Zero-maintenance separators improve productivity ’ Operating continuously to remove dirt and liquids from gas, air and steam lines, zeromaintenance Wright Austin type ST separators from Hayward Industrial Products protect process equipment, improving productivity by eliminating the damage and downtime that these contaminants can cause. They operate completely unattended and, once installed in the line, they require absolutely no maintenance.

A unique feature of the type ST design, the vortex con- tainment plate (VCP), im- proves separation efficiency while assuring that the separated liquid and dirt isolated in the collection chamber cannot re-enter the cleaned air, gas or steam flow. This feature eliminates the need for complex baffles, vanes or deflectors which

obstruct the flow stream. The VCP ensures comple- tely clean and dry air, gas or steam with negligible loss of line pressure.

As gas, air or steam enters the specially de- signed separator body, a centrifugal force is created which forms a vortex. This results in the liquid droplets and dirt particles being

Compact candles for high

temperatures Taperflo@ compact candles are now available for high- temperature filtration applications.

Specific Surface Corpora- tion makes Taperflo com- pact candles using a patented rapid manufactur- ing process called 3DP, which is exclusively Ii- tensed from the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology. The process creates a filter with a light- weight, sintered, single- piece monolithic construc- tion and uniform porosity. Made from alumina and cordierite, these candles also feature tapered chan- nels for easy cleaning.

Specific Surface Cor- poration, 101 Constitution Boulevard, Unit D, Franklin, MA 02038, USA. Tel: + 7 508 520 9586, Fax: + 1 508 520 9552, Email: filters@spec- surfcorn.

forced to the wall of the separator, where they are directed to an internal col- lection chamber contained within the separator. Simul- taneously, the dry, contami- nant-free air, gas or steam moves up and out of the separator by means of the upward vortex flow. When the collected liquid and dirt reach a predetermined le- vel in the internal chamber they are automatically dis- charged to a drain. No maintenance or operator attention is required.

Hayward Industrial Pro- ducts Inc, 900 Fairmount Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07207, USA. Tel: + 1 908 351 5400, Fax: + 1 908 351 7893.

Hayward Industrial Pro- ducts (UK) Ltd, Unit 2, Crown Gate, Wyncolls Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 4HT, UK. Tel: +44 1206 854454, Fax: +44 1206 851240.

Fully automatic pressure filter Filtration Services btd has been appointed the UK and Ireland representa- tive for the fully automatic horizontal belt pressure fil- ters that have been devel- oped by Aprochim SpA of Italy, principally for use on galvanising and phosphat- ing installations.

The Aprochim range of filters features either a per- manent filter medium (which is automatically washed in situ before being rolled ready for reuse), or a dis- posable filter medium which is indexed horizontally, through a pressure cham- ber. During the filtration cy- cle, when the feed material is pumped in the chamber, the filter medium is station- ary. When a limiting condi- tion is reached (for example differential pressure, vo- lume filtered or time), com- pressed air is introduced into the chamber to displace the residual liquid from the filter cake.

The chamber is then vented and the endplates of the pressure chamber are withdrawn. The filter medium is indexed, thereby conveying the solids out of the pressure chamber and, at the time, introducing a

new section of medium for the next cycle in the filtra- tion process.

The filters are available as fully automatic or semi-- automatic units. They have many advantages over other pressure filters, in- cluding high flow rates, con- tinuous filtration at a constant flow, a wide range of available filter media, a fully variable filtration cycle (to suit changes in the pro- cess), the installation is compact and clean, it han- dles higher capacities, gives drier solids, and re- quires less labour and maintenance than for an equivalent filter press.

There are hundreds of applications, including elec- troplating, galvanising, metal powders, anodising, paint- ing, phosphating, machining, rolling mills, coolants and various industrial sludges.

Filtration Services Ltd, Waters Green House, Mac- clesfield, Cheshire SK7 1 6LF, UK. Tel: f44 1625 616709, Fax: +44 1625 434678.

Aprochim SpA, Via Vige- vano 61, I-28069 San Marti- no di Trecate (NO), Italy. Tel: +39 321 779369, Fax: +39 321 779327.

ew

The Ravensworth Labora- tory has introduced Ravlex MX, its next generation of Ravlex microporous PTFE- based coatings for dust and liquid filters.

In 1990 Ravlex MP, the non-stick coating for low- temperature applications, was invented and its high- temperature counterpart, Raviex HP, was launched the following year. Now, Ra- vensworth has developed a multi-temperature coating that will increase efficiency and reduce blinding across the range of filtration tem- peratures up to 250 “C. Rav- lex MX should be of particular interest in fine dust applications, such as talc and carbon black, and in applications where the dust is potentially hygro- scopic, as in silica gel.

The new coating is not an expanded membrane, but is an impregnation with pores formed within the surface fibre layer. Delamination cannot occur, and the tough coating provides outstand- ing abrasion resistance. It can be used in food applica- tions, and possesses a smooth, hairless surface ideal for the demands of the pharmaceutical industry. It can also be welded, and withstands washing.

Ravlex MX is available on all commonly used nee- dlefelts, and is also sup- plied on woven glasscloth. Spun-bonded cartridge ma- terials are also suitable for treatment. In addition to the multi-temperature advan- tage, the material is also extremely efficient, demon- strates low pressure differ- entials, is highly abrasion- resistant, retains the natur- al drape of the base fabric, eliminates concern about fibre shedding, and has a distinct pore structure of lo- 12 microns.

Ravensworth Ltd, 2 Deva Business Park, Welsh Road, Deeside CH5 2HR, UK. Tel: f 44 1244 830535, Fax: i-44 1244 811687, Email: ravlex@aol.com.