Your Premier Brass Strainer Manufacturer

D&R Metal Industry – China’s Leading Brass Strainer Manufacturer

The D&R brass strainer we had is available in many different sizes, models, and specifications. Suitable for applications like plumbing, industrial, and commercial applications. We have a wide range of brass strainers that you can choose for.

D&R Metal Industry is committed to supplying high-quality brass strainers around the world. Our series of D&R brass strainers are widely recognized by many customers around the world in different industries like chemical, agricultural, construction, pharmaceutical, as well as food and beverage industries.

D&R brass strainers are in fact cost-effective solution for use in different types of industrial applications. Our brass strainers are versatile and obtainable in a wide range of sizes. We manufacture D&R brass strainers that guaranteed long service life.

As a leading manufacturer and supplier in China, we ensure the quality of every brass stainer order. We have D&R brass strainers that provide perfect filtration to prevent damage to meters and valves from dirt and rust without compromising the high flow characteristics.

D&R Metal Industry has the widest selections of all sizes of brass strainers that you need in your business. Yes, you can select many sizes of brass strainers from us. If you’re not sure what`s perfect for your applications, you can ask assistance from our sales staff.

D&R Metal Industry is capable of customizing the brass strainer too. We have custom brass strainers to complete your project. Just send us your special requirements and we will work with you to fully support your business.

These offers are for you! You’ll find that all brass strainers from D&R Metal Industry will certainly fit your preferences and liking. You will be glad about the outstanding layout of our products.

Over the decades of technical professionalism and our excellent productions will definitely help your business achieve fast growth. Our goal is to satisfy every customer. And as ISO9001-2001 authorized company, you can really count on us for trouble-free brass strainer fabrications.

Contact us for inquiries!

Brass Strainer: Ultimate Guide

Brass strainers are devices fitted with perforated straining material or wire mesh.

This feature allows them to remove unwanted solid particles from gas, steam, or liquid lines. It is majorly composed of brass.

This guide will highlight all you need to know about Brass strainers.

Right from the various brass strainers available in the market, to choosing and installing the perfect fit brass strainer.

brass strainer

Types of Brass Strainer

There are various types of brass strainers, although they perform the same function.

Below is an explanation on each type of brass strainer.

Y  Brass Strainer

The Y strainer derives its name from its ‘Y’ design.

Its filter leg and the main pipe connect at a diagonal angle.

Its application is diverse and can be used in gas, liquid, pressurized lines, vacuum or suction conditions.

One con of this type of strainer is that it has a lower dirt holding capacity hence requires regular cleaning.

  y brass strainer

 However, this can be redressed for steam applications by fitting a blowdown valve in the strainer cap.

The Y Brass strainer can be installed in two ways:

• Horizontal – For horizontal steam or gas application, the filter leg is aligned sideways.

However, for horizontal liquid application, the filter leg faces downwards.

• Vertically downwards – For liquid systems, which ensures the removed solid particles do not find their way back upstream.

T Brass Strainer

The T or Basket Brass strainer has a vertically oriented chamber which is usually larger that the Y type filter leg.

It is characterized by a lower pressure drop- because of a larger straining area- than the Y brass strainer, making it ideal for liquids.

However, they can only be installed horizontally. Additionally, larger and heavier T Brass strainers have to be supported.

Due to their large dirt holding capacity, the T Brass strainer can be used for steam pipes with large diameters.

Servicing the Basket brass strainers involves the removal the cover to check if the filtering element needs replacement.

Our basket brass strainers come with a drain plug, fitted with a steam trap, to remove accumulated condensate for steam systems.

T brass strainer

Simplex Brass Strainer

Simplex brass strainers are a cheaper option of basket strainers.

However, when they become clogged and require cleaning, you have to shut off the entire system.

This is because the full basket needs to be entirely replaced with an empty basket.

Their application is majorly in systems that can permit disruption of flow.

Examples include medium-duty air conditioners and water pools.

 simplex brass strainer

Duplex Brass Strainer

Unlike the simplex brass strainer, the duplex strainer allows for basket cleaning without flow shut down.

This type of strainer comes with a valve handle between the two baskets that allow the diversion of fluid to one basket when the other is being cleaned.

Duplex brass strainers are widely used in industries that do not require flow disruption.

Such industries include firefighting, waste, paper, water, chemical, and fuel.

 duplex brass strainer

Temporary Brass Strainers

Temporary or conical brass strainers are directly installed in a system to remove unwanted debris.

They are startup strainers hence their name temporary brass strainers.

When starting up a system after construction, the temporary brass strainer is installed to protect the pumps, valves, flow meters, and other equipment from debris.

Materials that the strainer can restrict are rocks, pieces of wood, welding rod and slag, cigarettes, etc. This helps avoid the destruction of various parts of the system by unwanted debris.

Unlike the other strainers, which are permanent, the temporary brass strainer has to be uninstalled after the startup is complete.

 temporary brass strainers

Consideration when Specifying Brass Strainer

Each type of brass strainers comes with unique designs that influence their functioning.

Consequently, you need to choose the correct strainer to meet your needs.

To help guide you, below are some considerations you should have in mind.

Flow Rate

You should know the flow rate of the medium in the piping system.

Due to pressure drop considerations, it is advisable you use T or Basket brass strainers for flow rates above 150 GPM.

Typically, Y brass strainers experience more pressure loss compared to the T brass strainers.

If you are interested in calculating the pressure loss, you can do so using an online Pressure Loss Calculator.

This will help you gauge the pressure loss of any brass strainer you are interested in.

Volume of Unwanted Debris/ Solid Materials

Though difficult to calculate, you can estimate this.

First, have a rough idea of how dirty the media can get. This will guide you in choosing the correct brass strainer.

For example, if you speculate that the media will have a lot of debris contamination, the basket brass strainer will be ideal.

Basket brass strainers can accommodate a larger amount of unwanted solid particles, unlike the Y strainer.

Picking a small capacity strainer for fluids with a high volume of unwanted debris will translate to high maintenance cost.

Flow Interruption

In some piping systems or plants, interruption of media flow can result in extreme losses.

As such, you need to choose a brass strainer that can be cleaned without shutting off the flow.

If you do not plan to interrupt the fluid flow, you can opt for our brass Y-strainers fitted with blow-down connections on the cap.

Consequently, you can clean the strainer without removing the cap or disrupting the flow.

The perfect choice in a scenario where you do not plan to disrupt the flow is the duplex brass strainer.

Cleaning Frequency

How regular you are willing to clean the brass strainer should guide your decision.

Here, also consider the availability of the personnel to clean the strainer.

Some brass strainers are easy and fast to clean. As such, you can comfortably clean them regularly.

Such strainers are those fitted with blowdown connections.

Also, if you do not plan to regularly clean the strainer going for a basket strainer will be much more convenient since it has a larger dirt holding capacity.

Installation Orientation

You will have to consider how you plan to install the brass strainer.

For example, a Y Brass strainer can be installed both horizontally and vertically.

On the other hand, a T Brass strainer only permits for horizontal installation.

Regulatory Compliance

By virtue of strainers being grouped in the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) category, they have to comply with the group’s set standards.

Depending on the strainer’s fluid type and volume/size, PED guidelines may require the strainer to have CE markings.

Fluid Type

Importantly, before selecting any type of strainer, ensure that you know the fluid type.

Brass strainers are not ideal for highly corrosive fluids.

The application of brass strainers is majorly in medium corrosive conditions.

Pressure and Temperature Ratings

Our various brass strainers have different pressure and temperature ratings.

Know the pressure and the temperature ranges and choose the brass strainer best suited for a specific condition.

Common Applications of Brass Strainers in Piping System

Commonly, brass strainers are installed ahead of sensitive equipment such as control valves, pumps, loading valves, solenoid valves.

Also turbines, nozzles, steam traps, pressure regulators, compressors, unit heaters, burners, etc.

Brass strainers are either installed in static or dynamic equipment. Example of static equipment that employs the use of strainers include:

• Spray nozzles
• Meters
• Heat exchanger
• Steam trap

On the other hand, dynamic or vibrating equipment that uses brass strainers are for example:

• Compressors
• Turbines
• Pump

Notably, you can install either temporary or permanent brass strainers on both static and dynamic equipment.

Regardless of the type of strainer, they serve to protect the sensitive equipment from unwanted solid particles.

How Brass Strainer compares to Stainless Steel Strainer

Stainless steel strainer are widely employed in cleaning highly corrosive fluids.

This is because steel has a higher corrosion resistance compared to other metal such as brass.

 stainless steel strainer

Also, in a scenario where freedom from contamination is a prerequisite, stainless steel strainers are recommended.

This is mostly the case in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.

On the other hand, brass strainers are fairly corrosion-resistant but do not match their stainless steel counterparts.

Moreover, the FDA prohibits the use of brass in the food industry, except brass with lead-free certification.

In terms of temperature and pressure tolerance, both brass and stainless steel have a high tolerance. However, stainless steel has superior pressure and temperature tolerance compared to brass strainers.

If you are considering the price, stainless steel strainers are gradually becoming less expensive than brass strainers.

The rise in the price of the brass strainers is attributed to the constant rise in the price of copper.

Lastly, the chromium content stainless steel strainers make them more durable compared to the brass strainers.

In addition, chromium prevents rusting and the tarnishing of the strainer.

Occasionally, you may find that brass strainers start tarnishing after a short while. However, they are also fairly resistant to rust.

Benefits of Brass Strainers

Brass strainers have similar benefits to those of other metal strainers.

However, some benefits are unique to brass strainers.

These include:

• A high-temperature tolerance of up to 110^oC
• A high-pressure rating of up to PN16
• Our brass strainers conform to the British Standard Parallel Pipe (BSPP), used in most parts of the world.
• Also, brass has high malleability making it easy for the manufacturer to customize the strainer to your liking.
• Moreover, brass strainers have appealing finishings.
• Lastly, fittings for brass strainers are easy to find since brass is widely used in piping.

Other benefits that most metal strainers, including brass, share in common are:

• High corrosion resistance.

Brass has a high resistance to corrosion but highly corrosive fluids; for example, those with high chlorine concentration may corrode it over time.

• They are easy to clean, which ensures high sanitary standards.

Limitations of Brass Strainers

A major limitation of brass strainers is that they require regular maintenance.

Similarly to other metals, brass accumulates tarnish over time which needs to be removed.

Despite their high corrosion resistance, brass strainers may corrode over time if the fluid is highly corrosive or has a high chlorine concentration.

Chlorine removes the zinc component from brass through a process known as dezincification.

Lastly, the use of most brass strainers is exempted for food industries.

This is because some brass metals comprise lead which is poisonous for human consumption.

However, if the brass strainer has a lead-free certification, it can be used for food industry application.

How Brass Strainer Compares to Bronze Strainer

Both strainers perform a similar function, removing unwanted debris from the fluid. More or less, they also have similar designs.

However, their difference lies in the material composition and operating conditions.

Concerning the material used, the brass and bronze strainer are largely made from brass and bronze, respectively.

Also, both can incorporate the use of other metals, for example, in making the coating layer.

When considering the working conditions, brass strainers work in more extreme conditions compared to the bronze strainer.

This is due to the properties of the metals used.

For example, brass has a melting point of 930^oC while bronze melts at a temperature of 865^oC. Therefore, most brass strainers have a high-temperature rating of between -10°C and 120°C.

In terms of lead concentration, bronze mostly has a higher concentration than brass.

This makes brass strainers more ideal for drinking water application compared to brass.

If you are considering the cost, bronze strainers are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, the prices of brass strainers are relatively higher.

Lastly, the durability of brass strainers makes it suited for a wider range of applications than its counterpart, bronze strainers.

 bronze strainer

Main Components of Brass Strainer

Despite the fact that brass strainers vary in terms of design, there are similar components that each of them possesses.

Discussed below are the major components of brass strainers.

Screen

This is definitely the most important part of all the types of brass strainers. To function correctly, the screen has to be properly sized.

The openings size on the screen will determine the type of unwanted solid particles retained.

The screen can either be a wire mesh screen or a perforated screen.

Body/ Main Pipe

It is the part of the strainer where almost all parts of the strainer are attached.

It is made out of bronze. It has a hollow through which the fluid flows.

Filter Pipe/ Chamber

It is the part that hosts the strainer. On the Y-strainer, it joins the main pipe at a diagonal angle forming a Y shape.

On the T-strainer, it is vertically shaped.

It is also the part that offers the filtration platform.

Gasket

The gasket is situated at the top of the screen. It is made out of a material that can withstand great temperature and pressure.

The major function of the gasket is to prevent any leakage when the fluid enters the filter leg or chamber for filtration.

Bolts

To replace or clean the strainer’s chamber or filter leg. You either loosen or tighten up the bolts to open or close the filter chamber.

Cap

It is the topmost part of the filter leg or chamber where the bolt is situated. It provides cover to the components of the filter chamber or leg.

Note: Other components such as the drain plug or blowdown valves are not guaranteed to be part of the strainer.

However, depending on your manufacturer and the intended application of the strainer, a drain plug can be added.

Knowing when to Replace Brass Strainer

Usually, any piping component is replaced when it starts leaking or is faulty.

However, with brass strainers, you shouldn’t be in much hurry to do a replacement.

First, if the strainer is leaking, check to make sure that the gasket is fully functional and the bolts are in place.

You can try to tighten the bolts or replace the gaskets.

On the other hand, if the strainer is faulty, meaning it is not efficiently filtering the fluid, confirm whether the filter screen are operational.

You can try to replace the filter screen.

If the mentioned attempts to correct the problem don’t bear fruits, you should consider changing the entire brass strainer.

There is a high probability that it is either corrected or has outlived its service period.

Importantly, you won’t have to worry much about replacement if you carry out regular maintenance and cleaning if the brass strainer.

How Brass Strainer Works

The working principle of a brass strainer is quite straightforward.

The strainer is connected to the main pipe.

The fluid enters the strainer’s filter leg or the filter chamber and it comes out free of the unwanted solid particles.

For the Y strainer, fluid flow is diverted into the filter leg, which has a filter screen in the outlet.

As the fluid flows through the filter screen, the unwanted debris are trapped. The debris then accumulates on the filter leg.

On the other hand, as fluid flows through the T brass strainer, it directly comes into contact with the filter screen.

As a result, the screen traps the debris, which is then deposited on the screen assembly.

As the filtration continues, the unwanted solid particles accumulate.

As such, they should be frequently cleaned by removing the basket or cleaning the filter screen.

However, strainers with drain plug or blow down valves can automatically clean themselves using the fluid pressure.

Quality Certifications and Standards Brass Strainers should Comply with

Below are the quality standards and certifications that brass strainers should adhere to:

• First, the flanges for brass strainers should be made in accordance with ANSI and DIN EN 1092-1 / 01 standards.
• The threading should comply with the British Standard Pipe (BSP) technical standards which are internationally accepted.
• If the brass strainer is to be used in the food industry, it should have a lead free certification.
• DIN 11851 standards for connections used in sanitary conditions.
• Also, the operations of the manufacturer should be certified by the local country.

How to Install Brass Strainers

Prior to installation, ascertain that the pressure rating of the brass strainer is in line with that of the piping system.

Also, both the strainer and the system should be clean before you commence with installation.

The strainer’s orifices should also be able to fit to the ends of the piping system. Meaning they should be of the correct size.

For Y brass strainers, you can either install them vertically or horizontally. However, ensure the filter leg faces down.

This will help prevent any interference of the main flow by the filter materials.

On the other hand, T strainers can only be installed horizontally. This is due to their design and size.

If you are installing large brass strainers, you should provide them with support.

This will help avoid any future breakages due to the weight of the strainers.

Conclusively, the above is an overview of the key installation guides.

Due to the variety of brass strainers we provide, each comes with an installation manual to offer a step by step guide.

Factors Determining Price of Brass Strainer

The prices of our brass strainers may vary due to a number of factors. Such factors include;

• Size – The larger the strainer, the more it will cost.
• Type – Y strainers are cost-effective as compared to the T-strainers. Also, simplex basket strainers are cheaper compared to the duplex alternative.
• Modifications/Customization – If the strainer has undergone modifications to suit your requirement, the price might be slightly higher.
• Place of purchase – Custom duties and other shipping costs may add up to the final price if you are importing the brass strainer. However, we do offer discounts for bulk buying thus reducing the cost.

How Brass Filters compare to Brass Strainer

Many use the two terms interchangeably. Well, they almost perform the same function.

However, their main difference is in their operation in terms of flow restriction.

Brass strainers offer less flow restriction compared to brass filters. Hence, they can be used in low-pressure conditions.

However, filters are used in positive pressure conditions and require constant flow.

Recommended Sealing Mechanisms for Brass Strainer

The most common seal used in most strainers, including brass strainers, is the PTFE seal.

It is suitable for aggressive environments and can withstand both low and high temperatures.

Other seal types include;

• Fluoro rubber seal or Viton® which is abbreviated as either FKM or FPM, according to the ASTM.
• Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer (EPDM) seal.

Both the two are Fluoro rubbers though they have differ in terms of temperature range and chemical resistance.

How to Choose Brass Strainer Screen

The screen is the platform on which the unwanted solid particles are trapped.

When choosing a brass strainer screen, there are two options at your disposal; mesh screen and perforated screen.

Mesh Screen

A mesh screen comprises of single wires woven together to form square openings that permit the efficient screening of particles.

However, the weaving of the mesh screen to be used in strainers is keenly monitored to ensure the correct tightness.

A mesh screen is labelled in terms of the number of openings in one inch of a mesh, mesh size.

For example a 12-mesh screen means there are 12 openings across one inch, i.e. a mesh size of 12.

Notably, the greater the mesh size (more openings per inch), the more the capability of the screen to trap smaller particles.

Also, the mesh screen can be classified in terms of microns.

Micron or Micrometer is the unit of length used to measure tiny particles. It is one-millionth of a meter.

Commonly, the ratings of mesh screens start from size 3 mesh screen having 6,730 microns to a size 400 mesh screen having 37 microns.

To easily convert from mesh to micron, you can use the chart below.

The mesh sizes determine the type of solid particles retained by the mesh screen. To better understand this, have a look at the table below:

From the table above it is clearly evident the greater the screen (or the more the number of openings), the more the capability of the mesh screen to retain smaller particles.

Benefits

• Mesh screens come in a variety of sizes.
• Also, the precision in making mesh screens improves their accuracy and efficiency.

Drawbacks

• Since they comprise single-strand wires woven together, they are delicate and relatively weak.

Lastly, an important point to note is the (+) and (-) signs used to describe mesh screens.

For example, a mesh screen labelled as -100 mesh means that it will permit the passage of all debris smaller than 100 mesh.

On the other hand, +100 mesh means that all the solid particles equal to or more than mesh will be retained.

Perforated Screen

This is a screen with perforations or holes on the surface. It is formed by punching many holes on a flat metal surface, such as stainless steel.

They are described according to the hole diameter measured from centre to centre.

For example, in perforation with a hole diameter of 1/8 inch, there are 32 holes in a 1 square inch area. This means that the holes cover 40% of the total surface.

Below is a picture showing the common perforated screens that our brass strainers have.

Perforated Screen Sizes

Benefits

• Unlike the mesh screen which is woven, perforations are either punched or created using lasers on a surface.

This makes the strong and more durable.

• Also, it offers either round or square holes which makes it effective in restraining debris of various shapes.

Drawbacks

• Perforated screens have fewer openings than woven screens. This, in a way, minimizes the throughput.
• As opposed to wire screen manufacture, perforated screens manufacture is not keenly monitored.

This may lead to the production of faulty perforated screens.

How to Clean Brass Strainer

First, depending on the type of strainer, you will need to shut off the fluid supply.

However, some strainers with drain plugs can be cleaned without disrupting the flow.

For the Y brass strainer, remove the plug situated at the end of the filter leg after cutting off the supply. Proceed to empty all the collected debris and clean the filter.

For T or basket brass strainer, you can remove the basket after disrupting the flow and replacing it with another basket.

You can later clean the initial basket and store it. You will then return it while removing the other for cleaning.

How to Determine Micron Rating for Brass Strainer

Determining the micron size of a brass strainer is especially important to help you know what particles will be restrained in terms of size.

The micron rating is the diameter or the size of each hole on the filter screen.

Usually, the micron rating usually starts from 5 microns since any micron smaller than that is high susceptible to clogging.

For filter screens, it goes up to 400 microns. Remember, 1 micron is equivalent to a millionth of a meter; you can’t even get a visual of that after magnification.

The table below will give you a rough idea of various microns and equivalent examples of what they can filter out.

How to Determine Mesh Size for Brass Strainer

Mesh size is the number of openings in one inch of a mesh.

For example, a mesh with a mesh size of 12 has 12 openings per inch of the mesh.

Notably, the mesh screen is labelled in terms of mesh size.

How to Choose Best Housing for Brass Strainer

Most brass strainers housing are made from brass. However, for the filter screens, they can be made from other materials such as stainless steel

How Automatic Brass Strainer Works

Automatic brass strainers, otherwise referred to as backwashing or self-cleaning strainers, clean themselves without much human assistance.

These strainers automatically remove the accumulated solid particles.

The strainer has a timer on the control panel that energizes the motor, triggering a backwash or cleaning sequence.

During the cleaning sequence, the cleaning shaft rotates, creating high pressure in the strainer than outside the strainer.

This creates a suction effect which allows the cleaning port to suck out the debris from the screen.

Apart from the timer, a preferential pressure switch can also trigger the cleaning sequence if the debris volume increases, blocking the screen.

After the backwash sequence, the machine resets and continues to function normally.

Reasons for Installing Pressure Gauge in Brass Strainer System

The main reason for installing a pressure gauge is to help you know when to change the strainer basket. The differential pressure gauge shows the varying pressure across the strainer.

If the pressure difference is great across the strainer, that may be a sign that the basket is full and fluid movement across the screen is being hindered.

At D & R Industry, we offer a range of brass strainers depending on your unique specifications and requirements.

Contact us today for all your brass strainer needs.