Filters and Filtration

Group 5
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS operate at considerable pressure,
and in order to provide the efficiency at such pressures, pumps
and motors have close clearances, and control valves and servos
require even smaller clearances.
Small particles within the system fluid; the solid
contamination, may well cause damage and blockage within the
system. Other contaminants, such as water (in mineral oils) and
biological growth (in water based fluids), also have a serious
effect on the system. Air can also be a contaminant. It is
important to include some means of separating the
contaminant from the working system in order to achieve
trouble-free operation and long component life.
HYDRAULIC FILTERS
Filters and filtration are the major components in
contamination separation and control.
HYDRAULIC FILTERS
HYDRAULIC FILTERS protects hydraulic system
components from damages to contamination of oils or other
hydraulic fluid in use caused by particles. Every minute,
approximately one million particles larger than 1 micron
(0.001mm) enter a hydraulic system.

These particles can cause damage to hydraulic system

components because hydraulic oil is easily contaminated.
Maintaining a good hydraulic filtration system will increase
hydraulic component lifetime.
* These filters helps remove these particles and clean the oil
on a continuous basis.
HYDRAULIC FILTERS
CONTAMINANTS - a polluting or poisonous substance that
makes something impure. Produced from
wear and chemical reactions, introduced by
improper maintenance, and inadvertently introduced during
servicing.
TYPES OF CONTAMINATIONS
a) Water Contamination - Water is a serious contaminant of
hydraulic systems. It can cause a corrosion for metal
surfaces. Water contamination may result in the formation
of ice, which impedes the operation of valves, actuators,
and other moving parts.
b) Solvent Contamination
This is a special form of foreign fluid contamination in
which the original contaminating substance is a chlorinated
solvent. Chlorinated solvents or their residues may, when
introduced into a hydraulic system, react with any
water present to form highly corrosive acids.
 Chlorinated solvents, when allowed to combine with
minute amounts of water often found in operating hydraulic
systems, change chemically into hydrochloric acids.
These acids then attack internal metallic surfaces in the
system, particularly those that are ferrous, and produce
a severe rust-like corrosion.
c) Foreign Fluid Contamination
This type of contamination is generally a result of lube
oil, engine fuel, or incorrect hydraulic fluid being introduced
inadvertently into the system during servicing. The effects of
such contamination depend on the contaminant, the amount
in the system, and how long it has been present.
FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Year Development Filtration Rate
First use of air and oil filters 100 m
1940 for engines; strainers

Big increase of hydraulic

1950 applications and so filtration

Use of star pleated mesh 50 to 100 m

1960 packs with inner core
Development of paper and up to 3 m
1970 metal fleece elements
Launch of the Multipass Test, up to 3 m
1980 start of absolute filtration

Absolute filtration in all 1 m and 2m absolute

1990 applications
TYPES OF HYDRAULIC FILTERS
TYPES OF HYDRAULIC FILTERS
1. Suction Side Filters - located before the hydraulic pump.
These filters are designed to protect the pump from
harmful contaminants that are within the hydraulic fluid.
The filtering media within this type of filter is typically one
with a higher micron rating, such as a wire screen.
2. Pressure Side Filters - located downstream from the
hydraulic pump. These filters are designed to clean the fluid
as it exits the pump to protect more sensitive system
components such as control valves and actuators from
contaminants generated from the pump. The typical filtering
media used in these filters is capable of removing a high
percentage of the smaller particles of contaminant.
TYPES OF HYDRAULIC FILTERS
3. Return Side Filters - Located between the control valve and
the fluid reservoir. These filters are designed to capture
wear debris from the hydraulic systems working
components before returning the fluid back to the
reservoir. The media used in these filters is designed to
remove common size wear particles that may be generated
by these system components.
4. Off Line Filters - These filters are used to clean hydraulic
fluid before it enters the hydraulic system itself. Fluid is
pulled from the reservoir through the filter and is returned
to the reservoir.
TYPES OF HYDRAULIC FILTERS
5. In-Tank Breather Filters - Located on the reservoir. This filter
may be used to prevent moisture and contaminants from
entering the reservoir.
TASKS OF HYDRAULIC FILTER
RECOMMENDED FILTER PORE SIZE
FOR REXROTH COMPONENTS
FACTS ABOUT CONTAMINATION
PROBLEM AND FILTERS
From time to time development has taken place for better
method of oil cleaning. A continuous research & innovation is
going on world-wide for Better & better filter technology.
Contamination ingress in hydraulic system cannot be brought
to zero.
To clean the oil to a certain class is not difficult but what
difficult is, to maintain that cleanliness level consistently
during working cycles.
As you go for fine filter you should be more careful & prompt
to keep watch on filter clogging & replacement.
We cannot keep hydraulic systems healthy without filters &
protection to hydraulic system can be given by on-line filters
only & not by other off-line cleaning methods.