Estimating the Total Cost of Cartridge and Bag Filtration

摘要

Bag filters for industrial applications have been in existence longer and are considered by some to be easier and simpler to specify than cartridges for a filtration project. And although cartridge filtration is now one of the mostly widely used filtration technologies in the chemical process industries (CPI), it is not always the first choice. This article outlines basic design issues, discusses selection considerations, and presents a cradle-to-grave cost analysis of bag and cartridge filtration. Even before selection decisions are made, there is a need to address two important criteria: the chemical and physical compositions of the feedstock stream going into the filter; and the quality and specification of the desired exit liquid. Both operations and maintenance engineers recognize that having more on-line time, extended MTBC or MTBR, higher efficiency and higher dirt holding (or product-holding) capacity are essential to lower overall filtration costs. This is especially true when the filter is handling toxic or hazardous materials.