Why use last chance filters?
In a production line, the primary filtration systems are designed to treat the fluids in use (raw materials, finished products, utilities).
However, during their passage through the installation, the purified fluids may be recontaminated downstream of the filters by particles (metal chips, wear debris, fibers released by filter media) generated by the system itself (pipes, filters, valves, seals, etc.). They may also be contaminated by undesirable chemical compounds that form within the fluid.
To address this, it is recommended to install “last chance filters” (or last chance filters), in addition to the main filtration systems. These filters remove undesirable particles from the fluid that could otherwise damage mechanical and hydraulic components of the circuit, such as valves, pumps, blades, etc.
Find an example of last chance filter implementation:
“Last chance” filters: for which applications?
Where should last chance filters be positioned?
To be effective, these “last chance” filters must be installed as close as possible to the component to be protected (pump, print head, valve, chromatography column, nozzle, hydraulic system, etc.). In some cases, such as valves, they can even be positioned within the component itself.
Which material should be chosen?
“Last chance” filters can be manufactured from different materials, depending on the chemical nature of the fluids used and the temperature and pressure constraints present along the production line. They are typically made of metal (stainless steel, composites) or nylon, PTFE, PP, etc. They must be chemically inert and have minimal extractables in order to avoid introducing new sources of contamination.
Which geometry should be chosen?
To be integrated into production lines where they are most effective, last chance filters generally need to be designed and manufactured to order.
Last chance filters can take the form of metal discs, flat or pleated, with a diameter adapted to that of the pipe in which they will be installed. They can also be supplied as cartridges inserted directly into existing piping, or as tubular or conical elements, fitted with threads or specific connectors, to facilitate installation and replacement within the circuit. They are sometimes integrated directly into the valves installed on the system.
Last chance filters
- Protect your production line
- Eliminate contaminants generated within the circuit or in the fluid itself
- Are installed downstream of the main filtration systems, just before or integrated into the components to be protected (pumps, valves, etc.)
- Are made from materials and designed with geometries adapted to the production circuit
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