Filter Elements Containment Function

Fluid power applications, both hydraulic and pneumatic, are vulnerable to contamination. This fact leads to the success and growth of the filter business even in recent recessionary environments. It is critical to maintain the cleanliness of these systems as the filter elements continuously collect particulates.

A typical filter begins with an open area which causes very little resistance to flow. As the system is used, system generated particulates accumulate on the surface of the element and reduce the element open area. Perhaps the term effective surface of the element should be used because there are some very ingenious filter media on the market today which employ depth or a three dimensional matrix to trap particles. If the system flow rate is constant, the rate is constant with respect to fluid velocity. As the open area is reduced in the element, the fluid velocity increases and the rate of contamination increases proportionately with velocity. This type of rapid failure is call and "avalanche breakdown".