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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.
When handling critical flow applications, keeping service fluids clean is essential. Industrial pipelines contain several components that are sensitive to sediments, semi-solids and suspended particles. These impurities can clog downstream valves and affect the performances of process pumps, regulators and metering devices. Even small amounts of impurities can contaminate service fluids and damage pipes, reducing the reliability and longevity of piping systems.
The Y-strainer is a practical and affordable solution for preventing these impurities from damaging downstream fluid system parts.
Y-strainers are indispensable devices for removing dirt and debris from service fluids. They have a compact design to ensure suspended and solid particles are removed from fluids to protect downstream flow control devices.
In this article, we explore:
Y-strainers are named for their Y-shaped design. They have a body that houses a specially designed mesh screen that filters service fluids. Other strainers use wedged wire elements or perforated metal to filter particulates. The screening element has small openings that allow clean fluids to pass through.
Physical appearance of a Y-strainer
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Fluid enters the Y-strainer through the inlet port, flowing under pressure past the screening element. As the fluid flows past the perforated metal, the mesh traps any particles, debris, suspended solids, and other foreign matter that is larger than the screening openings. Clean fluid exits the Y-strainer through the outlet port, which is connected to adjacent pipelines.
The Y-strainer traps all debris and unwanted matter within its body. This debris can easily be removed by opening the strainer cap. This allows you to clean the Y-strainer and replace damaged or worn-out screens. Some Y-strainers have blowout kits for removing contaminants faster without disassembling the entire unit. The blowout kit is also called a blowdown connection.
Y-strainers are essential for any fluid application where fluid cleanliness is critical. The cleanliness of service fluids affects the reliability and durability of mechanical systems in a piping system. Y-strainers can protect sensitive elements like diaphragm and solenoid valves. Debris blocks ports of a solenoid valve and prevents diaphragm valves from full seating, causing minute leakages around them.
Y-strainers are common in:
Y-strainers are preferable for their compact designs. The Y-shape provides seamless fluid flow without significantly changing flow direction.
Y-strainers are available in a variety of sizes and designs to meet the performance requirements of different pipelines. Here is a detailed look at the different connection types.
Flanged-end Y-strainers are designed in accordance with various industry standards, including ANSI specifications. Y-strainers in this category can feature raised or flat faces to fit into different pipe sizes and designs. When installing flanged-end Y-strainers, it is important to align the end connections and use fasteners (bolts and nuts) to secure the Y-strainers in place.
Flanged connections have a gasket to create a strong seal that prevents leakage. Flanged-end Y-strainers are commonly used in pipelines that handle hazardous fluids. These pipelines require highly effective pipe joints. The temperature limit for most flanged-end Y-strainers is around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. As the temperature rises, the fasteners and gaskets in the pipeline may become loose, increasing the likelihood of media leakage.
Welded end connections are common in high-pressure, high-temperature systems with permanent joints. These connections are either butt or socket welded. Butt welds provide strong connections between Y-strainers and adjacent pipes. Socket welds are more popular with small pipelines that prioritize strict leakage integrity.
Threaded end-type Y-strainers are common in domestic and commercial piping systems. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. NPT threaded end connections are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, brass, bronze, cast iron, and carbon steel. These Y-strainers have varying pressure class ratings, making them suitable for multiple fluid applications.
Electric Solenoid Valves has a wide range of stainless steel, threaded end-type Y-strainers with NPT thread ports. These Y-strainers can withstand high pressure, up to 800 PSI. They also utilize Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) seals to ensure they are leak-proof at varying process pressure and temperature ranges.
These leak-proof, stainless steel Y-strainers are compatible with a variety of chemical media, making them ideal for food processing systems, potable water pipelines, chemical processing facilities, and steam pipelines.
Y-strainers can only perform their intended task if the screen is properly sized. Process engineers must evaluate various fluid characteristics to select the correct mesh size. Y-strainer sizing is defined using mesh size or microns.
You can easily convert between microns and mesh sizes using a standard conversion chart.
When sizing Y-strainers, process engineers must evaluate the following factors:
Engage a piping design expert when selecting Y-strainers for different applications. However, you can adopt the following steps to independently size a Y-strainer and get an idea of what product you should purchase and install in your fluid applications.
Various materials are used to fabricate Y-strainers to accommodate the operating conditions of different processes. Some common materials include:
Y-strainers have seals to prevent media leakages. Seals extend the service lives of Y-strainers and complement their performance. Seal materials should provide:
Some common seal manufacturing materials include:
Achieving the desired performance characteristics of a Y-strainer does not conclude at the selection phase. The Y-strainer requires proper care during transportation, installation, and operation. Every Y-strainer, regardless of size, needs regular maintenance and cleaning to improve its performance throughout its useful lifespan.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when handling, installing, and maintaining Y-strainers:
Companies can enhance the performance monitoring of Y-strainers in critical piping systems using advanced systems. Regular performance monitoring ensures Y-strainers operate as intended. They can install pressure sensors or flow meters before and after the Y-strainer to check differential pressure or flow rates across the system. Deviations can indicate clogging or increased accumulation of debris.
Y-strainers are essential components of any fluid application where fluid cleanliness is paramount. These devices remove dirt and debris from service fluids and are designed for easy installation, cleaning, and replacement.
When choosing a Y-strainer, it is important to select one that can effectively remove dirt from fluids. The Y-strainer should also match the adjacent pipe sizes and be compatible with the service fluids to prevent accelerated wear and tear.
To maximize Y-strainer performance, it is important to stock, transport, and install them according to recommended standards. Additionally, it is important to develop effective maintenance programs to inspect, clean, and replace Y-strainer screens. This will improve the durability and effectiveness of Y-strainers in fluid applications.
If you are unsure of which Y-strainer is right for your specific fluid application, our team of experts is available to assist you with any questions. You can reach them during normal business hours by phone or website chat, or by email or voicemail during off-hours.
Are you interested in learning more about pipeline cast iron y strainers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!