Size matters

There are two essential values to maintain for successful automatic screen filtration at a given flow rate and micron rating:  Enough pressure, enough screen area.  These values are most critical at the finest filtration degrees -- 10 micron above all, but also true for 18 and 25 micron.

Those of us on the supply side of filtration are responsible to size correctly in response to an engineer advising micron degree, incoming pressure and max flow.

The imperative of providing total screen area sufficient to assure successful filtration is often underestimated.  But it's no less important than adequate wing surface area is to achieve flight.  (The two principles are very much related.)

One of the key advantages of Omicron solutions against any competitor in the market is the sheer size of screen area we provide within our housings.  Even though the housings are not that much larger than a competitor's, the use of internal space is vastly more efficient, which allows us to maximize the available screen area within.

Here's an easy way to understand the differences.  Our models, like a competitor's, are identified by total cm² of screen area.  See below, from small to large:

It's apparent that an "alternative" manufacturer's largest filter (6000 cm2) has about the same capacity as our smallest (5300 cm²).  Their largest duplex system -- 2x 6000 (= 12,000 cm²) -- actually has less capacity than our mid-size simplex 13200.

Our largest unit with 21,300 cm² of screen area has more than 3.5 times the capacity of that company's largest (only 6000 cm²).

Note: Duplex and triplex manifolds are available for flow rates that exceed the capacity of simplex units.

Now check out this photo of three Omicron systems nearing completion at the factory.  It tells a lot.

At foreground left you'll see a duplex 5300 system, thus 10,600 cm2 of total screen area. 

An Omicron 5300 is the smallest unit we offer for new construction or retrofit projects -- with about as much screen area as the largest model (an SAF6000) another distributor considers adequate for high flow rates..

At foreground right you'll see our most often specified solution for 400 gpm @10 micron:  Omicron Twin 16500 -- thus 33,000 cm2 screen area for 400 gpm.  That is the capacity required for today's projects calling for flow rates in the 300 - 400 gpm range @10 micron.

At center you'll see an even larger solution with 42,600 cm2 of screen area, indicated for higher flow rates, or simply for greater capacity to manage highly turbid water conditions.