Figure 1: Y Strainer
A Y strainer is a type of mechanical filter used in pipelines to remove unwanted solids from liquids, gases, or steam. It is named for its Y-shaped design, which allows it to be installed in either horizontal or vertical pipelines. This type of filter is essential in numerous fluid control applications to ensure that particles within the fluid do not negatively affect any downstream component.
Any solids entering a system can disrupt and even damage it entirely. Clean fluids can help maximize the reliability and lifespan of any mechanical system. For example, solenoid valves, susceptible to dirt, require clean media. In addition to protecting the performance of solenoid valves, Y strainers also help safeguard other mechanical equipment, including:
A simple Y strainer can protect these components, some of the pipeline's most valuable and expensive parts, from pipe scale, rust, sediment, or other debris.
Figure 2: A Y strainer protects a suction pump from unwanted debris.
As its name implies, a Y strainer is shaped like a Y. Its mechanical straining process is possible because of a filter element composed of mesh (the most common type), perforated metal, or a wedge wire straining element. Some strainers also include blow-off valves that make cleaning easier in applications with more substantial dirt.
A mesh filter Y strainer cannot function properly without an appropriately sized mesh filter. Two terms describe the size of the openings in the strainer through which debris passes: micron and mesh size. Though these are two different measurements, they describe the same thing.
A micron (micrometer) is a unit of length used to measure tiny particles. On a scale of one-thousandth of a millimeter, it is about one 25-thousandth of an inch.
A strainer's mesh size indicates how many openings there are in the mesh across one linear inch. The ratings typically range from a size 3 mesh screen with 6,730 microns to a size 400 mesh screen with 37 microns.
Table 1 is a handy resource to help convert from mesh to micron (or vice-versa).
Table 1: Converting between micron and mesh size
Mesh Size Microns Millimeters Inches 10 2.000 0. 12 1.680 0. 14 1.410 0. 16 1.190 0. 18 1.000 0. 20 841 0.841 0. 25 707 0.707 0.028 30 595 0.595 0. 35 500 0.500 0. 40 420 0.420 0. 45 354 0.354 0. 50 297 0.297 0. 60 250 0.250 0. 70 210 0.210 0. 80 177 0.177 0.007 100 149 0.149 0. 120 125 0.125 0. 140 105 0.105 0. 170 88 0.088 0. 200 74 0.074 0. 230 63 0.063 0. 270 53 0.053 0. 325 44 0.044 0. 400 37 0.037 0. 500 25 0.025 0. 625 20 0.020 0. 10 0.010 0. 8 0.008 0. 5 0.005 0. 2.5 0. 0. 1 0.001 0.It can be difficult to conceptualize microns and mesh size. Therefore, it can be helpful to see examples of the mesh sizes of certain particles, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Mesh sizes of particular particles
Mesh size Microns Example of particle size 14 0. - 28 0. Beach Sand 60 0. Fine Sand 100 0. - 200 0. Portland Cement 325 0. Silt 400 0. Plant PollenIt's important to take the time to size the mesh filter correctly. A mesh filter that is too small or too large can negatively affect the system. If the filter is too small, there will be a higher pressure drop from inlet to outlet. Additionally, removing too much debris from the flow can clog the filter and increase the pressure drop. If the filter is too large, the performance and life span of the downstream equipment can be negatively affected.
There are various material options for the strainer's housing and seal: brass and stainless steel are commonly used for the housing and PTFE and Teflon are commonly used for the seal.
Stainless steel offers many benefits when it's used to construct Y strainers:
Figure 3: A stainless steel Y strainer
Stainless Steel Y-Strainers
Brass Y strainers offer several advantages when used in various applications:
The material section above mentions several common Y strainer applications. This section offers more. A Y strainer is most valuable in an environment that requires constant protection from debris and contamination. Some of the most common applications are the following.
These strainers are a go-to resource in most steam applications, as their shape is built to handle the high pressure that exists in these environments.
Liquid applications tend to become infiltrated by sand and gravel, and Y strainers can help keep those particles out to ensure the liquid stays clean. Especially when they work in tandem with other water-handling applications, these strainers can protect important (and expensive) equipment from damage, corrosion, or clogs that could result from such contamination.
Natural gas and air applications tend to have a low operating pressure, so proper sizing to reduce a pressure drop from inlet to outlet is important.
Different kinds of Y strainers on the market are designed to meet various industry needs. Keep the following criteria in mind:
There is no one-size-fits-all Y strainer that meets every need. That's why it's important to understand the application requirements before selecting a strainer.
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When installing a Y strainer:
Y strainers have an arrow from the inlet to the outlet. It is important to install them in this orientation for proper filtration.
Depending on your needs, Y filters can include a variety of end connections, including flanged, threaded and welded. You can also find special flanges, such as ring joints.
Select the housing material based on the application's environment. To do this, it's necessary to understand the chemical resistances of the materials.
A Y strainer is an affordable alternative to other types of strainers, especially at small sizes.
If you spend much time on our website you&#;ll notice it&#;s full of some pretty impressive products. Over the decades our product line has grown, and our manufacturing and fabrication services and capabilities have grown to meet our customers&#; growing demands. A brief look through our &#;Product Gallery&#; section shows we make some exceptional strainers and valves.
As the world gets more complex it&#;s easy to get distracted from some of the simple amazing things in our lives. Like turning on a tap and having clean water come out, opening a fridge and taking out a cold drink, or turning the ignition key in your car, and having this marvelous compilation of steel and copper and rubber and integrated circuits move you from Point A to Point B in comfort.
It&#;s important to remember some of the simpler things that make this all possible, and with that in mind we&#;ve decided to feature some of the products that may not seem ultra-sophisticated but which make the processes we require in modern life work better and more efficiently. One of those is a simple &#;Y Strainer&#;.
A &#;Y Strainer&#; takes its name from its configuration and is most commonly used in pressurized lines, gas or liquid. They can also be used in suction or vacuum conditions. Y Strainers are intended for applications where small amounts of solid particulate are expected and where clean-out will be infrequent. If solids will flush easily from the screen, and fluid can be exhausted to atmosphere, a blow-down valve on the drain port will allow clean-out without removal of the screen, and without interrupting the process flow.
By definition a strainer provides a means of mechanically removing solids from a flowing liquid. They do this by utilizing a perforated metal, mesh or wedge wire straining element.
We often forget that installation of a Y Strainer isn&#;t an expense, it&#;s an investment in the protection of the downstream mechanical equipment such as turbines, pumps, heat exchangers, spray nozzles, condensers, meters and steam traps. These are often one of the costliest components of the process and can be damaged by sediment, rust, pipe scale and other extraneous debris.
Y Strainers can be used in either a horizontal or vertical position while most basket strainers are designed for horizontal or slightly inclined piping applications. You must pay attention to the orientation of the chamber which collects debris and the drain (blow-down) connection of the Y Strainer. The strainer must be installed so that it is in the lowest possible position.
A Y Strainer installed in vertical piping must be installed so that its screen is in the downward position so that it can trap sediment in the debris collection chamber.
A simplex strainer (just a single strainer as opposed to a duplex strainer) is generally used where the process can be shut down for a period of time to replace, or to clean the strainer.
Y Strainers and many basket strainers can be self-cleaning. If you add a blow-down valve the strainer can be flushed without stopping the flow through or disassembling the piping.
Contractors and engineers often have a misconception that Y strainers and basket strainers cannot be used in steam service. In many instances both basket strainers and Y Strainers will perform comparably in steam service. When you order strainers for steam service it&#;s essential that you specify this so the manufacturer is aware of this. With steam the housing may be provided with a special bottom which allows the accumulated debris to be blown out of the blowdown valve opening.
When liquid flows through a strainer, the strainer screen will impede the flow and therefore the pressure of the liquid exiting the strainer will be lower than prior to entering the strainer. This is referred to as the &#;pressure drop&#; of the strainer.
In sizes about 4 inches, a basket strainer will generally create less pressure drop than a Y strainer. Due to the required thickness and therefore high cost to create high pressure strainers, basket strainers are normally not constructed for pressures above 1,500 psi. On the other hand, Y strainers are available for working pressures of 6,000 psi and higher.
Cast Y strainers can be installed into a pipeline or work flow application either by &#;threading&#; them on to a piece of pipe, or by being bolted to a &#;flange&#;.
Threaded cast Y strainers can come in a variety of materials including Cast Iron, Cast Bronze, Cast Steel, Cast Stainless Steel, Cast Alloy 20, Cast Chrome-Moly. Flanged Y Strainers can come in Cast Iron, Cast Ductile Iron, Cast Steel, Cast Stainless Steel, Cast LCC.
While Y strainers are not always the flashiest part of production process they are an essential component. In an era where we have the tools to analyze and record in minute detail variables including downtime, make sure you keep those expensive downstream components working to their potential by ensuring you are removing the debris and particulate that can reduce their efficiency or cause premature failure.
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