Filtering
The engine of a vehicle needs an oil lubrication system. Just as it uses air to burn the fuel it uses. A car engine can only be guaranteed a long service life if it uses clean fluids. Abrasive particles, both of internal and external origin, contained in moving fluids can cause increased wear and damage to the engine. It is therefore extremely important to minimise the quantity and size of these foreign bodies. This is the main function of filters.
Vehicles are also often equipped with passenger compartment filters to purify the air used by air conditioning systems.
Filtration is the process of separating the dispersed components (solids or liquids) from the fluid component (liquid or gaseous). Separation is the result of pressures exerted on the fluid pressed against a porous body.
Pressure loss, efficiency and service life determine the performance of a filter.
- PRESSURE LOSS is the instantaneous pressure difference between the fluid entering and leaving the filter. This difference should be as low as possible.
- The EFFICIENCY of a filter is determined by the fineness of the filtration. An efficient filter prevents early engine wear.
- The LIFETIME of a filter is determined by the amount of contaminants that can be filtered out before the filter stops working.