A customer in the water treatment industry contacted Federal Screen to replace a PVC plastic hub and lateral filter system with a stainless-steel wedge wire screen system. The existing plastic hub and lateral configuration were installed inside a water treatment tank and had failed prematurely causing unplanned downtime and multiple plant issues. The desire to seek a longer-lasting and more durable solution led them to explore a stainless-steel hub and lateral configuration.
The images below clearly show the plastic PVC system with considerable damage which occurred over a short period of time.
The durability of stainless-steel wedge wire screen is chosen by many manufacturers and end-users as the best choice for water treatment applications as it withstands both high heat temperatures and high design pressures including acidic environments common in backwashing cycles. Wedge Wire screen also provides finer slot sizes than PVC and is inherently clog-resistant, making it easier to maintain and operate.
Although PVC plastic filter systems have a lower initial cost than stainless wedge wire screen systems, the long-term reliability and durability of stainless wedge wire screen outweigh the small cost advantage of comparable PVC systems.
Current supply shortages of PVC feedstock have further led to surging prices and longer wait times for this type of material. For a small increase in cost, clients can obtain a superior product, that lasts longer and is readily available to meet important project timelines.
With the best delivery time in the business, you can count on Federal Screen to fabricate high-quality vessel internals ensuring you keep running efficiently and on schedule without unplanned maintenance. Contact our team of filtration experts to see how we can help with your filtration needs. 905-677-4171 federalscreen.com
Before & After - PVC vs. Wedge Wire Screen