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Fits horizontal plate filters
Pads are cut around plate OD, centre opening and flow-path requirements to support proper sealing.
Filter pads
Sparkler Filter Pads for Horizontal Plate Filters
Cut media for sparkler filter assemblies, selected around plate geometry, fluid compatibility, solids loading, clarification target and cycle economics.
Operating principle
How the filtration product works
A horizontal plate sparkler filter contains stacked plates with perforated support screens. Feed enters the closed shell under pump pressure and is distributed across the plate stack. The supported pad or cloth retains solids while filtrate passes through the media, enters the central interlocking-cup channel and leaves the filter.
As deposited solids form a cake, resistance rises and flow commonly falls at constant pump conditions. The useful cycle ends when throughput, differential pressure or filtrate quality reaches the agreed limit. Correct pad diameter, centre-hole geometry, sealing and flow direction are essential to prevent bypass.
Media design
Construction and process behaviour
Sri Bharathi publishes disposable and reusable sparkler media in woven and nonwoven constructions. Referenced materials include polypropylene, nylon, cotton and polyester, with specialty fabrics available for particular duties. Heat-sealed or reinforced edges may be used to improve durability.
Media selection should account for chemical compatibility, temperature, slurry abrasiveness, required cake release, cleanability and the risk of fibre migration. Cellulose pulp pads may also be cut for supported sparkler duties where depth clarification is required.
What to evaluate
Important features and benefits
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Clarification and cake support
The pad retains particles directly and supports the developing cake during batch filtration.
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Multiple media families
Woven, nonwoven and cellulose-based options allow compatibility and retention to be balanced.
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Disposable or reusable
The choice depends on validation, cleaning practicality, economics and contamination risk.
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Edge reinforcement
Heat sealing or reinforcement can improve handling life on suitable synthetic constructions.
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Custom converting
Final dimensions should follow an approved drawing or physical sample to prevent bypass.
Technical data
Specification and enquiry checklist
Values below are limited to information published by Sri Bharathi. Final grade, compatibility and operating limits must be confirmed against the actual process.
| Selection parameter | Available / verified information | Engineering relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Published materials | Polypropylene, nylon, cotton, polyester and specialty fabrics. | Match media chemistry and temperature to the process fluid. |
| Construction | Woven and nonwoven; disposable and reusable options are referenced. | Controls flow, cake release, cleanability and particle retention. |
| Dimensions | Made to equipment geometry; submit OD, ID, holes/notches and thickness. | Correct fit protects against edge or centre bypass. |
| Operating limit | Grade-specific; not published as one universal value. | Confirm maximum differential pressure and temperature for the selected medium. |
| Retention | Application- and media-specific. | Validate with the real suspension; woven cloth and depth pads behave differently. |
| Change-out trigger | Pressure, falling flow, batch endpoint or filtrate-quality limit. | A defined endpoint improves repeatability and protects equipment. |
Process fit
Applications and selection considerations
Sparkler filter pads are used extensively in pharmaceutical and chemical processing and can be evaluated for food, beverage, oil and gelatin clarification when material and document requirements are met. They are typically chosen for batch clarification, catalyst or particulate recovery, polishing and protection of downstream filters.
Data needed for selection
- Equipment make, plate diameter, centre-hole size and pad drawing
- Fluid composition, pH, temperature and solvent exposure
- Viscosity, solids concentration and approximate particle distribution
- Target filtrate clarity, initial flow and acceptable cycle time
- Disposable versus reusable preference and cleaning method
Questions engineers ask
Frequently asked questions
Why does sparkler-filter flow decrease during a batch?
The retained solids form an increasingly resistant cake. Flow falls unless the pump raises differential pressure; operation should remain within equipment and media limits.
Can a cloth and a cellulose pad be substituted directly?
Not automatically. They may differ in thickness, compressibility, sealing, retention, cake release and pressure-drop behaviour.
What causes bypass in a sparkler filter?
Incorrect OD or centre-hole dimensions, damaged media, poor plate alignment, inadequate sealing, folds or an incorrect assembly sequence can allow unfiltered paths.
Should sparkler pads be pre-wetted?
That depends on the media and process. If pre-wetting is used, the wetting fluid, volume and disposal or recovery procedure should be defined in the operating method.
Continue specifying
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Application support
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Share your fluid, temperature, desired clarity, existing equipment and dimensions. Our team can then recommend a suitable construction and prepare a quotation.