The conical strainer is a critical component in oil and gas pipeline
systems, serving to filter out debris before the fluid reaches sensitive
equipment. This study aims to analyze the effect of porosity on clogging
and mechanical vibration through an experimental approach. Six strainer
configurations were tested, comprising variations in hole patterns
(staggered and straight), hole diameters (3 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm), and
porosity levels ranging from 25% to 40%, using a bypass flow system.
Weld slag was used to simulate particulate contamination. The observed
parameters were vibration amplitude and clogging factor (CF), measured
before and after the introduction of contaminants.The results show that
porosity significantly influences strainer performance. The straight 3 mm
configuration with 28% porosity exhibited the worst performance, with
the highest CF of 2.50 and a vibration amplitude of 0.126 mm. In contrast,
the staggered 6 mm configuration with 40% porosity achieved the best
performance, recording a maximum CF of 2.00 and a lower amplitude of
0.1161 mm. Compared to the no-strainer condition, low-porosity strainers
increased amplitude by up to 21%, while high-porosity designs limited it
to around 11%. These findings confirm that selecting an appropriate
porosity level and hole pattern is essential to minimize clogging risk and
maintain the stability of pipeline systems.
Keywords : Conical Strainer, Porosity, Clogging, Vibration.