Choosing the Right Self-cleaning Filtration for You

Help choosing your Rotorflush filterpump, suction intake strainer or dirty water filter

There are many types of pumps and dirty water screens, most have been designed for particular uses and industrial contexts.  Rotorflush products offer general purpose pumping and screening of natural and industrial waste water, providing low maintenance use and installation.

This page looks at Rotorflush self-cleaning water screening and filtration products, to help you best meet your requirements. 

The unavoidable truths about screening and filtering water are:

• Filters and screens always clog and block sooner or later
• This shows that they are doing what they are supposed to do.
• Unblocking screens and filters is usually a hassle, unpleasant, and the less often you need to, the better.

Rotorflush Filters Ltd have developed a range of products for pumping and screening dirty water that all incorporate their patented self-cleaning mechanism. This hugely reduces the frequency of filter screen maintenance, meaning far less blocking and clogging of pumps, screens and other equipment. The truths above, however, do still apply.

The uses for Rotorflush self-cleaning filters and submersible filterpumps™ are many and various. Farms, factories, and water treatment works use our filters. Water companies use our filters for sample preparation for water analysis, and to keep inlet screens clear. Farmers use our filters and filter pumps to recycle farmyard run-off. Others use our filters for keeping fountains running, for irrigation, or anywhere that dirty water needs to be pumped without blocking pumps and other equipment.

It can be tricky sorting out the best dirty water filter and filtration system to meet your requirements. Fortunately, we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the installation and use of pump intake filters and filter pumps. 

So whether you are pumping out a tank or sump, taking water from a lake, pond, river, lagoon, or screening dirty water for irrigation, pumping back to land, sampling water for monitoring, moving industrial waste water or supplying a fountain or water feature, Rotorflush Filters Ltd has a product that will let you screen and pump simultaneously.

The Basics - Self-cleaning Suction Intake Filters

Rotorflush offer two self-cleaning filtration product sets. The first are self-cleaning suction intake filters and screens that attach to the suction pipe of dry (surface) mounted pumps. The backwash is typically supplied from a small amount of the pump output, but can be supplied via a separate pump circulating screened water from the filter and back to the filter cleaning jets.

Rotorflush self-cleaning suction intake filters and screens are available in many sizes from small 30 litres a minute pond filters to 2000 cubic metres per hour raw water intakes. If you need a self-cleaning strainer or filter for a surface pump you already have, then we need to know:

• The flow rate you are pumping
• How finely you need to filter (top tip, always go for the largest size mesh you can get away with – reduces maintenance)
• What you are trying to remove
• Description of water quality (brackish, seawater, silty etc)
• What size pipe you are connecting to.

This information enables us to determine the best size and configuration of self-cleaning intake for your requirements.

The Basics - Submersible Pumps with Built-in Self-cleaning Intake Filters

Rotorflush Filterpumps™ are submersible pumps that screen and filter dirty water as they pump. Their impeller sets are protected by a self-cleaning intake screen that self-cleans to avoid clogging, protecting the pump and any connected equipment - irrigation equipment, spray bars heat exchangers etc - from becoming blocked by particulate in the source water.

Hassle-free pumping and screening in one complete unit.

Rotorflush filterpumps are industrial submersible pumps and come in a range of capacities. If you need a filterpump then we need to know:

• The static head (the height above water level you wish to pump)
• The pipe run from the pump to where you need the water
• The diameter of the pipe
• The pressure you need at the point of delivery
• The flow rate you require
• How finely you need to filter (top tip, always go for the largest size mesh you can get away with – reduces maintenance)
• What you are trying to remove
• Description of water quality (brackish, seawater, silty etc).

This information enables us to specify the most suitable pump and mesh size to meet your needs.

What Rotorflush Can and Can't Do

Filtration can be problematic. It is important to know what you wish to filter for, and equally what your dirty water filter can handle. This is because most dirty water contains a mix of contaminants, unless it is dirty as a result of a specific industrial process. Therefore, the type of filter will often depend on the location, water quality and what it is in the water that causes the most trouble.

Rotorflush Filterpumps and Self-cleaning Suction Intake screens are used across many industry sectors and for a variety of applications. 

They are particularly efficient at separating out organic material and suspended solids from water. For example weed, leaves, and other debris, fibrous material, dairy run-off etc.  The screens and filters are ideal when the contaminated water is the same or as close as possible to the viscosity of natural water.

The Rotorflush self-cleaning mechanism is not designed to handle sludge, raw sewage, or water contaminated with oils and grease.

Rotorflush Filters Ltd staff have years of experience of liquid solids separation in agriculture, industry, water and waste water treatment applications, and are available to advise and answer any questions you may have.

Furthermore, we are more than happy to give technical advice about pressure and flow rates, as well as practical information about filters for particular applications.

Call us on +44 (0)1297 560229 or email sales@rotorflush.com to discuss your needs.