The Role of Conical Strainers in Protecting Pumps and Valves - Flometriq

1. Conical Strainers: Protecting Pumps & Valves Leading Industrial Filter Manufacturers – Flometriq Filtration Solutions For more, please visit https://www.flometriq.com/blog/role-of-conical-strainers/

2. AGENDA • Why Protect Pumps and Valves? • Understanding Conical Strainers • Debris Threats to System Integrity • How Conical Strainers Capture Contaminants • Benefits: Extending Equipment Life • Types of Conical Strainers and Selection Criteria • Installation and Maintenance Best Practices • Industries and Real-World Applications

3. Risks of Particulate Contamination During Startup Why Protect Pumps and Valves? • Construction debris such as welding slag, rust, and scale commonly enters pipelines during installation and modifications. • Particulates cause abrasion, erosion, and clogging in pumps and valves, leading to premature wear and failure. • Damage from debris results in unexpected equipment breakdowns and costly operational downtime. • System efficiency drops due to clogged passages and impaired valve function, impacting overall performance. • Protecting equipment at startup prevents these issues, safeguarding investments and ensuring reliable system operation from day one.

4. What Are Conical Strainers? Design, Materials, and Function Understanding Conical Strainers • Temporary filtration devices often called 'witch’s hat' strainers. • Made from perforated metal or wire mesh shaped into a cone. • Installed between pipe flanges in pipeline systems. • Primarily used during commissioning or startup of new/modified pipelines. • Cone shape maximizes surface area for debris capture with minimal flow resistance. • Common materials include stainless steel (304, 316), carbon steel, and alloys like Monel. • Captures construction debris such as welding slag, rust, and scale. • Protects sensitive equipment like pumps, valves, and meters from damage during startup.

5. Common Debris Types Abrasion and Erosion Clogging and Blockage Component Seizure & Efficiency Loss Debris Threats to System Integrity New pipelines often contain welding slag, rust, pipe scale, and jointing compound leftover from construction and modifications. Hard particles wear down internal surfaces of pumps and valves, leading to material loss and weakened components. Debris can block small passages, valve seats, and filters, disrupting fluid flow and reducing system efficiency. Larger particles may jam moving parts causing seizure, while wear increases leakage and friction, lowering pump and valve performance.

6. Working Principle of Conical Strainers How Conical Strainers Capture Contaminants? • The conical shape provides a large surface area of perforated metal or wire mesh for fluid to pass through, increasing debris capture capacity without significant pressure drop. • Mesh or perforation size is selected to trap coarse particles like welding slag, rust, and scale while allowing fluid flow, acting as a physical barrier to harmful debris. • Flow orientation can be upstream or downstream: upstream points the cone into the flow for efficient debris capture, while downstream orientation allows easier debris removal and inspection. • Debris larger than the mesh openings is trapped on or inside the cone, preventing particles from reaching sensitive pumps, valves, and meters downstream.

7. Main Types of Conical Strainers Material Choices Selection Criteria Types of Conical Strainers and Selection Criteria Standard Cone (Witch’s Hat) offers the largest surface area for debris capture. Basket Type has a flat bottom with slightly less area but holds more debris volume. Plate Type is the most compact with a flat perforated disc design and the least surface area. Common materials include stainless steel (grades 304 and 316) for durability and corrosion resistance. Carbon steel and specialty alloys like Monel are used depending on system requirements and chemical compatibility. Key factors are perforation or mesh size which determines particle capture size, and open area ratio that balances flow capacity and pressure drop. Proper sizing must match pipe diameter and flange specifications for reliable installation.

8. Installation and Maintenance Best Practices Correct Installation Optimal Orientation Sizing and Sealing Temporary use & Maintenance Install strainers between pipe flanges near equipment inlets. Match flange rating and pipe size. Follow manufacturer guidelines. Point cone upstream for flow efficiency or downstream for easy debris removal. Basket types flow into the basket. Use strainers temporarily during startup. Monitor pressure drop and remove after debris clearance. Isolate pipe before removal. Match strainer size to pipe diameter and flange bolt circle. Use gaskets on both sides for a leak-tight seal. Proper flange alignment Strainer positioned near equipment Installation checklist Orientation plan Flow direction mapping Inspection access Pipe & flange size match Proper gasket use Leak-tight assembly Pressure monitoring Removal procedure Safety isolation steps

9. Oil & Gas / Power Generation Water Treatment & Food Industries Chemical Processing Industries and Real-World Applications Used extensively in oil, gas, and power plants to guard expensive control valves and pumps from abrasive particles during commissioning and maintenance. Temporary conical strainers ensure clean startups in water treatment and sanitary food/pharmaceutical pipelines, protecting sensitive equipment from debris. Conical strainers protect pumps and valves from startup debris like welding slag and rust, ensuring contamination-free chemical flows and preventing costly downtime.

10. Thank you. For more, please visit - https://www.flometriq.com/LinkedIn - https://in.linkedin.com/company/flometriqfiltrationContact Ussales@flometriq.comCall us in India+91 7358105780+91 8939993019Middle East/ Singapore+971 56 239 8356+91 9884807244Address3/88 Mount Ponamallee Road, Ramapuram, Chennai 600089, TamilNadu, India