In very dry regions, and especially in desert areas, high concentrations of fine sand in the intake air can lead to frequent maintenance intervals for downstream components or even to sudden failures due to contamination. Therefore, filters must either be replaced frequently, or downstream components must be cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure trouble-free operation. Self-cleaning pre-separators with dust-discharge fans allow for longer maintenance intervals and extend the service life of the other components (filters, fans, actuators) in the ventilation system. Krapf & Lex offers two proven solutions for this purpose:
Krapf & Lex Multicyclone
The service life of downstream fine filters is increased twenty- to thirty-fold thanks to the pre-separation provided by the multicyclone. The multicyclones from Krapf & Lex have all the necessary certifications for rail vehicles, such as design and production in accordance with DIN EN 15085 and DIN 6701, as well as the vibration and shock test per DIN EN 61373. The Krapf & Lex is already in use in the Saudi Arabian desert between Dammam and Riyadh. The fresh air for train crew and passengers is treated by a pre-filtration system designed by Krapf & Lex before the air—now free of sand and dust—is fed into the air conditioning unit. This significantly extends the service life of the fine filter installed in the air conditioning unit.
Krapf & Lex Sand Separator
Although it has lower separation efficiency than a multicyclone, it offers lower pressure drop and requires significantly less space. The dust separator is used, for example, in the FLIRT in Algeria. There, the intake air for the air conditioning units and for cooling the compressed air generation system is pre-filtered by the dust separator.
“When dust becomes a challenge, our solutions ensure consistently
reliable filtration.”
– Krapf & Lex