A Methanol Sintered Wire Mesh Filter Element is a high-performance filter cartridge specifically designed for the filtration challenges in methanol, alcohol-based fuels, and related chemical processes. Its core filtering material is multi-layer sintered stainless steel wire mesh, which is manufactured through processes like rolling, welding, and assembly. It emphasizes corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, and reliability.
Unlike metal fiber felt, sintered wire mesh is a porous material made by stacking multiple layers of stainless steel wire mesh (e.g., 316/316L) with different mesh counts and sintering them under high temperature and pressure. Its typical structure includes:
Protective Layer: A relatively coarse wire mesh that provides structural support and protection.
Control/Filter Layer: One or more layers of fine precision-woven mesh that perform the primary filtration.
Support Layer: A coarse wire mesh that provides robust mechanical strength and prevents the filter medium from deforming.
This "gradient filtration" structure gives it the advantages of both surface and depth filtration.
Excellent Resistance to Alcohols and Chemicals
Constructed from 316L stainless steel, it offers outstanding corrosion resistance to methanol, ethanol, and other alcohol solvents, ensuring long-term stable operation without rusting or corrosive failure.
Extremely High Mechanical Strength and Rigidity
This is one of the most prominent features of sintered mesh filter elements. It can withstand very high inlet pressures and pressure differentials without collapsing—a risk associated with fiber felt cartridges in high-pressure applications like methanol pump inlets.
Superior Abrasion Resistance
If the fluid contains hard particles, the robust structure of the sintered mesh effectively resists erosion and wear, resulting in a very long service life.
Easy to Clean and Regenerate, Reusable
As it primarily operates on a surface filtration mechanism, most contaminants are trapped on the surface of the element. This allows for easy and thorough cleaning via ultrasonic cleaning, back-flushing, or solvent soaking, with excellent performance recovery and a long total service life.
Stable Filtration Rating
Once sintered, its pore size and filtration rating are fixed and will not change due to pressure fluctuations during operation, ensuring consistent filtration efficiency.
No Media Migration, Ensures System Cleanliness
The all-metal construction, free of any internal binders, fundamentally eliminates the risk of filter media shedding and contaminating downstream fluid. This is critical for protecting sensitive equipment like methanol fuel cells, catalysts, and engine injectors.
Methanol Fuel and New Energy Vehicles:
Methanol Vehicles: Used as a pre-filter in methanol fuel injection systems to protect injectors and fuel pumps.
Methanol Fuel Cells: Provides ultra-clean filtration of the methanol solution entering the fuel cell, preventing catalyst poisoning and flow channel blockage.
Chemical and Coal Chemical Industry:
Coal-to-Methanol Process: Used in methanol synthesis and distillation sections to filter out catalyst particles, rust, and other mechanical impurities.
Downstream Processes (e.g., Methanol to Olefins - MTO): Protects reactors and critical equipment.
Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Industry:
Ensures the purity of raw materials in synthesis processes where methanol is used as a solvent or reactant.
Storage, Transportation, and Dispensing:
Serves as a filter element for both gas and liquid phases in methanol storage tank vent valves, transfer pipelines, and dispensing equipment.
| Feature | Methanol Sintered Wire Mesh Filter Element | Metal Fiber Felt Filter Element |
|---|---|---|
| Structural Strength | Extremely High, rigid structure, high pressure differential resistance | High, but a flexible structure, may compress under extreme pressure differentials |
| Filtration Mechanism | Primarily Surface Filtration, easy to clean | Primarily Depth Filtration, high dirt holding capacity, slightly harder to clean |
| Filtration Rating | Typical range: 5 - 200μm | Can achieve higher precision, down to 1μm or sub-micron |
| Abrasion Resistance | Excellent | Good |
| Cost | Relatively higher | Typically lower than sintered mesh of comparable grade |
Summary: For methanol filtration, the sintered wire mesh filter element is the superior choice where extremely high strength, resistance to high pressure, and frequent backwashing are required (e.g., pump inlet filtration). If higher filtration precision is the primary goal and operating pressure is stable, the metal fiber felt filter is also an excellent option.
