SPEED
EASY
NAVIGATION
QUICK RESPONSES
DIRECT SHIPMENTS
GLOBAL SUPPORT
Link to Afbv Valve
EXCELLENCE
QUALITY SUPPLIERS
PROMPT SERVICE
SATISFACTION
IS
#1 PRIORITY
ECONOMICS
LOWEST PRICES
FREE FREIGHT
QUICK DELIVERIES
KNOWLEDGE
FACTORY TRAINED
OTJ EXPERIENCE
ENGINEERING SUPPORT
Both Y and basket style strainers require isolating the strainers inlet and outlet to physically clean the straining element (thus interrupting the process flow), however there are significant functional differences that, depending upon specific application characteristics, will determine whether a Y or basket style strainer is best style for your application.
Y Strainers
Although Y strainers are applied to liquid applications regularly, they were
initially designed for steam, air and other inert gases to protect downstream
equipment from a &#;particulate upset condition&#;; what we mean by that phrase is
that normally particles are not expected, however as piping systems age bits of
pipe scale, gaskets and other materials can become entrained in the process
flow. Y strainers have a &#;blow down&#; port for this reason, bits of pipe
scale can be &#;flushed&#; from the screen chamber by attaching a valve to this port
and when opened to atmospheric pressure the material within the screen chamber
is &#;flushed&#; through the valve.
The key takeaway about the design of a Y strainer is that it is designed to
protect downstream equipment from material that isn&#;t continuously present in
the process flow. Another way to describe this is that the percentage of
particles to be removed from the process fluid should be relatively low if you
are going to use a Y strainer.
There isn&#;t anything &#;wrong&#; about using a Y strainer for liquid applications;
in-fact Y strainers have some advantages:
&#; They can be installed horizontally or vertically downward; basket style
strainers can only be installed horizontally.
&#;
They are more compact and thus less expensive than the basket style strainers.
&#;
&#;Standard&#; Y strainers have higher operating pressure ranges than basket style
strainers.
Perhaps the most significant downside of a Y strainer when compared to a basket
strainer is the &#;open area ratio&#;. The open area ratio (OAR) is the ratio
of the cross-sectional area of the inlet/outlet port compared to the open area
of the element.
A straining element is either perforated or having a perforated substrate with a
mesh lining for finer retention. Generally speaking, the finer the
retention, the less open area the straining element has; why is this important?
The percentage of open area combined with the flow coefficient (CV)
of the strainer itself (design dependent) will determine the pressure drop
across the strainer for a given flow rate. Generally speaking the higher
the CV, the less of a pressure drop there will be across the strainer
body; the open area of the straining element will determine how much more the
initial differential pressure will increase.
Since Y strainers were not designed to continuously remove particulate, their
design (strainer element chamber and element dimensions) are only designed to
provide straining ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and perhaps in some cases 3:1, meaning at
best the element has 3 times open area compared to the diameter of the
inlet/outlet connection.
Basket Style Strainers
The phrase &#;Simplex Strainer&#; has become ubiquitous for basket strainers even
though Y, Tee and other variations are also &#;simplex&#; in nature, so for clarity
we&#;ll refer to them as basket strainers.
Due to the way the basket element &#;seals&#; in the basket chamber and the location
of the drain port, they are designed to be installed horizontally.
Although both Y and basket strainers are offered in cast and fabricated designs,
the &#;standard&#; basket strainer design is typically rated for 150# or 300#
pressure class applications whereas Y strainers are commonly rated to 600# -
# applications.
Getting back to the OAR aspect, the real differentiator, basket strainers
typically have an OAR of 6:1 and sometimes as high as 8:1; significantly more
than a Y strainer. This is why basket strainers are used for applications
that have a continuous particle load. Thus an application such as
reclaimed cooling tower water, where there&#;s an expectation of particulates that
need to be removed all the time, is a better fit for a basket strainer than a Y
strainer.
The difference in straining ratios is approximately the difference in frequency
that the straining element will need to be cleaned, thus you would expect to
clean a Y strainer screen that has a 2:1 OAR about 3 times as often as you would
clean a basket strainer having a 6:1 OAR.
In summary, most liquid filtration applications that are either batch processes
or where it&#;s acceptable to interrupt the flow to clean the straining element
will be best suited for basket strainers due to their higher OAR and physically
larger holding capacity. Y strainer applications are typically for inert
gasses and for liquid applications where the particle loading is very low or
only expected during an upset condition.
Although Y-type and T-type strainers perform similar functions in pipeline applications, they each have distinctive qualities that make them uniquely different. While both are effective industrial strainers for removing dirt from fluid systems and protecting valuable downstream equipment, it&#;s useful to know the differences between Y-type strainers vs. T-type strainers when selecting your strainer filter.
In this article, BM Engineering Supplies discusses the differences between T-strainers vs. Y-strainers. We will also offer our guidance on which strainer type you should choose for your pipeline application. As Scotland&#;s premier distributor of pipeline strainers and ancillary equipment, we can share our years of industry expertise to help you understand everything you need to know about Y-type strainers vs. T-type strainers.
What is a Y-type strainer?
Y-type strainers are used predominantly in liquid applications for protecting downstream equipment from particles, such as dirt, which might otherwise affect performance if left untreated. Most Y-type industrial strainers can also work effectively in steam applications, as well as those that deal with inert gases or air.
While Y-type strainers can be fabricated to accommodate specific application requirements, the vast majority of Y-strainers are non-customisable as standard. Y-type strainers are available in sizes from 1/4&#; to 10&#; and can be manufactured from a variety of materials, including cast iron and steel, bronze and AISI 316L stainless steel. They also feature either a screwed or bolted cover for screen access and to ensure that, when opened, process fluid is drained effectively.
Y-type strainer benefits
Superior flushing capabilities thanks to inherent built-in blow-down ports.
Better value for initial costs.
Faster shipment times due to their status as
set items
.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Thread Y Type Strainer.
Offers more overall flexibility.
Wider selection of materials for construction.
Broader range of pressure classes.
Larger open ratio areas than T-type strainers.
What is a T-type strainer?
T-type strainers are mostly custom-fabricated industrial strainers that are usually manufactured from pipe materials. This allows them to offer unique features, such as quick-opening style covers or the addition of a ventilation port and differential pressure taps.
T-type strainers can also offset the inlet and outlet by 90 degrees, which forms an elbow-shaped strainer. This can benefit applications with space constraints. Typically, they are supplied in larger sizes, beginning at 2&#;. However, because they are fabricated industrial strainers, this generally results in extended lead times when ordering directly from manufacturers, as opposed to regional distributors such as BM Engineering Supplies.
T-type strainer benefits
Quick opening style covers.
Additional vent ports and differential pressure taps.
Higher flow capacity despite smaller open ratio areas, thanks to a straighter flow path.
Chamber covers can be opened without process fluid draining out whilst installed horizontally&#;- which is beneficial in
more hazardous processes.
Better suited to
t
ransferring fluids at higher velocities.
Ideal for larger pipeline applications which need quick access to the strain.
Y-type strainers vs. T-type -strainers: Which is better?
To answer the question of which is better &#; T-strainers vs. Y-strainers depends entirely on the needs of your business.
For example, if you are looking for a cost-effective straining solution from an industrial strainer that can offer more flexibility, then purchasing a Y-type strainer might be the way to go.
Alternatively, T-type strainers would be the preference if your pipeline application deals with more viscous fluids that need transferring at higher velocities or a strainer that has a higher flow capacity.
Buy industrial strainers in Scotland
Here at BM Engineering Supplies, we stock and supply both Y-strainers and T-strainers from renowned pipeline ancillaries manufacturer, Valsteam ADCA. As the UK&#;s premier distributor of Valsteam ADCA products, we can provide businesses throughout Scotland and the wider UK with the full range of ADCA strainers. This includes their IS16F series cast iron Y-strainer, which is particularly useful for dealing with non-dangerous fluids in the Group 2 category.
To purchase Valsteam ADCA industrial strainers, contact BM Engineering Supplies today on 762 , or complete our contact form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
Want more information on forged steel valves? Feel free to contact us.