Wye Strainer Mesh and Screen Sizing Guide

To find the wye strainer that is right for your project or job, it’s important that you know how mesh and screen sizing works. While deciding which size strainers to purchase, you need to consider both the micron and mesh values. Use our Micron and Mesh Comparison Chart to determine the best strainer for you.

Wye Strainer Micron Size Vs. Mesh Size

Micron and mesh size are measurements that are used to describe different sizes of wye strainers. While these two types of measurements are expressed differently, they both describe the same thing – the measure of the size of the openings in the strainer that materials pass through. The mesh or micron size will tell you what size particles will be stopped, or strained, from the liquid flowing through the strainer.

What is a Micron?

Micron is short for micrometer. It’s a unit of length that is used for measuring very small particles. A micrometer is defined as one-millionth of a meter which is equivalent to about one twenty-five thousandth of an inch. The micron value of a wye strainer indicates the size of particles it will filter out.

What Does Mesh Size Mean?

Mesh size is fairly straightforward. It measures the number of openings in the mesh that make up one linear inch. For example, a 12 mesh screen means that there 12 openings across one inch. A 120 mesh screen means the openings are much smaller and that there are 120 openings per inch. The higher the mesh number, the smaller the particles that are allowed to pass through the strainer.

As you can see, microns and mesh size measure the same thing, but differently. Micron measurements tell you the size of the opening in the strainers, thus what size particles it will capture. Mesh size tells you how many openings there are in an inch, which can be calculated to provide you with the same information.

Micron and Mesh Size Comparison Chart

The following chart will help you understand mesh sizing in more detail. For example, a size 12 mesh screen has openings that are 1680 microns and a size 100 mesh screen has openings that are 149 microns. When the mesh screen size gets to higher than 400, measurements are typically expressed in microns only. At those sizes, it’s the most accurate way to measure.

Size is Determined on an Individual Basis

Because wye strainers are used in various industries, the material of the strainer and the size of the mesh screen that is used for a project or job have to be determined on an individual basis. The type of pipe system, the material that is used in the system, the size of the unwanted particles to be captured, and the pressure and temperature involved in the system are all considerations to keep in mind as you decide which wye strainer is best.

Effects of Strainer Material

One thing to keep in mind about mesh sizes is that they are not exactly precise. Screens are constructed with different materials. That means that there are different thicknesses of the wires or strands depending on the material. In other words, the thicker the material, the smaller the openings will be.