Spray nozzles break up liquid streams and create fine droplets. These are used for coating, washing, cooling, fire suppression. and many other applications. A filter protects the nozzles by removing contaminants that can cause progressive blockage.
Spray nozzles come in many sizes and can be as small as a few hundred micrometers. Nozzles of all sizes are prone to blockage but smaller nozzle sizes are particularly susceptible due to the small opening size. If the spray nozzles are to be used on a recirculating liquid system then this can compound the problem due to build up of impurities in the tank.
Particulates and fibres can build up over time and obstruct the nozzles. This reduces the efficiency of spray system and creates a significant maintenance demand.
A filter protects the nozzles by removing contaminants that can cause progressive blockage. Small contaminants can build over time while larger contaminants can block the nozzle instantly. Filter selection depends on the geometry of particles as well as the size of the nozzle that needs protection. A correctly sized filtration system should provide reasonable life between cleaning and minimal maintenance.