Data Sheet M&EATHSUMEN

Evaluation of Pall AthalonTM
Filter Elements andCompetitor* Filter Elements
Pall Athalon coreless/cageless filter elements incorporate
laid-over pleating, stress-resistant filter media, and anti-staticconstruction. They have Betax(c) > 2000 particle removal
ratings and low ISO Code ratings per SAE ARP 4205.
Representative competitors’ filter elements were obtained and evaluated against equivalent Pall Athalon filter elements using international standards,
where applicable. In addition, the physical construction and materials of each manufacturer’s filter elements were analyzed.

Performance and Filter Construction
Performance
Criteria

Procedure

AthalonFilter Element
P/N: UE310AN08Z

Hydac(a)Filter Element
P/N: 1.21.08 D07 RTHyPro(b)Filter Element
P/N: HP319L8-6EV

Parker(c)Filter Element
P/N: 940917Q

Donaldson(d)Filter Element
P/N: P573107-77677ISO 16889

2660

30900

320700

ISO 16889

612798ISO 16889

712n/a1

10n/a1

20/17/7

16/13/3

16/13/2

19/16/1

1034

7456461

Ratings
Manufacturer’sRating, µm(c)Beta (Filtration)
Ratio @ 7 µm(c)Filter rating, µm(c)@ Beta = 1000
Filter rating, µm(c)@ Beta = 2000
CST Filter Rating

SAE ARP 4205

Performance
Fluid Cleanlinessand performance
consistency2
Differential
Pressure
Coefficient @32 cSt (psid/gpm)
Cost of energy
usage ($/year)3

SAE ARP 4205

Filters
13/9/4Filters4

ISO 3968

0.110

0.154

0.145

0.120

0.135

-499

554

543

512

531

5.0

3.1

3.8

4.2

3.9

40.3

28.2

33.1

16.9

31.3

Construction
Effective Filtration Pall LH002
Area (ft2)
ISO 16889
Dirt holding
capacity(DHC/ISO FTD)(g)Notes
1. Filtration curve flattens out after Beta 1000				
2. Based on the number of >6 μm(c) particles in the fluid at end of service life
3. Calculation of energy consumed to drive flow through the filter based onelement dirt loading curve, assuming equal service life and energy cost rate
@ 0.191 US$/kWh”					A critical measure of a filter’s performance is it’s ability tosustain fluid cleanliness throughout its service life.
This graph compares an Athalon 7 μm(c) rated filter tosame size competitors’ products with equivalent ratings.

800

Particles/mL >6μm(c)1000Particles/mL >6μm(c)* Performance data for competitor filter elements are fromone element tested per P/N, and may not be representativeof typical performance.

Contaminated

Hydac

Hydac
Donaldson
Parker
Hypro
X Pall Athalon

600
Donaldson
400200

Hypro
ParkerX Athalon

0New Filter- 50% of Life

- 90% of Life

Clean

Test Procedures
Manufacturer’s rating: Filtration rating provided by themanufacturer. Filter elements are usually rated according tothe ISO16889 standard. While this standard does not specify
any guidelines for nomenclature of filter elements, many filtermanufacturers publish filtration performance ratios (‘Beta values’)
for their filter elements (e.g., ß = 75, ß = 200, ß = 1000, or ß =2000) at a nominal μm(c) (ISO 11171) or μm (ISO 4402) or μm(ISO 4402) particle size and specify this in their part numbers
and product brochures accordingly. If a filtration ratio is notprovided, the manufacturer’s rating is not meaningful.
When comparing filter elements one should do so at the same
Beta value. Otherwise the filter rating could be misleading (e.g.,a ‘5 μm’ filter element with a Beta value = 200 will not deliver
the same filtration performance as a ‘5 μm’ filter element witha Beta value = 2000).
Beta (Filtration) Ratio (ISO 16889:2008 Multi-pass method
for evaluating filtration performance of a filter element):
This standard specifies a test method to determine filtration
performance under conditions that simulate recirculating(multi-pass) operating conditions, with continuous contaminantinjection. The procedure measures filtration efficiency in termsof particle removal efficiency (ß ratio) and dirt holding capacity.
A higher ß rating (ß ratio) for a given particle size range
indicates higher particle removal efficiency for that size range.
Cyclic Stabilization Test (CST) Filter Rating (SAE ARP4205): CST measures the fluid cleanliness achieved by a filter
under cyclic flow and dirt loading conditions. The CST rating,reported as an ISO Cleanliness Code, is more representative ofperformance under actual field conditions. Since CST ratings
are reported as filter’s performance at the end of a filter’s
service life, the CST provides a good measure of the filter’s
performance consistency.
Generally, filters perform well at removing particles to low
ISO cleanliness levels at the beginning of their service life. A
lower end of service life ISO Code for the target particle size
indicates that a filter controls contamination more consistently
throughout its life. Studies have shown that keeping fluids
cleaner throughout a filter’s service life can increase the meantime between failure (MTBF) for components in hydraulic andlube systems.

Fluid Cleanliness and performance consistency(particles per ml > 6 µm(c))“Fluid cleanliness and performance consistency” is the abilityof a filter element to maintain its level of performance over theservice life of the filter element.
Clean Pressure Drop (ISO 3968:2001 Evaluation ofdifferential pressure versus flow characteristics): Theprocedure specifies the method of measuring the differential
pressure across a fluid filter element under various conditionsof flow. Two standards of measurement are specified: classA - for accurate evaluation for reference purposes - requiring
laboratory conditions; class B - for evaluation for general
purposes – requiring test facilities less stringent than laboratoryconditions. The present class for this evaluation was class A.
A lower differential pressure indicates lower energy
consumption to pass a given volume of fluid across the filter.
Dirt Holding Capacity
Dirt holding capacity from the multi-pass test is often used
as an indicator of filter service life. Unfortunately, dirt capacity
alone is of little value in estimating filter service life or in relative
service life of filter elements from different manufacturers.
Realistic estimates and comparisons can be made only whentest conditions, filter efficiency ratings, and details of field
operating conditions where the filter will be applied are known.
Coarser filters are typically expected to have a higher dirt
holding capacity than finer filters.
Effective Filtration Area (Pall LH002): This procedure isused to measure the effective filtration area of filter cartridges.
The area is calculated by measuring the length of the medium
between the end caps of the filter element, the depth of thepleat and the number of pleats in the filter element, accounting
for the side seal.
A filter element with a larger effective filtration area typicallyhas more filtration medium and hence, a longer filter element
service life.

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Port Washington NY 11050+1 516 484 3600
telephone+1 800 289 7255
toll free US
Portsmouth - UK
+44 (0)23 9233 8000 telephone+44 (0)23 9233 8811 fax
industrialeu@pall.com

Pall Corporation has offices and plants throughout the world. For Pall representatives in yourarea, please go to www.pall.com/contact
Because of technological developments related to the products, systems, and/or services
described herein, the data and procedures are subject to change without notice. Please consult
your Pall representative or visit www.pall.com to verify that this information remains valid.
© Copyright 2015, Pall Corporation. Athalon, Pall andare trademarks of Pall Corporation.
® Indicates a trademark registered in the USA. Better Lives. Better Planet andFiltration. Separation. Solution.SM are service marks of Pall Corporation.

(a) Hydac is a trademarks of Hydac Technologies GmbH(b) Hy-Pro Filtration is a trademark of Hy-Pro Filtration USA(c) Parker is a trademark of Parker-Hannifin Corporation USA(d) Donaldson is a trademark of Donaldson Company Inc. USA
M&EATHSUMEN

Printed in the UK

March 2016