If you work in a business that deals with high temperatures then the likelihood is you will require the use of a ceramic filter. Most high-temperature process nowadays are subject to extremely strict limits in terms of emissions. After all, the emphasis on being as environmentally friendly as possible is a stark one. Ceramic filters can help you to achieve your duty of abiding by these limits.

There are lots of benefits associated with utilising a filter. Of course, there is the fact that you reduce emissions substantially when you incorporate this into your system with seamless pipes. Nevertheless, you will also increase your commercial competitiveness as well. The three main benefits however are; corrosion resistance, high-temperature filter capability and high collection efficiency. These all relate to great operational efficiency and the reduction of pollution.

So, how does high-temperature filter technology actually work? The concept revolves around forming a filter medium by utilising a refractory ceramic material. This is a process that has been around for a lot of years now. If you were to take a trip down memory lane then you would see that one of the earliest ceramic filters was manufactured with the purpose of aiding in advanced power generation applications. This is a high-density ceramic filter (one of the two main types still available today). It took the form of flanged tubes which were closed at one end and had the requirement of operation in high pressure and high-temperature situations.

So, let’s take a look at the two types of ceramic filters in further detail. As just mentioned you have the high-density option, yet there is also the low-density ceramic filter as well. The latter was developed during the mid-’80s. When it comes to the first type of low-density filter this was one utilised for thermal soil remediation. The first stage of the process of driving off volatiles from contaminated soil revolves around high-temperature filter action. This removes the particulates from the gas before the rest of the processing takes place.

Now we have taken a look at the earliest forms of high-density filters and low-density ceramic filters. But what is so different about the two types? A high-density ceramic filter will typically be constructed from refractory grains, such as silicon carbide. They boast high density, filter drag and tensile strength. The porosity percentage is approximately 0.3 to 0.4. Porosity relates to the inverse of resistance to flow. The thermal shock resistance of high-density ceramic filters is low, yet one thing that tends to be high is the cost!

What about low-density ceramic filters? Well, these are the complete opposite. They are formed from refractory fibres. The density, filter drag and fracture mechanism are all low whilst the thermal shock resistance is high. The porosity percentage comes in at about 0.8 to 0.9. Furthermore, you can expect to find low-density ceramic filters available at a much cheaper cost in relation to the high-density version.

Hopefully, this article will have provided you with the information required on the differences between the two main types of ceramic filters available today. No matter what option you go for, there is very little refuting the importance of this technology when it comes to high-temperature processes.