According to HYDAC Automation and Control Engineer Robert Huang, the RF3 offers excellent efficiency gains from its automatic backflushing feature, which allows the filter to autonomously expunge particulate waste while keeping process water loss low.

"This product offers excellent filtration performance while reducing the need for manual maintenance activities, both of which are highly desirable in this sector," Mr Huang says.

BACKGROUND

HYDAC's customer specialises in end-to-end packaging of seawater desalination and industrial water treatment solutions. 

According to Mr Huang, HYDAC has successfully partnered with the customer on many projects in the past. 

He explains that the customer required efficient and reliable pre-filtration to protect downstream process equipment at a desalination plant currently under construction at a mine site in Western Australia.

The mine, a world leader in iron ore mining and set to increase iron ore production, is situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

"The desalination plant is being built to treat highly saline groundwater for industrial use to address increased demand brought on by a ramp up in production," Mr Huang points out.

SOLUTION

HYDAC worked hand in hand with the customer to provide a holistic understanding of the features and benefits of the HYDAC AutoFilt RF3 back-flushing filter.

"It was this close support and cooperation, maintained throughout the length of the project that ultimately ensured its success," Mr Huang says. 

AutoFilt RF3 backflushing filter operation

The fluid to be filtered flows through the filter elements of the backflushing filter, passing from the inside to the outside.

"It's a great piece of kit that uses the existing pressure differential to clean out the filter elements when they become fouled, with the added advantage that the filter doesn't need to be taken offline to be backflushed," Mr Huang explains.

"As particulates become trapped within the filter elements and differential pressure grows, the filter automatically triggers a backflushing cycle and expels the contaminants through the backflush line."

AutoFilt RF3 backflushing filter features and benefits

The backflushing filter AutoFilt RF3 features conical filter elements, wedge wire from 50 to 3000μm, and super mesh wire mesh from 25 to 60μm.

Other advantages include:  

*isokinetic filtration

*a flow-optimised housing design

*no interruption of filtrate flow during backflushing

*pulse-aided backflushing

*various control variants, with individually adjustable control parameters

*availability of numerous material and equipment options

*ready-to-operate unit

*flange positions (inlet and outlet flanges, and backflush line)

"All the clear advantages helped us get the AutoFilt RF3 across the line when it came to impressing the end client," Mr Huang concludes.