Filters and Strainers

Filters and strainers do have a lot in common. Both

products are designed to remove suspended particles
from a liquid or gas.
Filters: Filters removes minute particles ,size less than
40 microns , not visible to naked eyes

Strainers: Removes minute particles (particles visible

to naked eyes), size more than 40 microns.
 Filter “mesh” definition
• Figuring out mesh sizes is simple. ... The
number of openings is the mesh size. So a 4
mesh screen means there are four little squares
across one linear inch of screen.

• A 100-mesh screen has 100 openings, and so

on. As the number describing the mesh size
increases, the size of the particles decreases.
• The filter is a fine mesh screen which is used to
remove impurities from oil, water, and air on the ship.
• Filters are mounted in pairs as a duplex system so that
one can be used and other is kept on standby at a
time.
• The filter can be utilized both in low pressure
(suction) and discharge (high pressure) side of the
system and is used to remove the smallest part of dirt
which is carried away in the system.
• The cleaning frequency of filters depends on the type
of the filter and is decided by the manufacturer. The
schedule is generally included in the planned
maintenance system on board.
• The strainer is a type of filter used mostly on low
pressure or suction side and is used to remove large
contamination particles from the system.
• It is because the mesh screen openings in the
strainer are bigger in size and are similar to those of
coarse filter.
• Usually, strainers are cleaned whenever they are
opened up or when the pressure drop on the filter
side is high.
• Type of Filters Used on Ship

• Types of filters depending upon the Medium

• 1)Hydraulic Filter: Hydraulic filters are handy for removing solid contamination from lube and fuel
oil systems of marine machinery. Without filters in the lube or fuel oil system, the internal
machinery parts, bearings, piston, rings, liners, etc. can get damaged, which will result in the
inefficient working of the machinery. Different applications of hydraulic filters are:

• a) Fine Mesh Screen Filter: It is the most commonly used filter in lube and fuel oil systems on
board. It can be used both on suction and discharge side of the system. It is used in cylinder lube
oil line, main engine and auxiliary engine fuel oil line & diesel oil line, boiler fuel oil line and in
different lube oil systems on board, etc.

• b) Magnetic filter: This normally consists of filter elements which are magnetic in nature and
which help in catching fine metal or ferrous particles that run in the system. These elements are
surrounded by a basket screen which also acts as a filter and simplifies the cleaning of the filter.
Magnetic filters are used in lube oil system.

• c) Auto Back Wash Filter: In auto backwash filters, when the pressure difference increases, an
indication of filter getting clogged, the auto system cuts off the filter and opens the bypass. The
auto wash takes place with the help of an electric motor connected to a shaft which cleans the
filter. During this operation, the drain of the filter gets open.
• d) Centrifugal filter: As the name suggests, these filters
work on the principle of centrifugal force removing
high-density impurities from the oil. It is normally
used for lube oil systems. Most of the Auxiliary
engines have attached centrifugal filters for Lub Oil
system.
• e) Manual clean filter: In the manual filter, there is a
handle with a shaft which is connected inside to a
filter. When the pressure difference increases, the
filter unit is bypassed, and the filter is cleaned
manually with the help of a lever. Applications: Sea
chest Filters, FO Supply and circulating pumps for ME,
AE & Blr.
• 2) Water Filter: The sea water and fresh water systems on board ship are provided with line filters
to trap the solid impurities flowing in the system.

The different applications for water filters are:

• a) Sea chest Strainer: Sea chest is fitted in the main suction line of the sea water inlet system to
the ship. The filter casing is normally fitted with marine growth preventive system. Normally a
strainer is used in the sea chest so that the flow of water in the sea line is always maintained.

• b) Fire line suction filter: Fire pump has a suction filter to avoid any solid impurity to come inside
the fire line. The filter mesh screen has a moderate opening screen hole for the flow of water.

• c) Bilge line filter: All the bilge well suctions are provided with a strainer as the well contains the
maximum solid contamination. The filter may have a bucket screen or a plate screen to trap solid
impurities like rags etc.

• d) Fresh water system filter: All the freshwater systems such as drinking water system, sanitary
water system, boiler feed water system etc. are incorporated with a line filter on the suction side
of the pump.
• 3) Air Filter: These filters are used on board so that the
compressed air supplied to different machinery and systems
get pure air for efficient operation of the same. The different
application of the air filters are:
• a) Control air filter: The control air system or the pneumatic
control of the propulsion plant is very critical. It must not
contain any moisture for it may block the passages in the
system and the main propulsion plant may not start or
reverse etc. The control air filter removes the moisture and
collects it in a chamber from where it can be drained.
• b) Turbocharger Air filter: Turbocharger filters are made of
copper mesh which is used on the blower side so that the air
sucked by the blower must not carry any solid or carbon
particles; else it may damage the blades and reduce the
combustion efficiency.
• c) IG system scrubber filter: I.G system scrubber plant
contains moist exhaust. To remove the moisture from
the same, a demister filter is used.
• d) Compressor filter: All the air used on board is
supplied by main or auxiliary air compressor on
board. The air is sucked into the compressor through
an air filter located in the first stage and is made up
of paper and metal mesh.
• 4) Special filters: Some special filters which are used on board
the ship are:
• a) OWS 1st and 2nd stage filter: The filters used in OWS are
expensive and normally of the disposable type. The first stage
filter normally consists of felt filter. The second stage filter
uses coalescer for bringing down the oil content to below 15
ppm.
• b) Oxygen analyzer filter: Oxygen analyzer is an instrument
which is used to measure oxygen content in enclosed area. It
consists of a probe fitted with an integrated air filter to
remove dirt from the air drawn.
• c) Cartridge filter: This type of filters are used for portable
generators, auxiliary compressors and a power pack on board
and can be used for fuel oil and lube oil filtration. They are
usually of the disposable type and can be used only once.