For offshore oil and gas companies, effective and reliable pre-filters play a crucial role in seawater filtration. They protect the membrane filters that reduce sulphates, preventing them from being damaged by larger particles.
However, the pre-filters themselves are vulnerable to biofouling from algal growth. This is a particular issue for the oil and gas industry, as seawater is full of algae. Biofouling limits the service life of pre-filters, so they need changing more often – which increases both downtime and costs.
But we give you that time and money back with our latest filtration product. One that we're pleased to announce has just passed critical seawater tests with flying colours.
What is SupaSpun KilBac®?
SupaSpun KilBac is our range of depth filters that use KilBac anti-microbial and anti-algal technology to combat biofouling.
The filters have micron-sized zeolite particles that contain active silver, zinc, and copper. These particles suppress the growth of algae and bacteria on the filtration media. To maximise the surface area and make the process as effective as possible, we optimise the fibre diameter to the active particle size.
Longer lasting filters. Less downtime. Lower costs.
Biofouling causes several issues in seawater filtration that can seriously impact profits and productivity.
“Biological fouling and growth, including algae, can significantly reduce fluid throughput,” explains Neil Pizzey, Amazon Filters Managing Director. “When biofouling occurs on pre-filters, it can break through and foul the membranes. This results in downtime and the expense of cleaning and regenerating.”
With absolute removal ratings of 1 to 20µm, SupaSpun KilBac filters provide a highly consistent and reliable solution to these challenges.
“By suppressing the growth of captured organic material, KilBac enables customers to avoid costly premature membrane replacement,” Neil said. “Oil and gas producers can expect to see substantial cost savings on their filter spend thanks to KilBac technology.”
These savings come from a combination of:
- Reduced downtime
- Avoiding costly clean-in-place cycles
- More effective throughput
How did SupaSpun KilBac perform in real-world seawater filtration trials?
SupaSpun KilBac has gone through extensive lab testing to prove the effectiveness of its anti-microbial and anti-algal properties. But how does this translate to real-world conditions?
The conditions of inlet seawater change rapidly. This makes it difficult to comparison test different filters back-to-back. Even with identical sets of cartridges, run times can vary significantly.
To solve this, we carried out a test programme in partnership with a global energy producer. Three different specification filters were tested with the same quality seawater and biological exposure:
- The 5-micron anti-algal SupaSpun KilBac
- The 5-micron antibacterial SupaSpun KilBac
- The 5-micron untreated standard SupaSpun II filter
The results were impressive. They showed that the KilBac variant filters can more than double the service life of the prefiltration stage.
Find out more about the test programme and discover how SupaSpun KilBac filters can reduce your filtration spend. Download your free application note today.
