Liquid Filter Bag Trials: Compare Cost per Accepted Volume
A cheaper liquid filter bag is not necessarily the cheaper filtration option. To compare two candidates fairly, first confirm that both meet the process quality requirement, then measure the cost of producing an accepted volume under comparable conditions. A longer run with unacceptable filtrate is not a purchasing success.
This guide outlines a practical trial for buyers considering INCEFILTER liquid filter bags. It focuses on sample approval and purchasing evidence, rather than predicting service life from a catalog.
Write the decision before starting the trial
State what the proposed change must achieve: reduce consumable cost, reduce change-outs, improve outlet quality or address another defined problem. Identify the existing bag code, housing and support basket. Confirm the candidate’s dimensions, sealing arrangement and chemical suitability before testing it in production.
Agree on pass/fail requirements with the process owner. These should include the required outlet quality, acceptable operating conditions, and stop criteria. Use the approved differential-pressure and process limits for the exact assembly. Do not extend a trial beyond those limits to make one candidate appear more economical.
Keep the comparison fair
Use representative feed and record changes in solids loading, liquid grade, temperature and flow. Keep the housing arrangement and operating method consistent where practical. If one trial receives a cleaner feed or runs at lower throughput, its longer life cannot automatically be attributed to the bag.
Compare the filtration requirement as well as the printed micron value. Request the retention-efficiency basis and test method when available. Two bags carrying the same micron number may not have equivalent performance evidence. Eaton’s PROGAF datasheet, for example, identifies test liquid, contaminant and flow conditions for its reference values. Those conditions explain the scope of that evidence; they do not predict the result in a different process or for an INCEFILTER bag.
Use a trial scorecard
| Item | Record for each candidate |
|---|---|
| Identification | Supplier, bag code, batch, material, size, ring and construction |
| Trial conditions | Liquid grade, feed observations, flow, temperature and operating dates |
| Pressure behavior | Clean and final differential pressure, plus relevant changes during the run |
| Quality evidence | Inlet and outlet sample results using the same agreed measurement method |
| Throughput | Measured volume processed and volume accepted by the process owner |
| Service effort | Number of bags used, actual change-out time and associated consumables |
| End reason | Pressure criterion, quality failure, batch completion or other documented reason |
Use consistent sampling points and an agreed sampling frequency. Visual clarity alone may not demonstrate the particle-control requirement. The process owner should choose the appropriate quality method. For pressure records, use the separate filter differential pressure log guide.
Calculate cost with a clear boundary
Trial cost per accepted volume = included trial operating costs ÷ accepted volume. Define the included costs before comparing candidates. A simple starting boundary is bags consumed, direct change-out labor and disposal. Add measured product loss, energy or other relevant costs only when reliable records are available, and apply the same boundary to both candidates.
Illustrative arithmetic only: suppose a trial consumes bags costing $30 and records $20 in labor and disposal, producing 100 m³ of accepted filtrate. The included cost is $50 ÷ 100 m³ = $0.50/m³. These are invented teaching figures, not INCEFILTER prices, customer results or an expected saving.
For a recirculating batch, repeated passes through the filter are not additional finished-product volume. Define whether the denominator is accepted batch volume or another documented measure, and use it consistently. If no output is accepted, report the failed trial rather than a misleading cost ratio.
Review variation before approving a bulk order
Repeat representative runs when feed variability could change the decision. Record exceptions instead of selecting only the best result. A trial stopped because production ended provides a lower bound on that run’s capacity, not a measured full service life.
Release the purchase specification only after fit, quality and operating evidence are acceptable. Retain the approved bag code, construction and trial records. For a PP candidate, review the polypropylene felt liquid filter bag range and confirm the exact configuration.
Send INCEFILTER your trial requirement and sample inquiry with the current bag, housing details, liquid, flow, temperature, quality target and intended order quantity. Request a candidate-specific proposal rather than a guaranteed service interval.
Technical reference
Eaton: PROGAF filter bag technical data sheet, referenced for its explicit performance-test conditions. Its product ratings are not INCEFILTER ratings.
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