Automatic Condensate Recovery Candle Filter for Acrylic Fiber - 304 SS

Description:

In acrylic fiber (polyacrylonitrile, PAN) production, the filtration and recovery of steam condensate is critical for both cost savings and sustainability. This step must effectively remove corrosion products and process-specific contaminants, ensuring the purified condensate can be safely and efficiently reused in the boiler system.

Our Automatic Candle Filter System is the optimal solution for this task. Combining efficient precoat filtration, fully automated operation, and a robust 304 stainless steel construction, it delivers reliable, closed-loop processing. Integrated with a downstream polishing filter, it provides dual protection, guaranteeing high-purity water quality while significantly reducing operational costs and environmental footprint.

Key Advantages

1. Maximizes Resource Savings

• Efficiently purifies steam condensate for boiler reuse, drastically cutting water and energy costs.

2. Ensures System Reliability

• Dual-stage filtration (precoat candle filter + polishing filter) guarantees ultimate water purity.

• Full 304 SS construction ensures corrosion resistance and long service life.

3. Smart & Low-Maintenance Operation

• Fully automated PLC/DCS control minimizes labor.

• Efficient regeneration design ensures high uptime and low maintenance.

4. Customizable Solutions

Flexible supply from single units to complete turnkey systems

Advantages in using cellulose filter aid

1.High-efficiency filtration & iron removal – Cellulose precoat traps suspended solids and oil, while hydroxyl groups adsorb ferrous/ferric ions, lowering iron content in condensate.

2.Stable, high-flux cake – Fibrous structure forms a permeable, low-resistance cake that extends filtration cycles, protects filter media, and ensures easy cake release during backwashing.

3.Eco-friendly & cost-effective – Made from renewable, biodegradable fibers. Spent cake can be composted, incinerated for energy, or used as soil conditioner. Low dosage and non-abrasive fibers reduce chemical consumption, operating costs, and equipment wear.

Structure Overview and Working Principle

Condensate Filter System composition:

1. Agitator tank 1 set
2. Pre-coating pump 1 set
3. Candle-type filter 2 sets
4. Protect filter 2 sets
5. Sludge collection box 2 sets
6. Sight glass, valve and pipeline 1 set
7. Electric control system 1 set

Working principle

When filtering steam condensate, the candle filter typically utilizes cellulose fiber filter aids for precoat filtration. With suitable filter aid, it could filter out fine particles inside the solution, help formation and stabilization of filter cake, extend filtration cycle, and make the back-washing cake-removing process more smooth. The filter element is filter elements covered by filter cloth for ease of cake removal and drain. The filter works principle in the way as follows:

1. Precoating circulation

Before filtration, mix filter aid with water in certain percentage in the agitator tank, pump them into the filter cylinder from liquid-feed port and carry out pre-coating circulation between the agitator tank and filter. After a while, filter aid at external layer of the filter element forms a filtration layer of certain thickness and then valve is switched to feed liquid from liquid-feed port to the filter.

2. Filtration

Turbid fluid is discharged from the filter through the outlet. Solid particles are intercepted at external side of the filter element and filtered liquid enters into next process. Along with ongoing filtration, filter cake of solid particles become thicker gradually, filtration resistance becomes greater and filter element shall be back-washed and regenerated when inlet and outlet pressure differential reaches set value (could also set time based on experience).

3. Pressure filtration

When one filtration cycle is ended, liquid-feed valve is closed, compressed air is fed to filter turbid solution in the tank.

4. Remove cake, drain and back-wash filter element

When cake is removed, compressed air is fed inversely from the filter’s liquid outlet to blow clean the filter element, remove intercepted solid particles and discharge them from refuse outlet at bottom of the filter. Thus, a filter back-washing cycle is ended.

The filter’s entire working procedure is fully automated and working procedure and valves’ switching and on/off are controlled by electric control system.

One candle-type filter works and one serves as standby to guarantee continuous filtration. When the working filter enters into back-washing status, it switches into the standby filter. The fluid from outlet candle-type filter flow protect filter into next working procedure.

Core Components

Filter Element: 304 Filter Candle with Polyester Filter Cloth

SS Horizontal Suspended Tube

A downstream polishing filter

Technical Specifications

Typical Application – Acrylic Fiber Steam Condensate Precision Filtration

In acrylic polymerization plants, steam condensate from kettles, dryers, and heat exchangers picks up rust (Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄) and suspended solids during pipeline transport. Using this condensate directly for fiber tow washing causes surface stains, while discharging it wastes thermal energy (80–100°C) and increases demineralized water makeup.

Our fully automatic candle filter, with cellulose as filter aid, performs precision iron removal on condensate exiting the tank. Clean condensate is recycled for process washing or cooling tower makeup, and rust residue is automatically back-pulse discharged. This solution ensures energy recovery, reduces water consumption, and protects product quality.

Some Products in Factory

Interconnected commissioning at the factory

Products in Application Fields