Pressure drop through strainer mesh
Pressure drop through strainer mesh
(OP)
Hi:
I am looking to establish the flow resistance for a rectangular wire mesh strainer fitted in a lube oil tank to handle higher flow requirements. I would like to estimate the pressure drop for different screens. I would appreciate any help on formulae or correlation for this calculation.
Thank you in advance.
I am looking to establish the flow resistance for a rectangular wire mesh strainer fitted in a lube oil tank to handle higher flow requirements. I would like to estimate the pressure drop for different screens. I would appreciate any help on formulae or correlation for this calculation.
Thank you in advance.





RE: Pressure drop through strainer mesh
A properly designed clean strainer should have minimal pressure drop. The real question is what is the dP as it becomes clogged (which hopefully isn't happening in a lube oil system) and that's pretty hard to predict. Its a function of how much the wire mesh is plugged and therefore how much is available for flow along with of course, the oil flow rate and properties.
RE: Pressure drop through strainer mesh
Regards, Charlie D.
The more you learn, the less you are certain of.
RE: Pressure drop through strainer mesh
The suction strainer is usually supplied by the pump manufacturer.
Only during initial commissioning are strainers used on the pressure side of the system for the infamous lube oil system flush, bypassing all the lubricated equipment.
In that case an in-line witch-hat strainer, is used with a 20 mesh and a stainless steel backing cone or a wafer type strainer.
The point of the witch hat is pointing AGAINST THE FLOW. and dp gages are installed to determine when the strainers get clogged.
Perhaps if you give more detail regarding the specific application we could help you more.
Saludos.
HTH
a.
RE: Pressure drop through strainer mesh
This also requires me to answer some questions.
1) The screen mesh sizing is not adequate as it is causing the flow to back up. Hence the requirement to evaluate its flow resistance and pressure drop. I see it as a pressure drop across a wire of a particular diameter (bluff body) (corrected for flow effects of surrounding wires) and may be calculate and compare it against the pressure drop as if it was a pipe of length D (diameter).
2)The pump has a fine strainer on the discharge before going to turbine seal. The return oil from the loop seal goes goes to a circular strainer (located in the tank) and then to the rectangular wire mesh strainer /screen (also in the tank). There is no separate suction strainer for the pumps.
RE: Pressure drop through strainer mesh
Have you estimated what is the open area of it versus the pipe? Typically, these don't take much dP unless they are partially clogged or they have been wrongly selected.