Stainless Steel Filter Housing Sizing — Multi-Cartridge ΔP, Flow & Cost Guide

Outubro 17, 2025

This practical stainless steel filter housing sizing guide shows how to turn plant data (flow, temperature/viscosity, target micron) into a multi-cartridge configuration that hits clean ΔP, capacity and change-out goals. You’ll get an input checklist, a step-by-step method, viscosity & temperature corrections, two worked examples, and a purchasing checklist.

This guide shows practical steps for stainless steel filter housing sizing using ΔP models, viscosity corrections and worked examples.

Need a ready-to-buy option? See our stainless portfolio here → Produtos de aço inoxidável.

1) Inputs needed for stainless steel filter housing sizing

Design flow (normal & peak, m³/h) and duty cycle.
Fluid properties: temperature window → viscosity (μ). For water: μ≈1.0 cP at 20–25 °C; rises at lower temps.
Target particle cut & media: nominal vs absolute; PP/PES/PTFE; core type (polymer vs stainless), pleat density.
Clean ΔP target across the housing + cartridges (e.g., 0.2–0.3 bar) and terminal ΔP (often 1.5–2.0 bar).
Change-out philosophy: ΔP or time-based; sanitation/quality constraints.

2) What drives ΔP and capacity

Micron rating & media: finer → higher ΔP per unit flow; PES/PTFE usually higher ΔP than PP at the same micron.
Viscosity (temperature): higher μ increases ΔP and reduces allowable per-cartridge flow.
Cartridge geometry: 10″/20″/30″ length, pleat area, core/sleeve; higher area lowers ΔP.
Housing losses: inlet diffuser, outlet nozzle, turnings; smaller on multi-cartridge but not zero (add margin).

3) The sizing method (flow → area → ΔP)

Use the cartridge datasheet (ΔP vs flow curve) at reference conditions and scale to your target clean ΔP and viscosity.

3.1 Quick model

For many pleated cartridges, ΔP grows with flow to an exponent n ~ 1.6–1.9. A conservative working value is n=1.7.

Per-cartridge clean flow estimate (from a reference point on the datasheet):
Q_per ≈ Q_ref × (ΔP_target/ΔP_ref)^1/n ÷ F_μ

Q_ref: flow per 30″ cartridge at a known ΔP_ref from the datasheet (same media/micron).
F_μ (viscosity factor): approx (μ_actual/μ_ref)^1/n. For water at 15 °C vs 25 °C, μ ratio ≈1.2 → F_μ≈1.2^1/1.7≈1.11.

Cartridge count: N = ceil( Q_total / Q_per ). Then select a housing with ≥N cartridges (allow margin for fouling/aging).

3.2 Practical margins

Add 10–25% margin for housing losses, instrument tees, and early-life fouling.
For bioburden-sensitive or cold service, use a higher margin or a lower clean ΔP target.
Plan terminal ΔP at 1.5–2.0 bar unless media/OEM specifies otherwise.

4) Worked examples

Example A — 20 m³/h, 5 μm PP @ 25 °C (main line polish)

Goal: Q_total=20 m³/h; media=PP 5 μm; clean ΔP target=0.25 bar; terminal ΔP=1.5 bar; 30″ cartridges.
Datasheet point (representative): one 30″ PP 5 μm passes Q_ref=0.8 m³/h em ΔP_ref=0.07 bar (25 °C water).
Per-cartridge clean flow: Q_per≈0.8×(0.25/0.07)^1/1.7≈0.8×(3.571)^0.588≈0.8×2.03≈1.62 m³/h.
Count: N≈20/1.62≈12.3 → choose 15 cartridges for margin.
Housing pick: sanitary/multi-cartridge 15×30″ with DP ports and full drain; change-out at 1.5 bar or 6–8 weeks.

Example B — 45 m³/h, 1 μm PES @ 15 °C (bioburden control)

Goal: Q_total=45 m³/h; media=PES 1 μm (absolute); clean ΔP target=0.30 bar; terminal ΔP=1.8 bar; 30″ cartridges.
Datasheet point (representative): one 30″ PES 1 μm passes Q_ref=0.5 m³/h em ΔP_ref=0.07 bar (25 °C).
Viscosity correction: 15 °C water ≈1.2× viscous vs 25 °C → F_μ≈1.2^1/1.7≈1.11.
Per-cartridge clean flow: Q_per≈0.5×(0.30/0.07)^1/1.7÷1.11≈0.5×(4.286)^0.588/1.11≈0.5×2.25/1.11≈0.94 m³/h.
Count: N≈45/0.94≈47.9 → choose 50–54 cartridges; if uptime critical, consider 2×30 or 2×36 with duplex valving for swap-over.

For repeatable stainless steel filter housing sizing, keep the input set consistent: flow, viscosity, target clean ΔP and cartridge datasheet.

5) Clean ΔP targets & terminal ΔP

Clean ΔP is your operating headroom. 0.2–0.3 bar is a typical design window for main line polishing.
Terminal ΔP (1.5–2.0 bar) balances media life and protection of upstream pumps/RO.
Trend ΔP vs time; if rise is too fast, check pretreatment, flux per cartridge, or switch to higher-area media.

6) Temperature/viscosity quick factors (water)

Temp (°C)	Viscosity (cP)	Approx flow derate vs 25 °C
5	~1.52	~0.85×
15	~1.14	~0.90×
25	~0.89–1.00	1.00×
40	~0.65	~1.10×

Use datasheet curves where possible. The table above is a rule-of-thumb for water; adjust for other fluids.

7) Typical mistakes to avoid

Linear scaling only: at higher flux ΔP rises faster than linear; use an exponent (~1.7) or the OEM curve.
No allowance for housing/instrument losses → unexpected ΔP at startup.
Under-sized on cold starts (higher μ) → false early change-out alarms.
Ignoring cartridge length/area — mixing 10″ and 30″ assumptions.
Skipping drainability/vent in sanitary lines → poor CIP/SIP coverage and trapped air.

8) Purchasing checklist

Cartridge count & length: N × 10″/20″/30″; tube sheet style; allowable clean ΔP; terminal ΔP.
Materials & finish: 304/316L; pickling/passivation or electropolish; Ra target.
Connections: tri-clamp/flanged; DP ports (PI/P2), vent on top, full drain bottom.
Elastomers: EPDM/FKM/PTFE; temperature & chemical compatibility with CIP/SIP.
Docs: MTR/3.1, hydrotest, FAT/SAT, IQ/OQ templates (if sanitary).

9) Ready-to-buy configurations

10–18 × 30″ multi-cartridge housings for 10–25 m³/h polishing — browse stainless housings.
24–60 × 30″ multi-cartridge housings for 25–70 m³/h main lines — see options.
Duplex/parallel sets for continuous operation — configure with synchronized isolation valves and DP transmitters.

10) FAQs — stainless steel filter housing sizing

What clean ΔP should I use?0.2–0.3 bar is common for main line polishing; go lower for cold/viscous or bioburden-sensitive lines.How do I translate 10″ to 30″?Flows in datasheets are usually per 10″ equivalent; a 30″ element ≈ 3× the 10″ value of the same media and pleat family (confirm with OEM).Do I need a duplex housing?If the line cannot stop for change-out or CIP, duplex with crossover valves. Otherwise design extra area to stretch intervals.How do I account for housing losses?Add 10–25% margin or use the OEM housing ΔP data if available; include instrument tees and any reducer losses.

11) Next steps

Send your flow, temperature, target micron and preferred media. We’ll return a stainless steel filter housing sizing sheet (cartridge count, clean/terminal ΔP and a quotation) within 24 hours.

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