new self-supporting integrated plastic cage system that gives the filter a high degree of structural stability and low weight. Freudenberg said that the new filter can be easily installed in a few simple steps, for an easy filter changeover.

In addition, top-quality construction ensures maximum functional reliability. Rather than being clamped in some way, each filter bag is foamed into a polyurethane front frame and completely welded to eliminate leakage.

A new modular clip-on system adds in terms of ease in handling and flexibility. With a simple plug-in technique, Viledon hydroMaxx pre-filters can be connected to the downstream intermediate or end filter stages to form a single unit. Freudenberg said that, with this simple and efficient way a variety of space-saving two-in-one solutions can be implemented as required, without the need for an additional filter wall.

These Viledon coalesce pre-filters have already been evaluated according to the new ISO 16890 test standard, which replaces the previous EN 779. Their good separation efficiency means that they achieve an ISO ePM10 50% rating, reported Freudenberg.

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies is a specialist in filtration solutions combining different filter types and classes into a customized total system, tailored to meet specific environmental conditions and customer requirements. One of the company’s specific field of applications is gas turbines at coastal locations or in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as on offshore platforms, which absorb water droplets and often salt as well with their combustion air. In particular, the penetration of salt-containing water leads to reduced compressor efficiency and corrosion on the blades as well as in the hot gas area of the power turbine. The latter occurs especially when sulfur compounds from the fuel react with the salt’s sodium ion. For these reasons, the application of the Viledon hydroMaxx pre-filter can ensure an effective protection of the turbomachine against penetration of water and salt, by keeping the installed fine or EPA filter dry.