Search

  • Contact Us
  • Quick Order

Industrial Water and Process Fluids Solutions

On this page:

Manage source water variability and process fluid demands

Source water quality is rarely stable. Particulate loads, suspended solids, oil content, and ionic contamination may vary by source, season, and operating conditions. Each variation may change which filtration approach is required. Dissolved oxygen and CO₂ in boiler feedwater, condensate return, and process streams can accelerate metallic oxide formation. Pitting corrosion in turbines and heat exchangers and ion-exchange resin degradation are conditions that may drive maintenance costs and unplanned downtime. Industrial operations face sustained pressure to reduce freshwater intake, extend process fluid life, and meet wastewater discharge requirements.

Industrial water and process fluids solutions by application

Industrial water solutions are organized by industry vertical so that process engineers, design engineers, process developers, and supply chain professionals can navigate directly to the application relevant to their operations.

Boiler feedwater, condensate return, and cooling water loops in steam and power generation operations may face persistent challenges related to dissolved gases and particulates. Dissolved oxygen and CO₂ in boiler feedwater can accelerate corrosion in turbines, boilers, and downstream equipment. Filtration approaches designed for this industry may help reduce chemical demand, lower blowdown rates, extend equipment service intervals, and protect system efficiency.

Liqui-Cel Membrane Contactors offer a compact, chemical-free platform designed for dissolved gas management in boiler feedwater treatment and condensate polishing loops. They may support operations where chemical scavenging costs and system footprint are operational considerations.

Upstream, midstream, and downstream operations each present distinct process-fluid challenges, ranging from produced-water variability and high solids loads to regulatory treatment requirements and water-reuse considerations.

  • Refining and amine sweetening filtration: Refinery process streams and amine systems can accumulate particulates and hydrocarbons that may impact process efficiency and solvent performance.
  • Offshore and water reinjection applications: Liqui-Cel Membrane Contactors are designed for dissolved gas control in offshore produced water and reinjection systems.

Produced water filtration across operations should contend with high solids loads, emulsified hydrocarbons, and variable water quality. Treating and recovering produced water may also support water reuse objectives.

Cutting, stamping, molding, and aluminum production operations rely on coolant filtration, parts-washing water filtration, and circular system management. Process fluids in these environments can accumulate emulsified oils, fine metal particles, and biological contamination cut over recirculation cycles.

Beverage can manufacturing adds application-specific demands:

  • Filtration of coolants used in high-speed stamping of aluminum cans
  • Water filtration in can washing systems after forming from blank aluminum

Filtration systems designed for these applications may manage mixed contamination profiles and support water reuse. High Flow Filter Cartridges are designed for high-volume applications where reduced changeout frequency and lower labor considerations are operational priorities.

Across pretreatment, electrodeposition, and paint kitchen operations, process fluid quality at pretreatment and rinse stages can directly affect downstream paint adhesion, finish quality, and rework rates. Contamination that enters the electrodeposition bath or paint kitchen may not be easily corrected downstream, making filtration at each stage of the sequence an important process consideration. Filtration solutions designed for automotive assembly support consistent control of bath chemistry and may help reduce finishing defects.

Almost every industry uses water and other fluids in some process-integral way, from chemical, painting, and coatings industries, where water is intrinsic to production, to general manufacturing operations that rely on water for equipment washing, cooling, or process fluid management.

For operations where industrial water filtration requirements do not fit neatly into the industries above, filtration and separation solutions may address quality, operational, and discharge objectives across a broad range of applications. Application-specific guidance is available for operations with contamination profiles or process requirements.

Filtration and gas management capabilities across the cycles

Industrial water and process fluid management requires consistent performance across three technical capability areas.

Particulate and contaminant removal

Contamination profiles in industrial water can vary significantly by source and application. Fine particulates, metal oxides, suspended solids, and emulsified oils are common across steam and power, oil and gas, machining, and automotive operations. Uncontrolled contamination can degrade process chemistry, increase equipment wear, and elevate the wastewater treatment burden. Graded-density filter cartridges and high-flow filtration systems are designed to handle variable contamination loads at an industrial scale.

Micro-Klean RT Filter Cartridges and High Flow Filter Cartridges feature construction designed for broad chemical compatibility and extended service intervals.

Dissolved gas management

Dissolved gas management in boiler feedwater, condensate return, and industrial process streams can increase metallic oxide formation, pitting corrosion in heat exchangers and pressure vessels, and ion exchange resin degradation. Conventional chemical scavenging programs may add operating costs and require careful dosing control. Hollow fiber membrane contactor technology offers a chemical-free approach to achieving low dissolved gas levels in both high-purity and industrial process water applications, with a compact form factor suited for integration into existing plant infrastructure.

 

Liqui-Cel Membrane Contactors support a range of flow rates and installation configurations.

Water reuse and recycling

Extending coolant life, recovering condensate, and reducing wastewater volumes can help lower operating costs. Filtration systems designed for circular process water applications, particularly in machining, metalworking, and automotive operations, may help extend fluid service intervals, reduce freshwater intake via wastewater reuse, and lower waste disposal costs.

Explore products for industrial water and process fluids

These product families address the core filtration and gas management needs across steam and power, oil and gas, machining and metalworking, and automotive assembly applications.

Liqui-Cel EXF Membrane Contactors

Liqui-Cel EXF Membrane Contactors support dissolved gas management in industrial water and process streams. These are designed for boiler feedwater deoxygenation, condensate polishing, and process streams where dissolved O₂ and CO₂ may need to reach low levels.

High Flow Filter Cartridges

These large-format, melt-blown media filters have a special pleating to help maximize surface areas and extend filter life. They are suited for industrial water treatment, oil-and-gas produced-water filtration, and bulk fluid processing.

Micro-Klean RT Filter Cartridges

Micro-Klean RT Filter Cartridges feature a grooved surface treatment to increase surface area and enhance the performance of these uniform-density filters. They may be used for chemically aggressive process fluids and applications where low extractable levels are a consideration.

DF Filter Bags

DF Filter Bags are graded-porosity filter bags designed as a high-capacity alternative to bag filters. They offer 62% greater filter surface area than standard #1 and #2 size bag filters and up to 4x longer service life.

Product links on this page currently direct to Solventum.com. Product information will soon be available on Thermofisher.com as part of our ongoing integration.

Frequently asked questions

Industrial water filtration encompasses the disciplines applied to manage water and process fluid quality in industrial operations. Some principal areas include:

  • Particulate filtration to help remove suspended solids, metal oxides, and fine debris from process water and fluids
  • Membrane contactor-based dissolved gas management, which can reduce dissolved oxygen and CO₂ from boiler feedwater and process streams
  • High-flow filtration for bulk water treatment at an industrial scale

Industrial water filtration solutions can be applied across steam and power generation, oil and gas, machining and metalworking, automotive assembly, and other industrial and chemical processes. Solution selection depends on the specific contamination profile, fluid type, and process requirements of each application.

Selection factors may include process fluid type and contamination profile required, particle removal efficiency and rating, operating pressure and temperature, flow rate and volume, whether the water will be recycled or discharged, and applicable wastewater regulations. The combination of contamination type and disposal or recycling intent often helps determine whether filtration, dissolved gas control, or a combination of approaches may be appropriate. Connecting with a Thermo Fisher Scientific specialist can support application-specific guidance.

Related resources

Discover filtration and separation resources

Process engineers, design engineers, and quality managers can access application-specific resources, including brochures, technical data sheets, and case studies. Browse resources by industry to support informed selection and process planning.

Enhance your industrial water processes

Intended use of the products mentioned on this page vary. For specific intended use statements, please refer to the Instructions for Use for the product.