Donaldson ultrafilter SMF UltraPleat Coalescing Filter Element, PC Connection

SMF is the high efficiency grade in the Donaldson ultrafilter range, and the number that matters is residual oil: under 0.01 mg per cubic metre, at both a 10 and a 3 mg/m3 inlet. That is the stage you install when the air goes to instruments, to a desiccant dryer, into a food or pharmaceutical process, or anywhere the cost of oil carryover is measured in scrapped product rather than in cleanup.

Sizes and nominal flow

• SMF 04/10 PC, 90 m3/h, element 1.65 in. diameter by 4.80 in. (S7510, Donaldson 1C131820-63)
• SMF 05/20 PC, 180 m3/h, 2.05 in. by 5.98 in. (S7511, Donaldson 1C131832-63)
• SMF 07/25 PC, 360 m3/h, 2.44 in. by 8.03 in. (S7512, Donaldson 1C131848-63)
• SMF 10/30 PC, 720 m3/h, 3.39 in. by 11.02 in. (S7513, Donaldson 1C131864-63)
• SMF 15/30 PC, 1,080 m3/h, 3.39 in. by 16.02 in. (S7514, Donaldson 1C131872-63)
• SMF 20/30 PC, 1,440 m3/h, 3.39 in. by 20.63 in. (S7515, Donaldson 1C131880-63)

Flow ratings are at 7 bar g as published by Donaldson. Converted, those are roughly 53, 106, 212, 424, 636 and 848 SCFM.

SMF performance

• 99.99999 percent retention at 0.01 micron, 1 bar abs
• ISO 12500-3 at 8 bar abs: 99.979 percent in the 0.19 to 0.24 micron band, 99.996 percent by 0.81 to 1.16 micron
• Oil: 99.9 percent retention. Residual oil under 0.01 mg/m3 at both 10 and 3 mg/m3 inlet
• Borosilicate microfibre media
• 7 bar g, 149 F maximum

Do not run it on its own

SMF is a polishing stage and it has very little bulk oil capacity. Put one straight behind an aftercooler and it will load and blind in weeks. It belongs downstream of an FF element, which strips the bulk and leaves SMF with only the fine aerosol to catch. Running the pair costs more at purchase and much less across a year of element changes and wasted energy.

Connection style

These are the PC plug connection elements. Donaldson also builds the same media in a threaded end cap version, and the two are not interchangeable. Match the element that came out of the housing, or quote the housing model number. The 15/30 and 20/30 sizes use a tie rod.

Service interval

Annually, or when the differential across the housing reaches the figure on the gauge. A coalescing element does not fail loudly. It just raises the pressure drop month by month, and every PSI of drop at the filter is energy the compressor is paying for. If a bank of elements has never been changed, the payback on doing it is usually quicker than anyone expects.

Genuine Donaldson ultrafilter SMF UltraPleat coalescing filter elements with PC plug connection, sizes 04/10 to 20/30, for high efficiency oil removal.