To determine if a lenticular filter is suitable, consider these factors:

♦ Presence of significant solids or waxes in the liquid.
♦ Availability of installation space in your facility.
♦ Need to process large volumes of liquid quickly.
♦ Susceptibility of the filtered product to oxidation.
♦ Handling of volatile solvents or liquids requiring strict regulatory compliance.

If any of these factors apply, a lenticular filter could be a valuable choice for your application.

The timing for replacing a lenticular filter depends on its type and application. The replacement process varies based on whether the filter is used for solid removal or color removal.

For Solid Removal:

When using a lenticular filter for solid or wax removal, it is generally advisable to replace the filter when the pressure drop reaches around 25 psi.

For Color Removal:

For carbon lenticular filters used to remove color, the only way to determine when to replace the filter is by monitoring the color of the final product. This can be done using a sight glass installed on the outlet of the lenticular housing. Replace the filter when the color of the fluid exiting the housing returns to the original green color of the incoming fluid.

Lenticular filters are highly effective for various filtration processes in winemaking, ensuring the clarity, stability, and quality of the final product. These filters use a stack of filter elements arranged in a lenticular (lens-shaped) configuration to provide efficient filtration.

In the winery, lenticular filters are typically used for:

Clarification: They remove solid particles, such as yeast, grape skins, and sediment, from the wine. This process helps in achieving a clear, visually appealing product.

Stabilization: Lenticular filters can also be employed to stabilize the wine by removing substances that could potentially cause cloudiness or spoilage over time.

Polishing: To enhance the final taste and appearance, these filters can be used to polish the wine, ensuring that any remaining fine particles are removed, which improves the overall quality.

The lenticular design allows for high flow rates and easy maintenance, making them suitable for large-scale winery operations. The filters’ modular construction also means that they can be replaced or serviced with minimal downtime, ensuring consistent production efficiency and product quality.

A lenticular filter, also known as a stacked disc filter, is a specialized type of filter used for liquid filtration. This type of filter is composed of stacked discs made of a disposable filter media, and is designed to remove impurities and particles from liquids such as beverages, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The discs are usually composed of cellulose, nylon, or other similar materials that trap the impurities while allowing the clean liquid to pass through.

The lenticular filter’s unique accordion-like design maximizes its surface area, improving its efficiency in capturing and retaining solid contaminants. Additionally, the lenticular filter consists of multiple stacked discs supported by a rigid polypropylene core, all thermally bonded to prevent bypass and ensure that the filtrate flows directly to the central core. This advanced design ensures consistent and reliable filtration performance across a wide range of applications.

The Significance of Surface Area

In the filtration process, “surface area” or “effective filtration area” represents the total area of the filter available to process the liquid. This area is the key factor in determining the flow rate of the liquid through the filter.

The larger the surface area of the filter, the faster the liquid processing speed, making lenticular filters exceptionally effective in applications that require efficient handling of large volumes of liquid with solid content.

The total surface area of a lenticular filter is directly influenced by the number of cells and the spacing between them. These design features determine the filter’s overall filtration capacity and efficiency.

The term “lenticular” refers to the shape of the filter modules. A “lenticle” is something shaped like a lens. Lenticular filter modules resemble a stack of lenses when viewed closely. Each of these lenses is referred to as a lenticular cell. Therefore, they are called lenticular filters due to their lens-like shape. Below is an image of a 16-cell lenticular module.

The lenticular filter works by passing the liquid through a stack of filtration discs, which contain the filter media. Multiple layers of stacked filtration discs increase the filter’s surface area to enable a more efficient filtration process than traditional filters can offer. As the liquid flows through the discs, the filter media captures and retains the impurities, allowing only clean liquid to pass through. The flow of the liquid is usually facilitated by ambient pressure or a pump system.

When the fluid enters the filter discs, pressure forces it into the filtration media, causing it to follow a “tortuous path.” This complex, nonlinear path through the media results in numerous twists and turns, which depletes the energy of the particles and effectively traps them within the media.

Unlike standard membrane filters that capture contaminants only on their surface, lenticular filters use deep media that captures contaminants throughout the entire volume of the filter. Ultimately, the filtered liquid reaches the center of the unit, is directed into the filter core, and then exits through the outlet pipe of the filter housing.

Lenticular filters offer several benefits, including high filtration efficiency, easy installation, and low maintenance. They are capable of removing a wide range of particles and contaminants, ensuring the purity and quality of the filtered liquid. Lenticular filters also provide high flow rates and are well suited for critical applications where purity standards are strict. They are often preferred over other filtration methods, such as plate and frame filters or cartridge filters.

Lenticular filters are commonly used in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and chemical processing. They are particularly effective in applications that require high-quality filtration, such as clarifying liquids or removing particulates before further processing. Lenticular filters are also a popular choice for filtration of enzymes, proteins, and other biomolecules in biopharmaceutical processing.

Lenticular filters and modules ensure protection against bypass effects through several key features:

Precise Seals: Utilizing polypropylene or polyamide seals with edge moulding ensures a tight seal, preventing bypass of contaminants.

Constant Final Pressing: The final pressing is maintained consistently, enhancing the integrity of the filtration process and minimizing the risk of bypass.

Stable Construction: An optimized three-part, stainless-steel segment sleeve stabilizes the unit, even under sterilization conditions, further reducing the possibility of bypass.

Double O-Ring Adapter: Optionally available, the double O-ring adapter enhances performance by providing additional sealing.

Internal Drainage Plate: Incorporating an internal drainage plate facilitates an optimal flow path within the cell, ensuring thorough filtration without bypass.

Consistent Cell Distance: Maintaining a constant cell distance ensures the full utilization of the entire filter surface, maximizing filtration efficiency and minimizing the risk of bypass.

Our lenticular filters and modules product group encompasses a variety of filtration solutions tailored to specific needs:

Depth filter sheets: These sheets are designed with low endotoxin content, making them ideal for pharmaceutical applications.

Stacked disc cartridges: These cartridges are equipped with supporting lenticular filters, suitable for cake filtration within the pharmaceutical industry.

Lenticular filters with activated carbon: These filters integrate activated carbon for enhanced filtration capabilities.

Depth filter sheets for standard applications: These sheets are versatile and suitable for a wide range of standard filtration needs.

Depth filters for highly viscous liquids: Specifically designed for filtering highly viscous liquids, these filters ensure efficient filtration performance.

Stacked disc cartridges with support sheets: These cartridges are equipped with support sheets, facilitating cake filtration processes effectively.

Lenticular filters boast easy setup and teardown processes. Their design facilitates quick assembly and disassembly, streamlining maintenance tasks.

Maintenance of lenticular filters is minimal, requiring replacement of only three main components: a base silicone or Viton gasket, 1.5” gaskets for the tri-clover fittings, and occasionally, the plastic part of the hold-down device. This simplicity contributes to efficient and hassle-free upkeep of the filtration system.

Since lenticular modules provide primary support for the filter media, the stainless structure in lenticular systems primarily serves as plumbing. Consequently, lenticular housings typically have fewer parts compared to plate & frame setups, with much of the infrastructure integrated within the lenticular modules themselves.