There are different stainers that work towards the same goal, removing impurities from oil and gas. They mostly differ in size, shape and the materials they are made from. Other oil and gas strainer manufacturers provide custom-made strainers that are tailor-made to serve specific purposes. So you do not have to settle for what is in the market if it is not up to your standards. The most common strainers in oil and gas production pipelines include;
Y Strainers
They are commonly referred to as Y strainers because of their y shape. The Y strainer is the most common oil and gas strainer that is used in most piping systems. They are designed for temporary use and should be cleaned when the pressure drops to around 6 psi differential. There are different ways in which you can measure the pressure drop in an oil and gas strainer.
The Y strainer is usually composed of iron and steel. The sieve, which is the filtration medium, is made up of stainless steel. This oil and gas strainer is mostly used in instances where the constituent being filtered has a low concentration of contaminants. They are cost-friendly and do not need to be cleaned as often as other types of oil and gas strainers.
T Strainers
This oil and gas strainer is also referred to as the bathtub strainer. It is a compound strainer that is used to filter contaminants from oil and gas pipelines. A T strainer is commonly used in large bore lines and is equipped with various filtration systems to ensure the utmost performance of the oil and gas strainer.
Just like Y strainers, the T strainer is also cost-friendly and is a good option if you have a system that requires a lot of filtration work but you do not want to spend so much money on an oil and gas strainer. The T strainer is made with pipes and plates and the filtration medium, the mesh, is made up of stainless steel. It is easy to install and does not require constant maintenance.
The screen of the T strainer can be accessed easily for cleaning in case of pressure drops. When installed in a horizontal position, this oil and gas strainer allows for the opening of the chamber valve while the system is running without spilling the fluid. This makes it a perfect choice for filtering high-velocity fluids.
Basket Strainer
A basket strainer can either be installed as a single strainer or a series of strainers. This oil and gas strainer is used in high flow velocities and can handle large particles as opposed to other strainers. It is important to determine the size of the mesh of a basket strainer beforehand. A mesh with tiny openings will result in constant clogging of the strainer.
On the other hand, a mesh with very big openings will allow impurities to pass through the oil and gas strainer. Basket strainers are made of iron and stainless steel. The most significant advantage of using a basket strainer is that it can be used continuously without constant maintenance procedures.
You can also place a pressure gauge to alert you whenever your strainer is almost getting clogged up. Ensure that you conduct regular cleanings to increase the lifespan of your oil and gas strainer. There are two major types of basket strainers in the market which include;
Simplex Strainer
This oil and gas strainer is considered a basket strainer and is used for long-term purposes. A simplex strainer is made up of iron while the mesh is made up of stainless steel. It is also equipped with different filtration sections to ensure that the end product is in its purest form. This oil and gas strainer is easy to open and therefore easy to maintain.
The simplex strainer also has a large capacity of holding particles hence does not require constant cleaning due to pressure drops. This saves time and money that is used for maintenance of the oil and gas strainer. However, when this strainer gets clogged up, the system has to be shut and the basket replaced before the process can continue.
Duplex Strainer
Just like the simplex strainers, a duplex oil and gas strainer is also a basket-type strainer that has two strainer baskets instead of just one. It is also made up of iron and stainless steel. They are easy to maintain due to their easy-to-open design. You can actually clean one basket strainer while the other is in full function by simply diverting the flow of liquid between the two strainers. This can be done by the use of the directional valve handle that is between the two baskets.
As opposed to the simplex strainer, this oil and gas strainer does not have to be shut down for cleaning purposes. With a duplex strainer, you can be assured of constant uptime in the system hence saving more time. The duplex strainer also has a high holding capacity for particles hence does not require constant maintenance.
For more information natural gas strainers, please get in touch with us!