Tips for a well-designed suction filter
	Suction filters are important for guaranteeing trouble-free operation in many types of machines, such as portable concrete pumps, field stackers, closed-circuit hydrostatic traction drive systems or drawing frames. As part of a plant-specific filter system, they prevent contamination with coarse solid particles and hence sudden pump failures. For safety reasons, the suction filter must not be equipped with a bypass valve, otherwise a constant bypass flow will be generated during operation and optimal maintenance will be unable to be guaranteed due to the impossibility of detecting the degree of element contamination. Instead, the user is urgently recommended to use a vacuum switch to monitor the suction filters. The following tips should also be followed in order to keep your suction filtration system in good working order and avoid cavitation damage to the pump: A large filter area (filter surface load) is very important for cold starts: for w = 10 ... 40 µm ~ 100 cm²/l/min for w ³ 40 µm ~ 40 cm²/l/min. Keep the suction length as short as possible. Keep the flow speed £ 1.0 m/s where possible. Do not allow the vacuum to fall below –0.25 bar rel. Keep the cross-sections as large as possible and avoid bends and sharp edges. In badly designed suction filters, air bubbles may collect and get caught up in the flow as one big bubble. Ensure a good tank design which allows settling and full utilisation of the oil/air separation capacity.