PANID ENGINEERING CO. LTD.

No. 422 Asadabadi Street, P.O. Box 14155-5618, Tehran 14368, Iran
Tel: (+98) (21) 8804 9697; Fax: (+98) (21) 8804 9889

Our proposal is based on using Pall absolute rated filter cartridges. We think that project
specifications are based on nominally rated filters (Tag no: VP-14-999-1210-0001-108-F-502
602 and VP-14-999-1210-0001-108-F-503 603). Absolute filters have many advantages over
nominally rated filters. Many filter manufacturers, rely on a nominal filter rating which has been
defined by the National Fluid Power association (NFPA) as: “An arbitrary micron value assigned
by the filter manufacturer, based upon removal of some percentage of all particles of a given size
or lager.” This is very rarely well-defined and not reproducible. In practice, a contaminant is
introduced upstream of the filter element and subsequently the effluent flow is analyzed
microscopically. A given Nominal Rating of a filter means that, for example, 98% by weight of
the contaminant above the specified size has been removed: 2% by weight of the contaminants
has passed downstream. Note that this is gravimetrical test rather than a particle count test.
Counting particle upstream and downstream is more meaningful way to measure filter
effectiveness. Typical problems are as follows: The 98% contaminant removal by weight is
determined by using a specific contaminant at a given concentration and flow. If any one of the
test conditions are changed, the test results could be altered significantly. The 2% of the
contaminant passing through the filter is not defined by the test. It is not uncommon for a filter
with a nominal rating of 10μm to pass particles downstream ranging in size from 30 to over 100
microns. Test data are often not reproducible, particularly among different testing laboratories.
Some manufacturers do not base their nominal rating on 98 per cent contamination removal by
weight, but instead a contamination removal efficiency of 95%, 90%, or lower. Thus it often
happens that a Pall filter with an absolute rating of 10μm is actually finer than a competitive
filter with a nominal rating of 1μm. One cannot therefore assume that a filter with a nominal
rating of 10μm will retain all or most particle 10μm or larger. Yet some filter manufacturers
continue to use only a nominal rating both because it makes their filters seem finer than they
actually are, and because it is impossible to place an absolute rating on a non-fixed pore filter.

Absolute Rating
The NFPA defines absolute rating as follows: The diameter of the largest hard spherical particle
that will pass through a filter under specified test conditions. It is an indication of the largest
opening in the filter element. Such a rating can be assigned only to an integrally bonded medium.
One point that confuses users of absolute rated filters is that when measuring downstream
contamination, contaminants larger than the pore size indicated by the absolute rating are
invariably found. At first glance, this would seem to cast doubt on the very concept of an
“absolute” rating. However, one must realize that it is impossible to take effluent samples,
transfer them, run the test, or wash out a newly manufactured filter without adding a quantity of
contaminations.
 PANID ENGINEERING CO. LTD.
No. 422 Asadabadi Street, P.O. Box 14155-5618, Tehran 14368, Iran
Tel: (+98) (21) 8804 9697; Fax: (+98) (21) 8804 9889

There are several recognized tests for establishing the absolute rating of a filter. What test is used
will depend on the manufacturer, on the type of the medium to be tested, or sometimes on the
processing industry.
Using 3 micron absolute filter causes filter blocking in a short time. 10 micron absolute filter will
remove 80 percent of particle size 3 micron in size. [Ref 1] The recommended filter media grade
for amine filtration is 10 micron absolute filter.[Ref 2] In a recent case study at a natural gas
treating plan in Texas, 10 micron absolute filter effectively eliminated a persistent foaming
problem.[Ref 3]

References:

1- Pall Corporation “Predicting Contamination Level of Upset Conditions in Amine

amine plant.pdf
Sweetening System”

2- Pall Corporation, Fuel and Chemicals, Field Applications HCP-25b “Sour Gas Treating

Amine Treating Unit.pdf

Amine Unit”

3- Pall Corporation, Scientific & Technical Report “Analysis of Foaming Mechanisms in

Foamin mechanism in Amin unit.pdf

Amine Plants”