Wedge Wire Cylindrical Screen

A screen basket for a pressure screen – also referred to as a pressure screen basket or screen cylinder – is the core screening component installed inside a pressure screen housing. The basket is manufactured from stainless steel wedge wire, with V-shaped profile wires resistance-welded to a grid of support rods. The basket operates under pressure, screening pulp slurries, mineral slurries, or other liquid-solid suspensions. Acceptable material passes through the slots while rejects are retained and discharged separately. The all-welded construction provides high mechanical strength, enabling the basket to withstand differential pressure without deforming or failing.

The V-shaped slot geometry ensures consistent screening accuracy. The slot is narrow at the outside surface and wider internally. This design prevents particles from becoming wedged and blocking the slot, maintaining screening efficiency over long operating periods. Slot openings range from 0.08 mm to 0.8 mm, with common applications using 0.10 to 0.35 mm for fine screening. Slot tolerance is held to ±0.02 to ±0.04 mm. The open area typically ranges from 25% to 45%, providing good throughput while maintaining separation precision. The smooth surface of the wedge wire construction allows for easy cleaning and reduces the risk of fiber hang-up.

The basket is constructed with profile wires on the outside surface and a grid of support rods on the inside. The profile wires and support rods are welded at every intersection, creating a rigid, one-piece structure. For high-pressure applications, additional support rods are added, and circumferential stiffener rings are used to prevent the basket from collapsing under pressure. Profile wire sizes commonly used include 1×2 mm, 1.5×3 mm, and 2×4 mm. Materials include stainless steel 304 and 316L, with 2205 duplex steel available for more demanding applications. The basket can also be supplied with a hard chrome coating for improved wear resistance.