A lateral assembly is a filtration and separation component designed to provide efficient and reliable distribution or collection of liquids and solids within a filtration system.
The lateral assembly comprises a series of wedge wire screens spaced at precise intervals and mounted on a frame or pipe. These screens are assembled into laterals, essentially pipes with slotted surfaces.
Components of a Wedge Wire Lateral Assembly
▪ Wedge Wire Screen: The primary component, consists of V-shaped wires that form a continuous slot. This allows for precise filtration and prevents the passage of particles above a certain size.
▪ Manifold: A central pipe that distributes the flow evenly across the wedge wire screen. The manifold ensures that the filtration process is uniform and efficient.
▪ Lateral Pipes: These pipes are attached to the manifold extend outwards and support the wedge wire screens. They help in directing the flow of the filtered material.
▪ End Caps and Connectors: These components seal the assembly and connect it to the larger filtration system. They ensure no leaks and the assembly integrates seamlessly with other system parts.
How Does a Wedge Wire Lateral Assembly Work?
The wedge wire lateral assembly works on the principle of mechanical separation, where the wedge-shaped wires act as a filter medium. Here's a step-by-step explanation of the process:
▪ Fluid flow: The fluid to be filtered or separated flows into the wedge wire lateral assembly.
▪ Wedge wire filtration: The fluid passes through the wedge-shaped wires, which act as a filter medium, capturing solids, particles, or contaminants.
▪ Particle retention: The wedge wires retain the particles or solids, allowing the clean fluid to pass through.
▪ Clean fluid discharge: The filtered fluid is discharged from the assembly, free from contaminants.
Benefits of Wedge Wire Lateral Assemblies
Wedge wire lateral assemblies offer several benefits, including:
▪ High efficiency: Lateral assemblies are highly efficient, capturing particles as small as 20 microns.
▪ Low maintenance: wedge wire lateral assemblies design makes them easy to clean and maintain.
▪ Long lifespan: The assemblies have a long lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
▪ Customization: Wedge wire lateral assemblies can be tailored to meet specific requirements, making them versatile and adaptable to various applications.
Applications of Wedge Wire Lateral Assemblies
Wedge wire lateral assemblies are used in various industrial applications, including water treatment, oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical processing.
The assemblies are widely used in tanks or vessels to distribute and collect flow. Such as:
Rapid and gravity sand filters
Activated carbon vessels
Demineralizers/water softener filters
Ion exchange columns
Pharmaceutical resin treatments
Liquid purification columns
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