 Question:
Please explain Acid Washing.
Answer:
Acid washing is perhaps the biggest single factor leading to premature cartridge failure.
For years, service technicians and homeowners have acid washed D.E. grids (a popular pool filtration system). However, cartridge elements do not have the protective D.E. powder coating that grids have and can be permanently damaged by the acid. As a rule of thumb, acid wash only when required, if at all, and never without thoroughly cleaning the element with a cartridge degreaser first.
So when is it time to acid wash? After thoroughly cleaning the cartridge with a degreasing agent, flush the cartridge with a garden hose to remove all traces of soap, etc. Now apply several drops of acid directly to a small area of the filter media. If bubbling occurs, this indicates a build-up of calcium or minerals, and you should proceed with a mild acid soak (see Unicel Cleaning Instructions for more details). If no bubbling is observed, your cartridge most likely does not require acid washing.
Question:
Some cartridge end caps are hard and others are soft. Some catridges have one hard end cap and one soft end cap. Why is this?
Answer:
When cartridge manufacturers design a new filter element, several factors must be considered. One of the most critical is end cap hardness.
To determine the exact degree of shore hardness required, we first must look at the element sealing points. Sealing points both position the element and prevent water by-pass.
Historically, single cartridge systems all used cartridges with inside i.d. friction seals with hard end caps. This design provided both strength and pleat support. However, as filters became more sophisticated, so did end cap design.
Sta-Rite's Posi-Flow element, for example, uses a soft vinyl bottom to both seal the inside and outside edges and lock the cartridge into the filter base, while the top end cap is a hard compound for cartridge strength and integrity. Hayward's Star Clear filter uses hard end caps for integrity with a soft gasket to allow a knife edge top seal. Both the new American Predator and Jacuzzi CFR designs rely on a soft top and bottom to achieve an o-ring seal. These end cap configurations are excellent designs. Only the compounds change to meet the manufacturers' specifications.
This is another reason why Unicel builds its replacement cartridges to OEM design specifications, and why Unicel is number one in quality and reliability.
Question:
What does the term "plumbed backwards" mean?
Answer:
Simply put, waterlines that attach to the "inlet" and "outlet" on the filter canister were reversed during installation. In this case, the water flow through the filter element will be from the "inside-out" rather than the "outside-in" (as the filter was intended). Debris rapidly accumulates on the inside of the pleats, water flow is restricted, and the cartridge begins to expand. Eventually, the cartridge's end cap will split, releasing the internal pressure. The filter element is now being by-passed in the filtration.
 Question:
How can you tell if your system is plumbed backwards?
Answer:
• Is the nature of the split in the end cap similar to this?
• Peel back the broken top and examine the pleats. Is there dirt accumulation on the inside of the pleat pack?
• Does the support band on the outside of the cartridge, if present, appear stretched and wrinkled?
• Do the outside of the pleats appear rounded and puffy?
If you are still not sure if your filter is plumbed backwards, shut down the entire system and completely bleed the canister pressure. Remove the cartridge and with the lid off quickly turn the pump on and off. Observe which port is delivering the feed water and assure that it is the "inlet." (Always consult the manufacturer's instructions before removing the canister lid or working on any pressurized system.)
Question:
I saw a filter cartridge with yellowish material at one retailer. What is this media and why are Unicel cartridges white in appearance?
Answer:
Unicel uses a spunbonded, 100% polyester material called Reemay® as their filter medium. Reemay®, which has FDA compliance, is approved for milk filtration and is white to indicate purity. The yellowish material (technically also a spunbonded polyester nonwoven) is less expensive. Some low-end manufacturers are utilizing this material to reduce costs; however, there is a significant difference in cartridge performance.
Question:
Sharp pleat folds vs. rounded pleats — is there a difference?
Answer:
Absolutely! One of the first things a filter expert will look for when examining a pool or spa element is the pleat fold or "knuckle radius" of the pleat. Why is this important? If you look carefully, you will notice that some manufacturers' pleats are very sharp while others are rounded and even appear puffy. With Reemay or other spunbonded polyester medias it is much easier to make a rounded fold than a sharp pleat. Moreover, a rounded fold can mask the filter manufacturer's inability to make straight pleats or maintain proper pleat spacing.
Unicel takes great care in mading its pleat folds sharp. This maximizes flow, minimizes pressure loss - by decreasing the surface contact between the inner pleat knuckle and center tube.
Glossary of Filter Terms
Backwash
The process of cleaning the filter medium or septum by reversing the flow of water through the filter. |
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Basecoat
A layer of filter aid between the precoat and septum. |
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Blinding
Filling in and clogging of a filter medium caused by entrapment of particles from a filtered liquid. When the medium becomes "blind," an increase in differential pressure and reduction in flow results. |
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Bridging
Debris which arches, or bridges, the individual pleats in the filter cartridge or between two filter elements. |
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Cartridge Filter
A filter that utilizes a pleated, porous medium as a filtering material. |
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Clarification
The process by which the filter removes progressively smaller particles on each successive turn over, thus improving efficiency and extending the cycle life. Cartridge filters use the clarification process. |
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Clarifier (also called coagulant or flocculent)
A chemical that coagulates and neutralizes suspended particles in water. There are two types of clarifiers: inorganic salts of aluminum or iron and water-soluble organic polyelectrolyte polymers. |
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Coagulation
The process by which very small, finely divided solid particles -- often colloidal in nature -- are agglomerated into larger particles. |
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Compressibility
Degree of physical change in a filter cake when it is subject to pressure, resulting in increased differential pressure and reduced flow. |
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D.E.
Abbreviation for diatomaceous earth. Fossil-like skeletons of microscopic water plants called diatoms. |
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Denier
The relationship between cross sectional area and weight. Denier is numerically equal to the weight in grams of 9000 meters of individual fiber (i.e. 1 gram equals 1 denier). Most filtration grade Reemay use 4 denier fibers. These fibers are approximately 28 microns in diameter. |
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Differential Pressure
(1) The difference in pressure between two given points. (2) The combined pressure caused by the debris, filter cake, precoat and septum, expressed as ("delta P"). (3) The effluent pressure minus the influent pressure. |
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Effluent
Fluid which has passed through a filter. Also called the filtrate. |
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Enzymes
An organic protein, also known as amino acids. Enzymes are non-toxic and biodegradable. Although they are not an oxidizer or clarifier, enzymes significantly reduce cartridge maintenance by breaking down oils into carbon dioxide and water. |
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Feed
The mixture of particles and fluid that is introduced into the filter. Terms used synonymously include "influent" and "incoming slurry." |
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Filter
Verb: To pass fluid containing suspended particles through a filter medium whereby the particles are separated from the fluid. Noun: A "device" for carrying out the filtration process, consisting of the filter medium and suitable hardware for constraining and supporting it in the path of the fluid. |
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Filter Aid
Any material (usually diatomaceous earth) that enhances the separation of solids from liquids in the filtration process. |
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Filter Cake
The combined layers of solids, precoat, and debris removed in the filtration process and accumulated on the surface of the filter medium. |
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Filter Cycle
The operating time between cleaning or backwash cycles. |
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Filter Medium
The permeable material such as diatomaceous earth, sand, or polyester nonwoven material used to separate suspended particles from liquid. |
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Filtrate
Fluid that has passed through a filter. Also called the effluent. |
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Filtration
The process by which particles are separated from a liquid by passing through a permeable material. |
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Filtration Rate
Flow in gallons per minute (GPM) through one square foot of filter medium. For residential pools, the filtration rate should be 2 GPM per square foot of D.E. filter surface area and 1 GPM per square foot of cartridge filter surface area. For most commercial pools, the filtration rate should be 1 GPM per square foot of D.E. filter surface area and .375 GPM per square foot of cartridge filter surface area. |
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Flocculation
The process by which small dispersed particles combine together to form larger size particles which can be removed by the filter. The result of adding an electrolyte to the water. |
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Hydrophilic
Water accepting. The ability to absorb water. |
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Hydrophobic
Water rejecting. Lacking affinity for or ability to absorb water. |
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Influent
Dirty or unfiltered water introduced to the filter. Also referred to as "feed" or "incoming slurry." |
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OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer or brand name. |
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Micron Size
Expressed as micrometer (µm), a unit of measurement equal to 1/1,000,000 of a meter (.0000394"). 40 micron is considered the smallest size particle visible to the human eye. A red blood cell is 6-8 micrometers large; one grain of table salt is roughly 100 micrometers in size. |
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Permeability
Expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM), the resistance to flow through a media. The lower the perm number, the greater the resistance. The permeability of a filter media is a quality control measure for cartridge and D.E. filter materials. |
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Polyester
Long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of ester of dihydric alcohol and terephthalic acid. |
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Polymer
High molecular weight organic compound whose structure can be represented by repeated small units. Synthetic polymers are formed by condensation polymerization of monomers. If two or more monomers are involved, a copolymer is formed. |
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Porosity
(1) The degree of open area between the fibers. (2) The void area which exists in the structure. |
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Precoat
The layer of filter aid (usually D.E.) formed on the media surface by introducing a slurry (generally between .1 and .2 lbs. per square foot of surface area) to the medium at the beginning of the filter cycle. |
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Reemay
A registered trademark of Reemay, Inc. Originally developed by DuPont, Reemay is made of continuous filament, 100% polyester fibers. The process by which these fibers are drawn, randomly laid and thermally bonded is known as "spunbonding." |
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Septum
A permeable material used to support the filter medium or precoat on D.E. filters. |
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Trilobal
The three sided fiber formed by drawing polyester resin through a die or spinneret. The basic shape of Reemay fibers. |
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Turbidity
(1) The characteristic or property of a liquid that causes it to absorb or scatter light. (2) A measurement of water cloudiness or haziness caused by micro-organisms, algae, or suspended fine particles. |
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