Overview

This document details the technical specifications, ordering information, and application guidelines for Top Line's Free-Flo™ and Top-Flo™ in-line stainless steel filters and strainers. These products are engineered for hygienic industries such as food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology to protect processing equipment from particulate contamination.

Product Description

Both Free-Flo™ and Top-Flo™ units are made from corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel with sanitary designs that enable easy installation and cleaning. They are lightweight, durable, and come in two body lengths: short (~15.75 inches) and long (~35.38 inches). The units are interchangeable with similar strainers.

Applications

• Protect pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and other processing equipment
• Use in hygienic process lines within food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors

Ordering Information

Product codes follow a structured format:

• Type: S = Strainer-Inline, F = Filter-Inline
• Port Connection: M = Clamp
• Size (Inlet & Outlet): 10 = 1", 15 = 1.5", 20 = 2", 25 = 2.5", 30 = 3"
• Body Length: 1 = Short, 2 = Long

Example: SM2-25 denotes a 316L stainless steel long body strainer with 2.5" clamp connections.

Filter and Strainer Components

• Outlet Assembly
• Body Gasket
• Body Clamp
• Back-up Tube (standard 0.25" perforations; 0.125" available on request)
• Distributor Cap and Spring
• Inlet Housing
• Filter Media
• Mesh Over-Screen

Filter Media and Screens

Filters support various media types including non-woven rayon, cotton, cheesecloth, nylon mesh, and woven nylon, with micron ratings down to 38 microns. Strainers use single perforated screens for coarse filtration or backup tubes with overscreens for finer filtration (73 to 1130 microns).

Replacement media options include:

• 40 micron non-woven rayon
• 80 and 150 micron polyester screens
• 250 micron smooth weave Dacron
• 300 micron cotton cheesecloth
• 350 micron polyester knit
• 400 micron plain weave polyester
• 500 micron cotton flannel
• 765 micron nylon leno

Mesh Over-Screens

Available wire cloth mesh overscreens vary by mesh size, wire diameter, micron rating, and open area percentage, examples include:

• 16 mesh, 0.045" wire, 1130 micron rating, 50.7% open area
• 20 mesh, 0.034" wire, 864 micron rating, 46.2% open area
• Up to 150 mesh, 0.004" wire, 104 micron rating, 37.4% open area

Dimensions and Flow Characteristics

Dimensions depend on size and body length, with effective filter areas ranging from 0.65 ft² (1" short units) to 2.25 ft² (3" long units). Pressure drop curves based on water flow illustrate maximum flow rates and pressure drops for both short and long versions of filters and strainers.

Key Notes and Recommendations

• Standard back-up tubes have 0.25" perforations; 0.125" perforations available on request
• Overscreens and filter media are not included with strainers and must be ordered separately
• Designed for hygienic environments requiring particulate protection
• Compatible with sanitary clamp connections and other process fittings

Contact Information

Top Line Process Equipment Company
Office: P.O. Box 264, Bradford, PA 16701
Plant: 21 Valley Hunt Drive, Lewis Run, PA 16738
Phone: 800-458-6095 or 814-362-4626
Fax: 814-362-4453
Website: www.toplineonline.com

Additional Information

The document is copyrighted by Top Line CAT-Fil as of October 2003 and provides comprehensive ordering codes and specifications for Free-Flo Filters and Strainers.